The Joy of Worship: Making a Joyful Noise!

Psalm 100:1-2 – “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”

Have you ever heard someone sing so off-key that you weren’t sure if they were making a joyful noise or just making noise? Maybe that person is sitting next to you. Or maybe that person is you…it’s definitely me.

Have you ever heard a child sing at the top of their lungs? They don’t care if they are in key or if the words are wrong they just sing from their heart. That’s the kind of joy God wants from us when we worship Him.

Psalm 100:1-2 doesn’t say, ‘Make a perfect noise to the Lord.’ It says, ‘Make a joyful noise!’ That means God isn’t listening for perfection He’s listening for love. He doesn’t need your voice to be award winning; He wants your heart to be overflowing. Whether you sound like a Taylor Swift or a shower singer, God delights in the sound of your praise!

Imagine a joyful parade of voices, hearts lifted high, and hands clapping in pure celebration! Psalm 95:1 invites us to make some joyful noise—whether you’re a seasoned singer or someone who just likes to hum along, it’s the spirit that counts! This verse is a reminder to come before the Lord with gratitude, music, and song, filling the air with thanksgiving for the incredible love and strength He provides. It’s like a musical party in His honor—no need to hold back, just shout with joy to the Rock of our salvation!

I want to dive into what it means to serve the Lord with gladness and why joy is at the heart of our worship. So let’s make some joyful noise together!

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!” (Psalm 100:1)

The command in this verse isn’t just for musicians or singers—it’s for everyone. No matter who you are, where you’re from, or what your voice sounds like, you are invited to worship God.

One thing most of us are guilty of on a Sunday morning in church is giving into our reserved Britishness. We listen to the amazing stories of Jesus and sit nodding along thinking “oh, how lovely” But think about it when your favorite team wins a game, do you sit quietly? No! You cheer, clap, and celebrate. Shouldn’t we be even more excited about the goodness of God?

One of my favourite moments on a Sunday is during my church’s service and I can hear the Children in the kids church cheering and shouting while learning about the Lord. Isn’t it exciting knowing that the people who are going to run the church I go to in the decades to come are getting so on fire for God so early in their lives?

So let us all be like those kids. Don’t be afraid to lift your voice. God loves to hear ALL His children praise Him

Have you ever met a grumpy Christian? They love God, but their heart forgot to tell their face! We are called to show joy because it’s a natural outpouring of our faith. In Psalm 16:11 we are told that God is the source of true joy, “in your presence there is fullness of joy..” Our worship should be filled with gladness, not just obligation.

The word “serve” here means to live a life of worship, not just sing on Sundays.

Worship is about:

*Our attitude: Are we worshiping with joy or just going through the motions?

*Our actions: Are we serving God with gladness in our daily lives?

*Our gratitude: Joyful worship comes from remembering all God has done for us.

When we focus on God’s goodness, joy becomes our natural response.

There are many joyful worshippers in the Bible who express their love and devotion to God in vibrant ways. Here are a few of the more notable ones:

*David - Perhaps one of the most famous joyful worshippers, King David danced before the Lord with all his might as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14). His enthusiasm and love for God were evident in his psalms, as he often sang praises and expressed deep joy.

*Miriam - After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Miriam, the sister of Moses, led the women in a joyful song and dance to celebrate God’s victory over the Egyptians (Exodus 15:20-21). Her song of praise is a powerful example of joyful worship after a great deliverance.

*The Israelites - In various parts of the Old Testament, the people of Israel rejoiced in God’s presence. In 2 Chronicles 5:13-14, when the temple was dedicated, the priests and people worshipped with such passion that the glory of the Lord filled the temple. They sang and played instruments, celebrating God’s holiness.

*The Shepherds - In the New Testament, the shepherds who heard the announcement of Jesus’ birth from the angels responded with great joy, spreading the news and praising God (Luke 2:17-20).

*Mary, the mother of Jesus - In her song, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), Mary exalts the Lord with joy and gratitude for the great things He has done for her. Her worshipful response to God’s plan for her life is filled with joy and praise.

These joyful worshippers all express their devotion through song, dance, and celebration, showing us that worship is not only about reverence but also about delighting in God’s goodness and power. We should take inspiration from these people and fill our daily lives with joyful noise for the lord.

I have a challenge for you reading this. Make time this week to make a joyful noise, it doesn’t matter if you want to do it in private or out in public, but sing along to your favourite worship song or find a moment of pure joy and dance in thanks for it.

It is always good to make a joyful noise.