“…I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy-day.
Here are a few insights to consider from this passage:
1) Going to the house of God –
* We need to regularly gather together to praise and worship the Lord
Ps. 122:1 – I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.
Hebrews 10:22-25 – Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching.
2) With the voice of joy and praise (and thanksgiving)-
* sacrifices of joyful praise and thanksgiving
Hebrews 13:15-16 – By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Psalm 27:6 – And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
Philippians 2:7 – …if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
I Chronicles 15:22 – And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
Leviticus 22:29 – …when you will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, offer it at your own will.
Jonah 2:9 – But I will sacrifice unto you with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.
Psalm 107:22 – And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psalm 116:17 – I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.
Isaiah 51:3 – For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
Isaiah 56:7 – Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.
Jeremiah 33:11 – The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endures for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord…
I Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
3) With a multitude –
* Although our gatherings may be small at times, let’s be mindful of the fact that we are actually faithfully gathering together with a multitude – world-wide, and not only here on earth, but the angels and heavenly hosts to worship the Lord!
4) Keeping holy day –
* Keeping a day holy to the Lord. Note that there is reference to keeping it — faithfully maintaining it, not ignoring, discontinuing, or breaking it.
* Sabbath keeping is one of the 10 commandments, and very important to faithfully and regularly observe.
