A Lot of Noise and Jumping – Psalm 98

A text – Psalm 98

98:1 O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
98:2 The LORD has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
98:3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
98:4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
98:5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.
98:6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
98:7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.
98:8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy
98:9 at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

A reflection:

When I attend Easter Sunday worship, it can sound like this psalm – joyful noises, joyous songs, the lyre and melody, and the brass instruments – trumpets and horns. It’s loud, like the roaring of the sea. It is as gleeful as a little kid; it can’t help jumping and clapping.

And why? Where does all this gleeful singing, instrument-playing, sea-roaring joy come from? From the Lord’s victory, says verse 1. In the Easter season especially we think about the Lord’s victory over the separation that death brings. Death still happens to our bodies, but our spirits are not separated from God forever, because Jesus broke down the permanent wall of death for us. And not by waving a magic wand at it. God’s son died, really truly died, and God raised him to new life 3 days later.  So we know it is possible to rise again after dying.  The God who makes it possible loves you and doesn’t want to lose you forever when you die.

This is celebration-worthy. This really calls for loud boisterous music from trumpets, and a lot of jumping up and down and excitement as loud as the sea. So are you with me? Let us make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth! This is a magnificent victory for us, for our ancestors, and for our children. Amen.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for fighting for us. Thank you for dying so that we might taste death but briefly. Thank you for loving us enough to want us with you forever. We are grateful. Help us to share this good news with anyone we know who might need it.  Amen.