Make A Joyful Noise
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Key Verse: “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” Selected Scripture: |
FOR MANY CENTURIES THE nation of Israel experienced the love and protection of God as his peculiar treasure above all people. God called them to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation, and they had promised to follow all the words the Lord had commanded them. (Exod. 19:5-8) Based on God’s special care over them, we see in today’s Key Verse that David felt it was appropriate to sing unto the Lord with a “joyful noise.” David also refers to God as “the rock of our salvation.” He made this same reference to God when he was delivered out of the hand of Saul.—II Sam. 22:1,47
Clearly Israel had reason to sing praises for God’s care over them as the rock of their salvation. They lost this special care, however, due to their inability to keep the Law as they had promised, and their rejection of the Messiah who had come on their behalf. The result of their disobedience was that of being cast off and left “desolate.”—Matt. 23:37-39
Paul states that the Jews had a great advantage in their experience because “unto them were committed the oracles of God.” (Rom. 3:1,2) He further declares, “All these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world [ages] are come.” (I Cor. 10:11) Additionally, Paul says, “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal. 3:24) Had God now removed the “rock of salvation” from his divine plan because of Israel’s disobedience?
God’s plan needs no adjustment. His plan and his Word are absolute. We understand that his dealings with Israel pointed to the actual rock of salvation provided in the person of God’s own Son, Christ Jesus. Paul plainly stated this, saying, “That Rock was Christ.” (I Cor. 10:4) Jesus himself alluded to this when, speaking to his disciples, he said, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”—Matt. 7:24,25
As the Christmas season approaches, let us take note of the events, prophecies, and words used in the Scriptures which denote this glorious event. Because of a Roman decree, Joseph and Mary were forced to travel from their home in Nazareth to the town of Bethlehem. (Luke 2:3,4) Bethlehem was to be the birth place of Israel’s ruler, according to Micah’s prophecy. (Mic. 5:2) The meaning of Bethlehem is “house of bread,” and Jesus is the bread of life.—John 6:48
It matters not that December 25th is not the real anniversary of the Savior’s birth. It matters not that Jesus only asked us to specially remember his death, not his birth. Let us instead reflect with awe on the message God’s angels spoke to lowly shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem the night Jesus was born: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”—Luke 2:10,11
This angelic proclamation of our Savior’s birth marks the one who is the foundation of God’s plan. As David properly sang unto the Lord, let us also joyfully celebrate the birth of Jesus, the rock of our salvation.