The Heart of Worship is Joyful & Excited

From: www.solideogloriatoday.com

O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully


The Hebrew word translated joy is also translated as “shout,” “rejoice,” “sing,” “sing aloud,” “shout for joy,” “sing for joy,” “cry out,” “shout aloud.” It means to give a ringing cry in joy, exultation, and praise. What is joy? Joy is “the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation”

What is God telling us to do here? He’s telling us that our emotions should be engaged when we worship. We should be delighted in God’s greatness and glory. We should express this delight and joy in worship. This is an emotional expression. Rick Warren has pointed out that “Some people sing like they’re practicing to be ventriloquists. ‘Look, he´s worshiping and I barely saw his mouth move!’” Funny, but sad . . . and unbiblical. Worship must always be reverent, but that does not mean it has to be formal, subdued or subdued. The idea that worship must be restrained, subdued, somber, and dignified is distinctly UNBIBLICAL!


Make a joyful noise to the LORD,
all the earth;
break forth into joyous song
and sing praises!
(Psalm 98:4 ESV)

The clear command of the Hebrew translated, “sing for joy” and “shout joyfully” is unrestrained, excited, loud worship. Ruwa [“shout joyfully”] is used frequently in the Old Testament to refer to the loud shout given to call the army to battle. In other words, God is telling us . . . God, not me . . . that we should shout exultingly in worship.

Remember, not only are we worshipers . . . BUT we worship all the time! So, what does it say about me if I feel the freedom to get excited and shout for joy when my team wins or I get something I’ve been anticipating but I hold back when it comes to getting excited about God and shouting for joy in worship?

If I say I value God above everything else, that I worship God, and yet, I am inhibited in my worship, because of what others will think of me, than my actions say I value the opinions, acceptance, and approval of man more than I value God. At that moment, I have ceased to worship God!

Where did we get the idea that it’s ok to get excited, clap, shout, jump up and down and express joy when a ball team scores but it’s not ok to do this when we worship the greatness and goodness of God. We sure didn’t get this idea from scripture.

Remember when David was rebuked by his wife Michal for his worship at the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jereusalem? Remember David’s response to her? "I was dancing before the LORD, . . . I celebrate before the LORD. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! (2 Samuel 6:21-22 NLT)

"Worship is the believer's response of all that he is-mind, emotion, will, and body-to all that God is and says and does. (Warren Wiersbe)