Applause

We see it all the time. Crowds applauding when their favorite team makes a big play. When the guest of honor approaches the podium and when the speech is concluded.
After experiencing a remarkable performance. When someone connects with the infectious beat of a song. The examples are endless.
Being the father of one, and soon to be two little children, I find myself relating many things back to things I’ve seen or lessons I’ve learned in my brief time as a parent. It’s amazing how much God can teach us through children. It makes sense though. In Matthew 18:3 Jesus said "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Many of us “adults” tend to forget the simplicity and sincerity that a child has.

One of the first things many babies learn to do is clap their hands. It’s a simple enough action. Then we teach them when to clap their hands. It may be when a task is accomplished or when something good is done. In essence, any time something is worthy of a pause to show appreciation and/or admiration. Isn’t it curious then, how little time we spend applauding the only One who truly is good and whose actions truly are worth the admiration?

Two accounts given in scripture depicting worship through applause can be found in Psalms 47:1 and in Isaiah 55:12. Psalms 47:1 says “O clap your hands, all peoples; shout to God with the voice of joy.” Isaiah 55:12 says "For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
In these two accounts we see that God desires worship from all of creation. One of the ways of outwardly showing our joy and thankfulness to the Lord is by clapping our hands. Also, please note that God is far more worthy than a “golf clap”! He is the creator, sustainer, savior and sovereign ruler over all that is and He deserves more than our ‘half-hearted-mildly-amused’ perversion of a form of worship.

I understand that there are some who are in places of playing and leading worship, among other positions, who have made the mistake of seeking applause for their own glory. Just as a reminder, everyone on our worship team at Mill Creek Bible Church routinely is trained in the principle that any and all glory is God’s. If we desire God to take center stage in our lives, there is no room for an ego!

May we have a renewed understanding and engage in expressing the joy of the Lord within us by passionately applauding He who is worthy. Father, Son and Holy Spirit!