There is noise and there is noise!

If I said to you the word, ‘noise’ I think that you would have in your mind, banging, crashing, clattering, in other words a chaotic sound.
 
Why I came to think about the word noise was, that, whilst I was watching football highlights on the TV I was told by the lady of house, in no uncertain terms, it was far too loud and that people down the road or even in the next village didn’t want the noise from our telly disturbing their lives.
 
Believe it or not there are even colours for noise. If you really want to find out you can ‘Google’ it and find there is white noise, pink noise and even brown noise. Now I’m sure someone maybe interested in going that far, but generally speaking noise tends to be a bit irritating. The classic would be, of course, if you’re in a library and someone is dropping books on tables, moving chairs, humming away, oblivious of the silence others are seeking.
 
My thoughts then went to a more serious side, to the destructive noise of gossip, the unwholesome noise of smutty stories, the internal noise of jealousy, the clamouring noise of loneliness. These are quite different sources of noise that we don’t readily think of. All this from one word.
 
Of course, there is good noise, the sound of a ‘well done’ and the clapping of hands and cheering. We are encouraged from God’s Word in Psalm 98 and now as you read it be lifted up and inspired by the noise of praise and worship. The noise of creation joining in, the rivers clapping their hands, the shouts of joy, the sounds of the harp and the trumpet blast. What a loud sound of praise!
 
We know from Scripture that God will also speak through the quiet and stillness. Praise Him this week, make a joyful noise, but also listen to His call to you.