Psalms 98:1-9 (NLT)
1 A psalm. Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!
2 The LORD has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!
3 He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4 Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!
5 Sing your praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song,
6 with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the LORD, the King!
7 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the earth and all living things join in.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands in glee! Let the hills sing out their songs of joy
9 before the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness.
It’s not what the instrument feels inspired to produce that matters. Each one has its own capabilities – a trumpet sounds quite differently from a bassoon. The notes, dynamics, timing, and length of the sounds produced, however, are determined by the composer and conductor. There are both soft and intimate expressions and loud and percussive ones that come from being a part of the orchestration for the appropriate production. When the mood and atmosphere are set for a quiet, melodic expression, all of the instruments will be unified in producing what the conductor calls for. However, when the occasion is to celebrate a victory, triumph, or the honor of a great deed, the energy produced by the instrument is adjusted to be part of an appropriate dynamic. How odd and disruptive it would be to start shouting in a quiet moment of intimacy or to remain subdued in loud moments of celebration. Either may be done, but will not contribute their part to the intended purpose of the moment.
From the conductor of this song, there is a setting of the appropriate sounds the instruments will produce. This is the acknowledgment of the One who has won a great triumph for the people He loves. There will be wonderful moments to savor nearness to our Victor, but at this time and for this moment, the conductor is calling all instruments to produce in fortissimo (top volume). Although each instrument has unique capabilities, they are united in deference to the preference of appropriately honoring the Lord, resulting in a unified symphonic sound. Where the preferred volume may be one where they produce their best sound, that sound will not contribute to the required effect. There will be a time when “As the Deer” will necessitate pianissimo (soft), and loud, boisterous eruptions will be completely inappropriate. But for this occasion, as all instruments take on the timbre and attack of the composer’s notation, there will be an honoring of a triumph that is worthy of a great cacophony of honoring praise.