Shout to the Lord
Not a blog about the Darlene Zschech song that has infiltrated and become a mainstay of the pop worship circle. But rather a wondering of the word “Shout” used so often in the Psalter.
Looking specifically in Psalm 66 we find the first line of the poetry saying:
NIV - SHOUT with joy to God, all the earth!
NASB - Shout joyfully to God, all the earth;
KJV - Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
The word for “shout” or “making a joyful noise” in Hebrew is: Rua’ - 1.Raise a shout.
Various definitions from the Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon lend to both cries of distress or those of extreme joy. My thoughts on this are when we come to the Lord to give praise it is coming to a point where we cannot hold back. Either from the flow of emotions or because to give any less would defeat the purpose. When we shout whether in happiness of the US scoring a goal in the World Cup, or in the sudden dramatic loss of a loved one, there is a point where we forget our barriers and inhibitions and allow ourselves to be in the moment.
So should we not when we come before God, put everything else aside, and simply feel free to be in the moment? Easier said then done, but worth the effort any day of the week.