Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Joyful Noises

There is a Bible verse that tells us to 'make a joyful noise unto the Lord'.  No, I don't know where it says that.  I am sure that there are people out there who could tell me exactly what chapter, what verse, and which version of the good book that particular exhortation comes from.  I've never felt the need to memorize what I can easily look up.  Yep--I went there. 

We are told to 'make a joyful noise.'   Nobody is to do this for us. This 'joyful noise' is ours; we bear full responsibility to happily make a joyful noise.  Okay.  Got it. Ummm...What is a joyful noise, exactly?  Joyful is defined as "experiencing, causing, or showing joy".   Noise is defined as "loud, confused, or senseless shouting or outcry".  So...a joyful noise  is a "loud, confused or senseless shouting or outcry when experiencing joy".  Sort of gives the impression that you went nuts, huh?   But we are supposed to give that 'joyful noise' to God as it rises up to the heavens

So what is  a joyful noise?  Anything that makes you smile.  Anything that makes you giggle.  Anything that makes you guffaw.  If you are laughing so hard that you peed your pants, that laughter is a joyful noise.   Laughter is very definitely something that God would want to have a part of.    But there are other joyful noises.

The sound of my son's light snoring is a joyful noise to me.  The sigh a soda makes when you open it, as the fizzy stuff escapes, it is a joyful noise.  Birds singing in the early morning can be a joyful noise.
Trees rustling in the breeze, signally that something new and joyful  is coming.  A cat meowing is a joyful noise.  Anything and everything can make a joyful noise if you hear it correctly.

What are some of your joyful noises?


  1. The sound of my two year old going, "yummmm!" I love it every time.

  2. the sounds of my fingers flying over a keyboard when I'm writing--that's joyful noise.
    Dropping by from the A-Z!

  3. my daughter coming down the stairs in the morning--my husband's keys in the door--the spring birds early in the morning and my grand-kids as they bound in the door, shouting "hi nanny"--just to name a few---beautiful post :)

  4. Great blog! I think laughter is definitely a joyful noise, and I agree... when my kids snore I think it is so stinkin' cute! Of course, they're still small so it's just little snores, but it's darling!

  5. birds in the morning, the sound of my child's very heavy footsteps coming down the hall in the am, teh sound of quiet when I get some alone time.

