A Joyful Noise
Today’s scripture selection: First Chronicles 25-29
Key verse: First Chronicles 25:1
I love the fact that King David, in arranging for proper worship of the LORD, made sure there were plenty of musicians; and not just your run-of-the-mill type. These guys were set aside specifically for “the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres, and cymbals.”
Talk about making a “joyful noise to the LORD.”
These skilled musicians and worship leaders – all 288 of them – must have been something to see and hear.
These days, in church circles at least, there is a lot of talk about “contemporary” worship – what it is; how it should be done or not done.
Some churches have embraced this with open arms. Others are just beginning to stick their collective toes into it. And still others are insisting they will never let a harpist into their worship space – much less a guy with cymbals.
I’m somewhere in that mix – pretty traditional – but open to something new as well, as long as I don’t have to hold my ears to prevent long term damage to my ears.
But, as I say, I love the fact that thousands of years ago – long before the first electric guitar or sound system was around – David had it covered. For this former shepherd, a musician and poet in his own right, it was all about praising God.
Worship styles will come and go. But one thing never changes.
We are all called to give full, free, joyful, worship and praise to the God who has created and sustained us.
So go ahead – make a joyful noise to the LORD – whenever and wherever you can.
Prayer: Lord, may my worship of you always be joyful and full of love. AMEN.
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By Paul Simrell
The Reverend Paul W. Simrell has served for over thirty years in a variety of congregational and institutional settings. He is a recognized minister with standing in the Virginia region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and is nationally endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for specialized ministry in both pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. Ordained in 1982, he has served congregations in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. He currently serves as the pastor of Elpis Christian Church, a small, historic congregation located just a few miles west of Richmond, Virginia. Elpis is the Greek word meaning “expectant hope.” He also serves on the associate clinical staff of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, Richmond, Virginia, both as a pastoral counselor and a ministerial assessment specialist, specializing in executive, clergy and relationship coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Lexington Theological Seminary and has done advanced clinical training in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas and the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Certified Pastoral Counselor, an ACPE Practitioner, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a Certified Facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich relationship assessment and skills-building program and served as a volunteer chaplain for over twenty years with the CJW Medical Center campuses in Richmond, Virginia. His avocational interests include playing the piano and drawing. He is very happily married to his wife Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell, a free-lance writer, who is also a Certified Facilitator for the Prepare-Enrich program.
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
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