Psalm Meditation 509
Fifth Sunday in Lent
March 21, 2010

Psalm 47
1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
8 God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted.
(NRSV)

Many of us were trained to behave and take worship quietly and seriously. Where did that come from? In this psalm we are told to shout and clap and celebrate as we worship God. For those of us brought up in a more staid tradition it can be unnerving to participate in a service in which there is more celebration and conversation between the pastor, the people and God. It can also be contagious to recognize that sanctuaries will not fall on us if we find reason to celebrate and rejoice during and as a part of our worship.

This psalm is about a particular victory celebration, it is also about worship. Back in the 1960s and 70s good people were scandalized by the introduction of guitars into worship. And now people are attending worship in congregations with live bands. The pendulum continues to swing from noisy celebration to quiet conversation with God. Either one can be an effective way to worship if most of the folks in the congregation find themselves drawn closer into a relationship with God. Either one can be ineffective as it becomes a showcase for fashion or the skills of the worship leaders.

God is with us and watches over us. The presence of God is worth celebrating. Some folks choose to celebrate God’s presence with joyful noise. Other folks choose to celebrate God’s presence with a quiet dignity. The right way to celebrate God’s presence is the one that works for you. It may change from day to day and it may remain the same for a lifetime. The important thing is to find a way to an ever deeper relationship with God and give yourself wholeheartedly.

© March 15, 2010