Scripture Reading: Psalm 30:1-12, Psalm 31:1-24, Psalm 32:1-11, Psalm 33:1-22, Psalm 34:1-22
The sunrise is a call to worship. Let’s picture it together.
First, there is darkness, accompanied by silent stillness. The world sleeps to the hum of a quiet lullaby. But as light begins to break through, first in pin holes, then in streaks, there is sound. Creation is an orchestra comprised of a thousand instruments. Our Creator is our conductor, daily raising His baton to call us to rejoice.
Rejoice in who He is…
In what He’s done…
In all He’s promised…
Insects greet the morning with stringed instruments strapped to tiny hind legs. Birds make up the woodwinds. They gather on branches and electric lines; their tiny bird hearts burst with praise. Dogs bark. Cattle moo. Babies call for their mamas.
This is not idle noise. It’s the beautiful sounds of the ones God made waking up to the things He made us for. Simply put, we were meant for rejoicing.
This is one of the many drumbeats that thump beautifully throughout the psalms. Among other things, these inspired words are meant to call us to worship the Lord, to stir our affections toward Him, and to strike our vocal chords to sing songs of His great love.
Psalm 33 begins like a sunrise…
Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous ones.
—Psalm 33:1
God’s people are called to worship so often in Psalms (not to mention in the whole of Scripture) that this sentiment might seem unremarkable at first glance, but the psalmist’s point is the point of our lives. Righteousness redirects our rejoicing. Both the righteous and unrighteous will spend our days in worship, but who will we celebrate? Who will we sing to? Who or what will lift our eyes off our navels and onto someone greater? There are nearly endless options but only One deserving.
Praise is a right response to a righteous God. The call of this psalm, of every psalm—the call of this season, of every season—is for our hearts to rejoice in the righteous One, who right this very moment is setting everything that is wrong back to right.
After spending countless penstrokes calling God’s people to praise the Lord in any way possible—with the lyre (v.2), on the strings (v.3), with a joyful shout (v.3)—the psalmist again reminds us: This is what we were made for. The Lord is worthy of our worship every sunrise, sunset, and moment in between.
“For our hearts rejoice in him because we trust in his holy name” (v.21). You can repeat the daily rhythm of creation any time, any place.
Sit in stillness for a moment. Turn down the volume of your life. Let your heart go quiet within you. Then, think about the Lord. His name. His face. His grace! Like the sun rising slowly on the horizon, let His praise bubble up inside your soul. Then let it rise, higher still, brighter still, louder still.
Today and tomorrow and every day until glory, do what you were made to do.
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones…For our hearts rejoice in him because we trust his holy name.
—Psalm 33:1, 21
