Introduction:
The same question is being asked today as it was in Jesus' day, "Why do those worshipers make so much noise? Isn't worship supposed to be reverent? Quiet? Somber? Serious?"
A. Some may remind us, shouting is pagan revelry: Moses heard shouting as he returned from his meeting with God; we don't want to be like them, so we'd better not shout! But pagans also pray, should we avoid doing that too? - Exodus 32:15-19 Was Moses angry at the dancing, the shouting? No, he was upset because of what they worshiped, the golden calf.
B. Herod accepted the glory which should have been God's alone, he allowed worship of himself, and was severely judged. - Acts 12:21-23
Again, the shouting is not the problem, deifying the man is.
C. Disclaimer: The power is not in the shout, as in the story of the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant - 1 Samuel 4:5-7
However, the Philistines still won the battle. The people trusted in the ark, the symbol, instead of in God - the shout isn't enough.
D. In the story about David and his wife Michal, it's clear that despising those who shout was not new in Jesus' day - 1 Chronicles 15:27-29.
Notice these three "associations of the shout"
I. Often associated with "Coronation" and the arrival of the King:
1 Kings 1:39, 40 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!" And all the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.
Psalms 47:1,2 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
Psalms 95:2, 3 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
II. Associated with Singing and Praise
Isaiah 12:5,6 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
Isaiah 42:10, 11 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
And with Praise:
Psalms 98:6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.
Psalms 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Ezra 3:11-13 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD: "He is good; his love to Israel endures forever." And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.
III. Associated with Joy and Victory
Psalms 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Psalms 32:11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.
Psalms 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psalms 132:9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
Psalms 132:16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
And with Victory:
Joshua 6:15-20 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.
Conclusion:
Today is a day to lift up the voice and shout praise.
The King has come
It's an occasion for singing and praise,
A time to shout for joy and victory.
Let's not be timid, but enter into the joy of our salvation.
Experiencing Worship, The Study