Singing and Rejoicing

Readings:
II Chronicles 23
Acts 27:1-8

Focus:
II Chronicles 23:18b: "...with the singing and rejoicing as handed down from David."

The kingdom of Judah has for several years been in the hands of a usurper, Athaliah, but finally the priest Jehoiada is able to set the rightful king, Joash, on the throne. When he does so, he restores the worship in the temple as it had been handed down from earlier times. This includes singing and rejoicing.

I love the thought that rejoicing (and singing!) is one of the things that is prescribed for the worship of God. It is fundamental that the people of God should have an attitude of joy towards him. To belong to God is to rejoice.

Even when circumstances are not good for us, if we know God and have committed our lives to him, we know that God will ultimately have good in store for us. At the end of everything is hope for us. That is worth rejoicing about. It is good that David handed down a tradition of singing and rejoicing, for that is the right thing to do.