4Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.
Psalm 98:4-6, KJV
Coffee Shop Chatter, a Beautiful Noise
Gate City Coffee is a jewel in Old Town Pocatello. This is a place where people gather to make a joyful noise. The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and live music frequently adds to the charm. While visiting with a clarinet player, I began stealing shots that focused on the mouthpiece of the instrument. I allowed everything in the foreground and background to be rendered soft and out of focus. Additionally, I used a slow shutter speed because I love the illusion of motion. When the man in the red shirt walked between the musicians, everything came together. I stood on the shutter button and produced a series of images as fast as my camera was able. This was the best of the lot.
The combination of limited focus, bold color, and motion blur gives this image a beat, a rhythm not unlike music. Visually, this image tells a story. That story proclaims, make a joyful noise.
Make a Joyful Noise
The Bible mentions music over 1000 times, and rightly so. There is so much more than traditional worship. The morning twitter songbirds sing a sweet welcome to every new day. A brisk walk with a lively gate is like lyrics of joy to lift an otherwise dismal day. The song of a brook soothes the deepest hurt and revives a troubled soul. And at day’s end, we drift into peaceful slumber to the whisper of a breeze in the trees.
A Joyful Noise, Silently Heard
There is yet another song. It is the melody that lives perpetually in the souls of those who are in Christ. These blessed few make a joyful noise that cannot be heard, but will always be perceived.
It is through song that God has saw fit to bring about many blessings. And it is amazing to see how much a song can accomplish. A life lived in praise through song will soon be like itself a song, sweet and graceful. Worthy of repeating and emulating. A life that recognizes the value of blessing the Lord, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name” (Psalm 103:1) will soon be a blessing to those about them. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25). It is a life lived in song that begins to immolate the beauty of one.
The Word of God speaks of a joyful noise. To the Corinthians, Paul wrote of the newness that followers of Christ alone enjoy.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
My Prayer for You
I pray you will have and treasure this newness of life. My hope is that the melody of eternity will shape and hold you for all your days. I desire that the lyrics of life will be evident to all who see you. My longing is that through your words, gestures, and deeds, the song of God’s love will ring in every corner of the world. Go then my friend, go and make a joyful noise.
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