Celebration
Opening Prayer
How have you celebrated Christmas this year? Thank God for the blessings he has given you in this season.
Read Psalm 98:1-9
[1]A psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. [2] The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. [3] He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. [4] Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; [5] make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, [6] with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn- shout for joy before the LORD, the King. [7] Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. [8] Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; [9] let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What sounds does the psalmist conjure up for the praise of God?This psalm is a call for cheerful, noisy celebration (4-6). And why? Because of what God has done for all the peoples on Earth, not just Israel (2,3). That is worth singing and shouting about. We don’t know what early Israelite music sounded like, but “jubilant song with music” (4), playing harps, trumpets, and the ram’s horn, would make for an exuberant meeting! And why all this celebration? Because God has revealed something of himself in the way he has remembered his love for and faithfulness to Israel (2,3). And this so that everywhere on earth can see the great God he is (3,7-9)! This week, we too have something to celebrate. Christmas is the time when, almost unbelievably, God became human in the form of a tiny baby. Our songs and carols have been cheerful, sung loudly, or have been quiet and reverent. The celebration of the Incarnation deserves both approaches. But babies grow up, and Jesus the man came and died, not just for those who become Christians, but for all the peoples of the world. He is King over all the earth, and he will come to judge the world righteously and fairly (9).
Apply
How can you praise God musically? Can you play an instrument? Sing along with worship songs? Or what?
Closing prayer
Praise God for the salvation, righteousness, faithfulness, and justice he offers.
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