daily java

Daily Java:

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.” For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” And the Levites, too, quieted the people, telling them, “Hush! Don’t weep! For this is a sacred day.” So the people went away to eat and drink at a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they had heard God’s words and understood them.
… Then the leaders of the Levites – Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah – called out to the people: “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting!” (Nehemiah 8:9-12; 9:5 NLT)

Your classic picture of church: people sitting quietly, kids quiet, everybody “reverent.” The songs are subdued and people are still.

All of a sudden the band takes off. People are jumping and dancing, leaping and shouting. Decorum is gone, quiet is gone, “reverence” as so many people see it is gone, and the room is filled with loud, obnoxious praise.

What we think of as reverence is not necessarily. Reverence is the knowledge that you are in the presence of the Lord God of Hosts. Reverence is not necessarily sitting still and dressed up. It is not necessarily subdued.

Yes, there are times when you are quiet to listen to the still, small voice of God. But there are also times in which you feast, and dance, and shout.

When the Israelites heard the law after so long, they began to weep over what they had lost as a nation. They were now slaves of a foreign king. Although he had been merciful to them in letting them all go back home to their country, he still was their king. They were no longer their own people.

Some began to weep. But Ezra, the scribe who was reading to them, and his assistants called out, No! This is a day of rejoicing. We are hearing the word of God and know that he is still with us. So go home. Eat something good and share it with your friends. But above all, stand up and praise the Lord your God.

Sometimes it may be good to sit quietly in worship. But most of the time, it means that people can easily go to sleep rather than worshiping.

The psalmists said:

Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing his praises. (Psalm 66:8)
Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord—rejoice in his presence! (Psalm 68:4)
Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. (Psalm 150:5)

Praise him!