Wednesday, October 9, 2019
“O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” (Psalm 95:2 New Revised Standard Version)


                “Let the chaos begin!”

                Those were the emailed words of our oldest son, Nick, as the whole Soble tribe prepares to trek to Godrich for Thanksgiving celebrations. By whole tribe, I do mean all 15 of us, including nine adults, four boys under the age of six, and two new-borns. Only the dogs are staying behind, although we may get a visit from Finzi, Maggie’s Newfoundland dog. We have rented a huge, century home which we have rented before. It has several bedrooms, two living rooms, a large study, a huge dining room, and a large kitchen – lots of room for everyone and then some. It’s quite the mansion. The kids could get lost in the house  and not be seen for hours.

                My annual hunt for a humongous turkey of close to 30 pounds was over before it ever started. Last month, I was in a local grocery store and discovered that they had three or four of the extra big, frozen birds. So, we bought one and it will join the festivities in its own sort of way. I am very grateful for its sacrifice.

                A gathering of the Soble clan is always a boisterous, noisy, animated event. “Let the chaos begin!”

                The Psalmist invites us to make a joyful noise. It becomes part of the thanksgiving procession into God’s presence. The worshippers can’t contain their excitement, their ebullience, their joy, their enthusiasm in knowing that they are loved by God. They want to shout it out to the roof tops, and their hearts are full of God’s grace and goodness.

Maybe, it had been a good harvest year. Maybe, for the moment, all was good and right in the world. Maybe, everyone was having a taste of prosperity and, for once, there was enough to go around for everyone. There is obviously a spirit of confidence, of well-being, of assurance and peace. “For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” (95:7, NRSV) Life is good and the people want to make a joyful noise of thanksgiving in appreciation and gratitude.

There are, of course, many Psalms which give voice to times that are sour and bitter.  But even many of those climb out of their despair and angst and find new hope and fresh trust.

I have often told the story of the homeless man who came to the men’s shelter in Ottawa. As he was being served dinner, he couldn’t contain himself so that he stood up and told everyone how grateful he was and how fortunate he was that he could have a hot meal and a roof over his head for the night.  Make a joyful noise, indeed!

Some families have a custom at Thanksgiving dinner of going around the table just before grace is said and each person has to say one thing that they are thankful for. We don’t do that at our thanksgiving table but we do hold hands around the table and say a grace that has been the Soble grace since our own kids were small. “God is good; God is great; thank you for our food. Amen.” When there are thirteen voices, big and small, chiming in it is a joyful noise expressing our thankfulness for the gifts of love, laughter, health and new life that has come during the year. God is indeed good!

So, go and find something which will elicit a joyful noise out of you. Don’t hold it in. Give voice to it. Let God know; let someone else know. Come on, let it out. I know it’s in you. Don’t be shy. Try a “Hallelujah!”

                “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.” (Psalm 100:1)

                Louder! I can’t hear you!

Dale