Psalm Meditation 687
Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
August 18, 2013

Psalm 150
1 Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament!
2 Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
3 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that breathes praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
(NRSV)

Sound, noise, volume; there is something about being joyful that cries out for ways to express ourselves with energetic loudness. Bodies need a way to express the full extent of our joy and it comes out in movement and sound. The psalmist encourages us to praise God in ways that draw attention to our celebration. The physical expressions of joy lead people to ask what is making us lose control and opens us to offer our praises all over again to those who have asked.

This is one way of many to offer God our praise. There are many of us who do not like to draw attention to ourselves at the heights of joy or any other time in our lives. This does not mean that we do not feel the same need to offer God our praise. It is not that one way is right and the other way wrong, it is simply two of the many ways to offer God our praise.

Whether you are one to jump up and down while making a joyful noise or one who stays still and calm on the outside while joy bounces around your insides it is good to offer praises to God who is the source of all things. No matter how we may choose to offer our praises, it is good to praise the Lord.

August 12, 2013