All Thy works with joy surround Thee Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays
Stars and angels sing around Thee Center of unbroken praise
Field and forest vale and mountain Flowery meadow flashing sea
Chanting bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
By: Henry Van Dyke (1907),
Listen to this modern version of this joyful hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.
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Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we continue our journey through this hymn ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the joy of adoration. Then open your heart and your lips and give Him praise. Let’s think about this.
Litany-evoking List
Continuing from the earlier part of the stanza and slowing building into a grand crescendo, the characters of creations worship play their role in calling forth our praise. Maybe what you are going through today is driving your gaze toward your belly button, causing you to look down in fatigue and frustration. Look up.
When we lift our eyes we can see the many different expressions of worship that fill our gaze from every part of the created world. Creatures and landscapes, water and plant life each declaring their praise and inviting, even exhorting us to do the same. Will you lift you eyes today?
Field and forest vale and mountain Flowery meadow flashing sea
For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12 ESV
Our response
From the most profound creations to simpler ones, everything in creation is rejoicing and then invites us to join them. In this prophecy Isaiah gives hope to the people of God that even though we may face difficulty our Lord will have compassion on us and give us joy.
What part of creation most naturally evokes your praise? Being raised among tree-covered mountains, such places are my greatest inspiration. Whatever it is for you, what can you do today to find fresh inspiration for your joyful adoration?
RESONATE! Take a few moments to think about what aspect of the created order most evokes your adoration. Really think about it. Seeing it in your mind’s eye, or go and actually look at it. Then pray this simple prayer, “Spirit, inspire my praise anew.“
Seeing the Call the Rejoice
Can you hear the call? Or better yet, can you see it? A call is normally thought of in audible terms and while there is an element of hearing the call to rejoice, there is just as certainly a visual call.
When we behold the wonder of creation, each individual expression and the sum of them, we must respond. A failure to worship is actually a response. If you choose not to worship the One who made all we see and hear, that is a choice. It is simply an inappropriate one.
Chanting bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee
Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!. Psalm 148:7-10 ESV
Birds and livestock, sea creatures and the watery home, fire, storms, mountains and trees all call us to rejoice in God. How? By their mere existence, variety, beauty and power. Everywhere we look the invitation can be seen if we have eyes to see. Do you?
A bird song, a babbling brook or one of hundreds of creations other cantors, there is no shortage of sounds and sights calling us to worship. Are your senses aware of everything around you inviting you to rejoice? Ask Jesus to heighten your senses today.
RESONATE! Take a few moments to listen to and look at the call to worship all around you. Go outside if you are able and simply look up. Make this your prayer today, “Jesus, heighten my senses to the call of worship.“
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Podcast 59.2 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
All Thy works with joy surround Thee Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy! Psalm 96:11-12 ESV
Again, and again in the Psalms, we read how creation itself calls us to worship our Creator God. It reflects His glory and in so doing instructs our praise. When you imagine a scene like the one described here, does it make you want to join in the praise?
Stars and angels sing around Thee Center of unbroken praise
When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job 38:7 ESV
The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and described the earliest worship as God began to lay the foundations of the earth and the stars and angels uttered praise. Since those first moments of worship they have never stopped continually offering adoration.
Field and forest vale and mountain Flowery meadow flashing sea
For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12 ESV
From the most profound creations to simpler ones, everything in creation is rejoicing and then invites us to join them. In this prophecy Isaiah gives hope to the people of God that even though we may face difficulty our Lord will have compassion on us and give us joy.
Chanting bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee
Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!. Psalm 148:7-10 ESV
Birds and livestock, sea creatures and the watery home, fire, storms, mountains and trees all call us to rejoice in God. How? By their mere existence, variety, beauty and power. Everywhere we look the invitation can be seen if we have eyes to see. Do you?
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.
All Thy works with joy surround Thee Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays
Stars and angels sing around Thee Center of unbroken praise
Field and forest vale and mountain Flowery meadow flashing sea
Chanting bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time,Be Resonant.
Image Attributions
Field and forest vale and mountain Flowery meadow flashing sea – https://pixabay.com/photos/hill-green-nature-mountain-5419527/
Chanting bird and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee – https://pixabay.com/photos/heron-birds-iguazu-nature-bird-2813775/
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