“ANNOYING JOY” – Mar. 21

“With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!” Psalm 98:6

My son had a long night last night. As a result, I had a long night last night.  For most people, that may not be a problem.  It is a problem for me since I am an early person.  I rise early and I go to bed early.  Yesterday, I rose early but got to bed late.

My son had gone with our church youth group to participate in an evening of bouncing at an amusement center that has various themed rooms with trampoline floors.  They then went to a Pizza Hut for food and fellowship, which I think was a wise decision for the order of the evening’s events.  Unfortunately, one of the van drivers made a miscalculation in the Pizza Hut parking lot and wrapped a fender around a concrete appurtenant of a light pole.  The result, from my perspective, was a significant delay.

It did not hinder my son’s excitement for the evening.  He was joyful.  I immediately went to bed upon returning home after retrieving my son.  His excitement from the evening prevented him from ending the day.  I lay in bed desperately coaxing the blanket of sleep over my consciousness only to have it chased away by my son’s enthusiasm.  I was jostled by the sound of his teenage feet pounding down the stairs and then moments later back up.  I was poked by the slap of a cabinet door as he was in search of yet more food.  I was provoked to raise an elicit a “sssshhhhhhhh” to my son’s outdoor voice explaining the evening to my wife, who graciously listened in her sleeplessness.  I need to apologize to my son for not appreciating his joy.

Joyfulness can be noisy.  The noise that comes from joy may not be appreciated by all who hear it.  There may be some who are annoyed, irritated, or even offended by the noise associated with joy.

We are told that we are to make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.   A joyful noise to the King is something that those around us will perceive with their senses.  The sounds, commotion, and activities associated with joy in our King should be obvious.

Joy is obvious.  We all know when someone is joyful.  Not everyone is going to appreciate our joy in our King.  There may be some folks who “sshhh” us.  We should never act in a way to purposefully irritate anyone.  However, we should never hide our joy in an attempt to please men.

Our joy comes from the great God we serve.

“…for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.  The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.” (Psalm 98:1b-2)

“Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3)

Let’s be known for the joy that comes from a people, who serve with gladness, and are enamored by their wonderful, good, and faithful God.

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for being the greatest source of joy.  Thank you for reminding me that not everyone will be joining in, understanding, or appreciating my joy in You.  Father, I pray that my joy in You may be a witness to them.  I pray that my serving You in gladness and love will so obvious that all around me will know how and why I follow You.  You are great and awesome, O Lord.  Thank you for your right hand and holy arm that have worked your salvation for me.  May my joy in You reveal your righteousness to the sight of all those who see me.   Amen