After I read today’s verses and devotional, I listened to the song, “You Shall Go Out with Joy.” I pictured the Ents from the Lord of the Rings movies marching along in a parade of celebration, dancing and clapping their hands to the music. Regardless of one’s frame of reference, these verses certainly create a striking visual! And I agree with Wiltschek about the upbeat melody of the song inviting us to join in.
Personally, I like to linger over the celebration of Palm Sunday, so I am grateful for these uplifting verses. I’d like to rest in that euphoria rather than move ahead toward Friday, the dark cloud that hangs over Holy Week.
I love the imagery in today's verses, especially the trees clapping their hands. This makes me think of today's "Bird Note" (a 2-minute daily podcast I try to listen to every morning). Today's Bird Note was about the importance of oak trees for birds. I highly recommend the website and the daily podcast. "Oaks support more caterpillars [needed to raise baby birds] than any other tree genus." The moral of the story: if you like songbirds, plant oak trees.