Bible Question: I see what you are saying about making a joyful noise....but can't a joyful noise be a quiet noise? Doesn't God smile with pleasure every time he hears his name? Do I have to shout it out so he can hear me? This is a really important question to me so thank you for taking your time to answer. |
Bible Answer: rjcbp: Duck! Here's comes the pedant! How do you make a "quiet noise"? Or what does a "deafening silence" sound like? Both are examples of rhetorical figures called oxymorons. The one characteristic of a noise is that it's noisy! Do you remember this classic of alliteration: "What kind of a noise annoys an oyster? And the answer is: "A noisy noise annoys an oyster." No, I'm afraid that in order to make a joyful noise unto the Lord we're going to have to exercise our vocal chords. What's wrong with a good, hearty shout of praise to the Lord now and then? ..... Or to punctuating a stirring hymn with a very vocal Amen? ..... Once upon a time an old farmer and his wife retired and moved into the city, changing their church attendance from a laid-back country church where they felt free to "Amen" whatever touched their hearts, to a far more reserved and formal city church. During their first visit to the city church they did quite a bit of Amen-ing, and at the conclusion of the service were met by a couple of leaders of the city church. They were told that they were welcome but advised to remain quiet during the worship service. "This church frowns on all this "Amen" stuff," said the church leaders to the farmer and his wife. "But we've got religion," said the farmer to the church leaders. And the church leaders said to the farmer and his wife, "Well, you certainly didn't get it here." --Hank |