Now all kinds of musical instruments come into the picture, and the sound steadily swells! From the soft and soulful strings of the lyre to the powerful, imposing sound of the ram’s horn, all the sounds are blending together to the glory of the Lord. He is the King, worthy of all praise.
Now already here on earth, we are supposed to hear this praise, and we may find joy in producing these sounds of praise.
This praise was very audible when the ark of God was brought to Jerusalem. In 2 Samuel 6:15 we read, “So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.”
In 1 Chronicles 15:16 it sounds even more festive: David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.
What is significant here is what the angel said to the terrified shepherds in the night that Jesus was born in Bethlehem: Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people
(Luke 2:10). Jesus’ coming to earth opens the way to true joy. This he himself emphasized with these words in John 15:11: These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
God’s children long to experience that joy. They gladly join in with what it says in Psalm 43:4: Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!