Blog

You Shall Go Out with Joy (The Trees of the Field) ~ Hymn 80

By: Alan Harvey

Posted: March 12, 2020

Category: Daily Devotional

Devotional Thoughts Based on the Glory to God Hymnal

Isaiah 44:23

Sing, O Heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel.

One of my favorite orchestral works is a single movement, Bolero, composed by Maurice Ravel. The title refers to a Spanish dance. It begins with snare drums setting a rhythmic beat to which a flute plays a haunting melody followed by an oboe and a bassoon repeating the same melody. More and more instruments of the orchestra have their turn to play the same melody, starting softly until the piece ends with the entire orchestra playing according to Ravel’s instruction, “as loudly as possible.”

This movement has also been cited in the Psalms as musical instruments are employed to praise God, (trumpet, tambourine, strings, pipe, clashing cymbals – Psalm 150) In Psalm 148, all creation is invited to join in praising God (e.g. sun, moon, and stars; mountains, hills, and people of every station in life). In this instance, Isaiah the prophet calls on the heavens to sing to God. The depths of the earth are to join in the song along with mountains, forests, and every tree, The song is to extol what God has done. God has redeemed Jacob and God will be glorified in Israel. In Luke’s account of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus says that if the people had been silent the stones would have shouted out.

Let us join in the song of praise and thanks for what God has done!

Prayer

Dear God, As part of Your creation, we take delight in praising and thanking You for what You have done. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.