“O Come, Let Us Sing unto the Lord” (Psalms 95:1 – 2)

Howdy from the Panhandle. A lot going on these days, but that has been the theme for this whole summer. I was at a Men's Retreat this last Friday and Saturday. There were four of us who went from our church, one of them was my son. I think it is cool when I can spend time with my kids at events like this. It was like that at Youth Camp this year, both my daughter and my son were there. To watch my kids worship God and study His word makes me a proud papa.

Today me and my son went into town to get our physicals, his for basketball and mine for driving the school bus. It is hard to believe that we only have a week and three days of summer vacation left.

My wife and I love Christmas music ads a matter of fact we listen to it year round. For example I listen to AccuRaido and I have a Christmas station programmed into my mix. Many of the songs are secular in nature and give voice to the festive spirit associated with the season. Most of the carols are sacred in nature and proclaim the praises of the Christ Jesus who was born in Bethlehem to be our King.

The evangelist David Pawson tells a story about a budgerigar that sang hymns. He belonged to an old lady in Cardiff and could sing a whole verse of ’What a friend we have in Jesus!’

And when visitors come to this old folks home they heard a little voice saying ’What a friend we have in Jesus,’ and they look around and there’s this budgie in a cage and for some reason they push money through the bars of the cage.

And the lady who owned it sent the money to a Missionary in Africa.

That budgie was doing more than most church members, because it was actually praising God everyday, and supporting a Missionary in Africa. The old lady had sent over £175.

It’s was only a budgerigar, - it wasn’t a believer, there are an awful lot of budgerigars in Church today, saying the Creed, singing their little hearts out, and filling the pews.

When you believe the ’good news’ you can’t simply hold onto it like a treasured possession. For God’s Kingdom to come, Christ Jesus must rule in the hearts of His people, and we must be the ones who go out and spread the good news.

I. The Angelic Host Sang a Song of Praise

Christ Jesus came to put a song in the hearts of all people. The angelic choir announced his birth with psalms of praise. They sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14). They sang to the Lord. They sang for the Lord. Our singing for the Lord should be singing to the Lord. Our songs can be the testimony of our hearts. They can be a real blessing to others if we let them give expression to our faith, our gratitude, and our love for our Lord, Christ Jesus.

The angelic host sang a song of praise and …

II. Our Lord Led His Disciples in Singing Praises: Singing has always been a part of worship, it was even a decree from God. The apostles wrote of singing in their epistles, and yes even our Lord, Christ Jesus sang songs of praise.

Psalms 81:1-4

Sing for joy to God our strength;

shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

2 Begin the music, strike the tambourine,

play the melodious harp and lyre.

3 Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon,

and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast;

4 this is a decree for Israel,

an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

Listen to what Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:19-20: Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

“When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Matthew 26:30). Even as our Lord faced the cross, He could still give voice to joyous praises to God the Father. 

 

III. The Early Church Sang The Praises of God

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people” (Acts 2:46 – 47).

They could sing about the new discovery of the greatness of the love of God that had been revealed in the sacrificial death of God’s Son on the cross. They could sing about the glad realization of forgiven sin. They could sing of their assurance that death was a defeated foe and that the grave had lost its power. They could sing concerning the continuing companionship of the living Lord who made Himself near to them and became dearer to them as time went by. They could sing of their assurance of an eternal home where there will be no more sin, suffering, or sorrow, and where fellowship with God will be unhindered and unending.

A faith that sings can make a real impact on the unbelieving. Such was the case during the first century of the Christian era, and such continues to be the case in our day. It was the prayers and songs of praise by Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail at midnight that produced a powerful spiritual impact on both the prisoners and the jailer.

Throughout the coming year let us join with the psalmist and with the saints of all ages in singing the praises of our Lord. Let us say like the psalmist said, “I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being”

(Psalms 104:33).