Clap for the Lord
I was impressed when the people of the U.K. clapped for their health service workers on March 26. Some of the people they were clapping for lost their lives to the COVID19 virus in service to their country. Likewise, the queen paid tribute to the selfless dedication of those people. Throughout the Israel nations (the Anglo-Saxon and kindred nations) the political leaders praised the doctors, nurses, care givers, police officers, emergency responders and many more people who have served us through this difficult time. If any of us were involved in those jobs, we would hope that everyone would recognize our efforts. How must our Lord feel when he has taken the burden of all of our sins on himself and died a gruesome death on the Cross for us? Can we clap for the Lord?
Clapping in the Bible was often done in celebration. “O clap your hands all ye people; shout unto God with a voice of triumph. For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.” Psalm 47:1-4. There is a day coming when our people will clap for the Lord. We clap for football players and musicians and various performers who give us pleasure. One day we will clap for the Lord for bringing in the millennial age of peace and prosperity. He will put a stop to Satan’s devices and put an end to all sickness and poverty amongst our Israel people. We have much to clap for. He has done so much for us already.
God gave us all life. The prophet Job said, “Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” Job 10:12. God has given us food and water. “He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.” Psalm 104:10-15. We live on a beautiful planet. There are thousands of beautiful landscapes all over the world. If all people obeyed God, this planet would be transformed into a paradise. Such is the promise of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ that is coming.
Many people demand that God put an end to all suffering, but they want to continue their lives of sin and disobedience. They think they are pretty good people and are not part of the problem. They are deceived. The Bible says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9. Only by trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross are we made acceptable to God and worthy of eternal life. Eternal life in the Lord’s kingdom is the most wonderful promise we can imagine, and we have the down-payment of it by the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We would like God’s righteousness to prevail throughout the world, but it cannot as long as Satan and his demons are running rampant and most of the people are believing their lies.
“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12. I believe the mountains are symbolic of great nations, the hills of lesser nations, and the trees symbolic of rulers of the people. Christians from all Israel nations shall clap their hands in celebration of the return of Jesus Christ and the age of peace and prosperity. Our duty is to believe in the Lord’s sacrifice and ask him to send the Holy Spirit into our hearts so that we will be ready to meet him when he comes.
