when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have rescued.
(Psalm 71:23, NRS)
Good Morning,
My brother celebrated his birthday this weekend. The day marked his jubilee, the celebration of fifty years of life. In the ancient days, jubilee was formed in part to celebrate life. Celebration counteracts negativity.
The Psalmist described celebration through praise in Psalm 71:23:
My lips will shout for joy: The psalmist used the word, “will,” to describe the intentional decision to shout for joy. Additionally, the word, “shout,” described an exuberant joy. This kind of joy creates a sense of ongoing celebration, an internal dance within the inner being.
The Psalmist explained:
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
(Psalm 16:11, NRSV)
The fullness of joy occurs through the awareness of the presence and guidance of God each day. The harmony between the heart of God and our own heart creates an internal dance within our inner being.
Shout for joy.
When I sing praises to you: Joy is divine as well as an emotion of humanity. In the ancient days, people recognized the joy of the Lord in others through the response of singing praises to God.
The internal dance of joy creates a song of praise.
Sing praises with joy.
My soul also, which you have rescued: The Old Testament writer considered the soul to be the life that existed within the physical body. An individual experiences joy when the life-giving presence of God comes into the soul. The divine connection produces an internal dance of joy.
Are you dancing today?
Learning with you to experience the daily internal dance of joy,
Kerrie
(All devotions written by Kerrie Palmer ©2007 All Rights Reserved)
