Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "aloud". We will be looking specifically at one Hebrew word translated "aloud". It's found in these verses:

Psalm 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. KJV

Psalm 59:16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. KJV

Psalm 132:16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. KJV

Psalm 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. KJV

These are all the Hebrew word "ranan". Strong's Concordance says: to creak or emit a stridulous sound, to shout usually for joy. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrrew Lexicon says: something with a piercing cry. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to sing, shout, cry out. It occurs approximately 50 times in the Hebrew old Testament, with about half of these uses being in the Book of Psalms, where there is a special emphasis on 'singing' and 'shouting' praises to God. According to the Theological Dictionary, it is often used to express joy, exultation, which seems to demand loud singing, especially when it is praise to God. I LOVE the TRUTH that God loves our praises, and He loves them LOUD! Whenever I am tempted to feel weary, out of sorts or fearful, I really do SING ALOUD! Especially in the car! Something happens when we do this uninhibitedly! It seems to release and stir up the boldness, confidence and faith that is within by God's Word and His Spirit! Here is Hillsong with "Awake My Soul":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!