Is it OK to worship with Joy?—part 2

Is it OK to worship with Joy?—part 2

            Psalm 34:2 “My soul (nephesh 5315) shall make her boast (halal 1984) in the LORD (Y@hovah 3068): the humble (anav 6035) shall hear (shama) thereof, and be glad (samach 8055).”  Today I want to deal with some of the original word meanings in this verse.  Nephesh literally means a breathing creature.  So if you are still breathing and the Lord has been good to you, you should get happy once in a while when you music unto him.  If this goes against the grain with you take a look at what Strong wrote about the word halal “a primitive root; to be clear (orig. of sound, to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate”

            If you believe that only those who are naturally verbally expressive should praise the Lord overtly, take a look at the word anav (6035) which is translated humble in Psalm 34:2 and is defined by Strong as “depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, especially saintly):--humble,   lowly, meek…”  If you meet any of these criteria you have the right to make your boast in the great and wonderful God that we love, serve and worship.  He goes on to say that shama means “to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience… diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim, publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound…”

Thought for the Day

 Psalm 147:1 states very clearly, “Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.”  So, singing in worship is not a chore but rather a pleasant part of public and private worship.