The Church Sings!
We are the people who sing.
Psalm 149:1 (ESV) Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!
Our Psalm calls us to worship the Lord with singing lips!
Singing is done by those enjoying life in the moment. I live in New England. When the Boston Red Sox reach the middle of the eighth inning, the entire crowd sings at the top of their lungs "Sweet Caroline." They are singing and making a joyful sound.
What I realized is that outside of that Fenway experience, singing really only happens in the Church.
Men used to sing as they went off to war.
Families used to sing around the piano.
Scout troops had their songs.
High School students used to know their school song...
But today, singing isn't very common.
May the Church never lose her song! Why? Because we have something to be joyful about!
Psalm 149:2–3 (ESV) Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! 3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
We sing not simply for who God is, we sing for what He's done for us...
Psalm 149:3–4 (NLT) Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. 4 For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.
Psalm 149:5–6 (NLT) Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. 6 Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands—
Notice the song of war! In the ancient world, Israel would sing after battles the Lord gave them. Look at David - he was a commander and singer! Look at Miriam after Pharaoh's army is swallowed in the sea... singing!
Sing because of what God has done for you, sing because He delights in you. Sing to see the victory come through you.
Is it no wonder Paul calls on the Ephesians to sing right before that great passage on family responsibilities and Spiritual warfare?
Ephesians 5:18–20 (NLT) Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Could it be he knew salvation should lead to singing, which prepares our heart for loving one another and winning the spiritual fight we are in?
Think of how many songs are born out of great victories in the Church.
Luther would write powerful hymns out of the Reformation.
Charles Wesley would write out of the Great Awakening.
Even since the early 1900s, the Pentecostal and Charismatic awakenings have produced songs for every denomination today!
When God moves powerfully we sing.
When we sing, God moves powerfully.
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 149:1 (ESV) Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!
Our Psalm calls us to worship the Lord with singing lips!
Singing is done by those enjoying life in the moment. I live in New England. When the Boston Red Sox reach the middle of the eighth inning, the entire crowd sings at the top of their lungs "Sweet Caroline." They are singing and making a joyful sound.
What I realized is that outside of that Fenway experience, singing really only happens in the Church.
Men used to sing as they went off to war.
Families used to sing around the piano.
Scout troops had their songs.
High School students used to know their school song...
But today, singing isn't very common.
May the Church never lose her song! Why? Because we have something to be joyful about!
Psalm 149:2–3 (ESV) Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! 3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
We sing not simply for who God is, we sing for what He's done for us...
Psalm 149:3–4 (NLT) Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. 4 For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.
Psalm 149:5–6 (NLT) Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. 6 Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands—
Notice the song of war! In the ancient world, Israel would sing after battles the Lord gave them. Look at David - he was a commander and singer! Look at Miriam after Pharaoh's army is swallowed in the sea... singing!
Sing because of what God has done for you, sing because He delights in you. Sing to see the victory come through you.
Is it no wonder Paul calls on the Ephesians to sing right before that great passage on family responsibilities and Spiritual warfare?
Ephesians 5:18–20 (NLT) Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Could it be he knew salvation should lead to singing, which prepares our heart for loving one another and winning the spiritual fight we are in?
Think of how many songs are born out of great victories in the Church.
Luther would write powerful hymns out of the Reformation.
Charles Wesley would write out of the Great Awakening.
Even since the early 1900s, the Pentecostal and Charismatic awakenings have produced songs for every denomination today!
When God moves powerfully we sing.
When we sing, God moves powerfully.
Praise the Lord!
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