Intro: I have no doubt we have all shouted in the midst of chaos or an argument. However, do you shout when you experience a great spiritual victory or answer to prayer? The Hebrew word for shout is ר֫וּעַ [rua or roo-ah’] and can be described as the following: A shout commands the believer’s victory. It stills or silences the enemy. This kind of praise is a battle cry; a cry of victory. This is the word used when the Israelites shouted and the walls of Jericho came down. A praise shout is a weapon of spiritual warfare.
In our worship times, does the Spirit motivate you to sing, clap your hands, shout with joy, or dance to our Lord’s honor and glory? If not, is it because you see those things as irreverent or inappropriate in a worship service setting? Scripture is very clear there is a place for singing, clapping, shouting, and dancing in worship, because it is the Lord who brings victory to our lives. The psalmists were worship leaders and they were positioned and called by God to lead His people into a deeper place of worship with the Lord. Here are just of view examples of how the psalmists led God’s people:
Psalm 27:6, “Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At His sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.”
Psalm 32:11, “So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey Him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!”
Psalm 33:3, “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.”
Psalm 47:1, “Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with joyful praise!”
Psalm 66:1–2, “Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!”
Psalm 71:23, “My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.”
So, today, “Come, everyone! Clap your hands! Shout to God with a joyful praise!”(Psalm 48:1). Jesus has already overcome evil in his goodness and he fights our battles as we trust and worship him; so, every day is a day to clap our hands and shout to God with a voice of victory!
Joshua 6:12-16 NLT
12 Joshua got up early the next morning, and the priests again carried the Ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests with the rams’ horns marched in front of the Ark of the Lord, blowing their horns. Again the armed men marched both in front of the priests with the horns and behind the Ark of the Lord. All this time the priests were blowing their horns. 14 On the second day they again marched around the town once and returned to the camp. They followed this pattern for six days.
15 On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times. 16 The seventh time around, as the priests sounded the long blast on their horns, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the town!
Prayer: Lord, there are many things in the Spirit we do not understand, but your Word gives us glimpses and opens our eyes to a greater measure of truth. There are times for us to be silent before you and times to clap and shout. So, today, hear our applause for you and our shouts of joy for all you do in our lives each day. Hear them and know we are honored to bring you the worship you deserve the way you desire. In Jesus’ name. Amen.