Ring the Bell
Shout to God with cries of joy. Psalm 47:1
READ Psalm 47
After an astounding thirty rounds of radiation
treatments, Darla was finally pronounced cancer-free. As part of
hospital tradition, she was eager to ring the “cancer-free bell” that
marked the end of her treatment and celebrated her clean bill of health.
Darla was so enthusiastic and vigorous in her celebratory ringing that
the rope actually detached from the bell! Peals of joyous laughter
ensued.
Darla’s story brings a smile to my face and gives me a sense of what
the psalmist might have envisioned when he invited the Israelites to
celebrate God’s work in their lives. The writer encouraged them to “clap
[their] hands,” “shout to God,” and “sing praises” because God had
routed their enemies and chosen the Israelites as His beloved people
(Psalm 47:1, 6).
God doesn’t always grant us victory over our struggles in this life,
whether health-related or financial or relational. He’s worthy of our
worship and praise in even those circumstances because we can trust that
He’s still “seated on his holy throne” (v. 8). When He does bring us to
a place of healing—at least in a way we recognize in this earthly
life—it’s cause for great celebration. We may not have a physical bell
to ring, but we can joyfully celebrate His goodness to us with the same
kind of exuberance Darla showed.
By Kirsten Holmberg |
How do you show your gratitude to God? What good work has He done in your life recently that merits celebration?
Thank You, God, for Your many gifts to me. I shout
my praises to You and clap my hands in celebration of Your work in my
life. | | | | |
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Out of the 150 psalms recorded in the Bible,
eleven are attributed to the “sons of Korah.” So, who were they? It
appears they descended from Korah (which means “little bald head”), a
Levite who joined three others (Dathan, Abiram, and On) in leading a
rebellion against Moses’ leadership in Numbers 16:1–40. The consequences
of that revolt saw Korah and his followers literally swallowed up by
the earth (vv. 31–32). The Lexham Bible Dictionary
suggests that “the manner of Korah’s demise likely influenced
their (the sons of Korah) approach to composing psalms, which include
many references to Sheol [the abode of the dead].” In addition to
composing psalms, 1 Chronicles 9:19 says that the sons of Korah were
also responsible for protecting the entrance to the tabernacle—Israel’s
first “house” of worship and the center of their national life until the
temple was constructed.
—Bill Crowder
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