Singing, Joyful Trees (Chapter 12)

Wednesday Weekly Joy in Spite of Stoopidity

Kristin Schuman and Cheryl Rutledge-Brennecke

Jan 14, 2026

Joy in the Word

1 Chronicles 16: 27,33 ESV

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place…Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.

These two verses brought me immediate joy. You see, I am a forest girl. Have you seen those memes that tell you to pick houses based on location and amenities? I always combine a few to get to perfection: a cabin at the foot of a mountain, in the trees, along a creek, with a library, and tacos delivered as desired. And I’m sure you’ve heard someone, somewhere say, “Location! Location! Location!”, if you’ve ever had anything to do with real estate. It’s how prime areas are referred to when a realtor has found what fits their client best in terms of, well, location, and amenities. God desires prime area too. Your heart.

What great words are used here to describe our God…splendor, majesty, strength, joy…

Last week we dipped our toes into sounds of joy – as Cheryl said, “planned intentional joyful worship” – a response to the presence of God. And here we see that strength and joy are in his place. We can’t help but find strength and joy in the presence of God as we worship him. These verses today are in text that is a prayer of thanksgiving and worship and feasting because the ark, the presence of God, is back in Jerusalem.

…strength and joy are in his place…
…in His place…
a standing place
where one inhabits
where a thing belongs
to be established in
And when drilled down into the root word: to listen to God’s Word.

In the Old Testament God’s people had His presence in different ways, the most significant, perhaps, being in the ark of the covenant. Thus, the great planned worship and thanksgiving and feasting at its return to Jerusalem. In the New Testament we have Jesus, God with Us, Immanuel. In Christ we have the presence of God in the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We have the presence of God where He belongs. We have the presence of God established in our heart, soul, mind. We have the presence of God when we listen to the living Word of God. His place is in our heart. And if His place is in our heart, then His strength and joy are also found there. This a beautiful truth of God’s character and his unfailing love for us as His children.

The next time you’re in a forest, take time to sit in silence and listen to the trees sing for joy before the Lord, know that the presence of your Father is with you, in you, and trust you will find strength and joy in that place. His place.

And maybe have tacos too…Kristin

(1 Chronicles 16:27 ESV) Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.

(1 Chronicles 16:33 ESV) Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.

As an outdoor camping girl, my first read of these verses brings JOY to my soul as I relate to the splendor and majesty and strength seen in the trees of the forest. Yes! Can I go there now?

Looking at the entire story to summarize for context, 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 is David’s song of thanks after the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem, as the Levites lead worship before the Ark celebrating God’s greatness, faithfulness, and reign over all creation.

In verses 27 and 33, and surrounding verses, David calls for all nations to declare God’s glory by honoring Him as Creator and King.

Splendor and majesty are before God as seen in His creation, like the trees! Strength and joy are in His place. I ponder where “His place” is and think about God being omnipresent; that is, being everywhere. God is both present in His creation on earth and in heaven. He is always near. Both strength and gladness are there for me when I am near God, who is everywhere! Joy is found in God’s presence!

Luke 19:40 says, “He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Jesus responds to Pharisees who want Him to silence the disciples praising Him during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. I marvel that rocks can praise God without a voice box. When we be who God created us to be, we praise and honor God. Even a created rock that just sits there doing what rocks were created to do is praising God! I love that thought.

Let’s all go sit on a big slab of rock in the great outdoors, gently put a hand down on the hard surface next to us, while telling the rock, “thanks rock for being here praising God.” Or go hug a tree and tell it “thanks tree for being here praising God.”

Isaiah 55:12, “For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

All of nature rejoices and praises God! The rocks, mountains, hills, trees, and forest all praise God by just being what they were created to be!

Obviously trees do not have voices or hands! But their branches sway, leaves rustle, colors change, and they stand firmly rooted reaching upward, just as they were created to do.

As I stand in the forest and feel peace, I see nature rejoicing because His judgment means restoration and setting things right. Take a deep breath and exhale joy along with God’s creation! I have joy like the trees! What a fantabulous thought!

Please pray with me. Thanks God that I can have joy like the trees! Thanks for the trees and nature that bring me so much joy. Thanks for restoring Your creation back to before sin. Amen.'

This is now on my website where you can find it again by the index another time.

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Just a note: David’s “Song of Thanks” found in 1 Chronicles 16:8-36 is a compilation of verses from various Psalms, including Psalm 105:1-15, Psalm 96:1-13, and Psalm 106:1, 47-48.

In verse 27, the word JOY is in the ESV, but the word GLADNESS is in the KJV and that is the version I am using to look up the concordance. H2304 חֶדְוָה chedvâh, ḥeḏvâ, pronounced khed-vaw, joy, gladness, rejoicing.

In verse 33, the word for “SING FOR JOY” in the ESV is “SING OUT” in the KJV. H7442 רָנַן rânan, pronounced raw-nan’, to creak (or emit a stridulous sound), i.e. to shout (usually for joy): aloud for joy, cry out, be joyful (greatly, make to) rejoice, (cause to) shout (for joy), (cause to) sing (aloud, for joy, out), triumph.

Quotable

Framed Joy

This space if for art and music is an art form that I appreciate, but cannot create. I can create digital playlists though! I love the art in the graphics of this song, and has a lot of creation joy and singing and praising in it, which is fitting for our theme. Enjoy! Cheryl

Stoopidity Noticed

My eyes were SO dry the first week of the year. It must be the diesel heater from the camper for three nights, plus the dry air, and possibly dehydration. It kept me from my laptop and reading God’s Word.
I always prune my rose bushes in January, and being outside was a JOY, but the whole idea is that the rose bushes are dormant in January, but instead they all had new growth! I guess global warming is showing its face.
Throwing away food because it spoils when I try so hard not to have that happen.

unhappy people making other people unhappy
t.r.a.f.f.i.c (you know I am right)
having to wait a whole week to watch new episodes of favorite shows…but also binging on favorite shows and then having to wait a whole year for the new season…I should just read more

Joy Noticed

The first work week of the year seemed to go by fast. Yes!
Watching Ilia Malinin at the St. Louis U.S. Figure Skating Championships and winning. Figure skating is my favorite olympic sport and it has been a while since there has been someone I’m delighted to watch.
A wonderful presentation about preservation of an old building, the disappointment that the project does not exist in its intended form, and the delight that these huge 50 foot logs are actually still being enjoyed by many in a new form.