Clapping Rivers and Singing Mountains

August 13

(Psalm 98:1-9 NIV) "Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. {2} The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. {3} He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. {4} Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; {5} make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, {6} with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn-- shout for joy before the Lord, the King. {7} Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. {8} Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; {9} let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity."

When we think of singing a new song, it’s not usually a tune written by mountains. But God says they will sing with joy before Him. If the mountains can sing, certainly we can too. God has given us a voice. Lift it toward heaven and praise His name! When we think of clapping hands, we don’t usually think of rivers. It’s hard to picture the rolling waters of the Mississippi reaching up and applauding heaven. But God says rivers will “clap their hands” and the seas will “resound”. If the waters of the earth can clap their hands and sing, certainly we can too! All creation will celebrate God’s salvation with singing. Every instrument imaginable will make music to the Lord, including the clapping rivers and the singing mountains. And the whole world will see the salvation of our God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day