“Make a joyful
noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing
praise.  Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a
psalm.  With trumpets and sound of cornet
make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that
dwell therein.  Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful
together before the LORD; for He cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness
shall He judge the world, and the people with equity” (Psalm 98:4-9).

I think God wants us to praise Him!  This chapter touched my heart today because I
realize that I don’t spend nearly enough time simply praising God for all He
has done.  As I reflect back even over
this past week, I am amazed at how much God has done for me and our
family.  God is so good we could never
exhaust our praise of Him.  This chapter
points out many ways that we can praise God. 
It also shows many ways that nature itself praises its Creator.

We can sing praises to God.  When was the last time you sang a song of
praise just for the ears of God?  I’m not
talking about singing with the others in church during the congregational
songs.  I am talking about when you are
alone with God, just singing praise to Him! 
We can play instruments to praise God. 
I am thankful that I learned to play the trumpet when I was young.  I have the privilege of praising God with the
trumpet!  One of my favorite things to do
is sit with a hymnal and just play until I am worn out!

Nature praises God as well each and every minute of
the day and night!  Look at those verses
again.  We see the sea roaring its praise
to God!  If you have ever stood on the
beach and listened to the waves pounding the shore, you know the beauty of that
sound.  The floods clap their hands
too.  When flood waters come they flow
with such incredible power that they could be described as clapping their
hands!  The hills have songs of praise
that are unique to them as well.  I have
often found myself sitting in the woods all alone and listening to the choruses
of the hills.  What beautiful music … all
to the praise of our God!

The psalmist points out that God is deserving of that
praise because He is a righteous Judge.  He deserves praise for His fair judgment of
us.  He deserves praise because He placed
our sin on His Son and judged them all there on the cross.  Lift your voice in praise today!  God is worthy of praise!