Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 2-024 Sunday 03 Feb 2002

Reading: PSALM 98 – JOY UNLIMITED

(From ‘Encounter with God’ Bible Reading Notes)

Ask God to help you catch the spirit of joy and praise that runs through the whole of this psalm.

Recently I celebrated the anniversary of the day on which I was brought to Christ. I had always been in favour of Christianity but it had never taken root in my heart. Yet that Saturday night many years ago, after an evening spent talking with the minister of my church, I went home bursting with joy at the realisation that God loved me, forgave me and would never let me go. It came as a surge of unimaginable joy, a kind of intoxication with God’s Spirit, and it turned me upside down.

It was a classic case of the joy of the new convert, something which I had not experienced before but which has been with me – in more muted form – ever since. I can imagine today’s psalmist exploding with similar delight as he revels in the joy of his salvation.

The wonder of personal salvation then widens out to embrace the miracle of God’s universal love for all people everywhere. The nations and the ends of the earth are brought into the equation (vs 2-3) as we realise that what the Lord has done for me he has also done for them. Before long all nature is called upon to join the chorus of praise, complete with every kind of music and with the sounds and roars of wind and sea (vs 4-8).

To our surprise, not even the prospect of coming under the judgement of God detracts from the joy (v 9). Indeed it enhances it, because who needs to fear a God who judges righteously and who has already done such marvellous things for us (v 1)? So throw off your inhibitions and rejoice today in this wonderful, saving God.

‘Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above, join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.’

– Bishop John B Taylor

Copyright Scripture Union, 2002

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