One thing I am missing during the days we are passing through is singing. We have not been able to go into the residential homes and we are not able to sing when gathered together. However, I hope that we are still in the habit of singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Eph 5:19). After all we have much to sing about.
My heading is taken from Exodus 15:1 the song of Moses and the children of Israel – I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. We are familiar with the account of how the Lord redeemed the people from Egypt and brought them through the Red Sea, destroying the pursuing Egyptians. This brought about an immediate response – then sang Moses and the children of Israel.
As we reflect upon the greatness of our salvation it will surely prompt us to worship, praise and thanksgiving and this can be expressed in song (in our hearts). Indeed, one of the verses on the wall at York Street reminds us – And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: (Psalm 40:3). If Israel were able to sing of the one who hath triumphed gloriously, well may we sing of our redeemer
I will sing of my redeemer,
And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered,
From the curse to set me free.
Sing, O, sing of my redeemer,
With His blood He purchased me;
On the cross He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt and made me free.
It may be that some are not keen singers or even think that they cannot sing: take encouragement as the scriptures exhort us to make a joyful noise with no reference to tunefulness. This expression is found seven times in the Psalms but I will quote just one – O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation (Psalm 95:1).
As the people of God we pass through many circumstances of life as have all generations. Is there a place for singing in every case? Well, those carried away to Babylon were required to sing but asked the question: How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? (Psalm 137:4). However, we come to the New Testament and find Paul and Silas in prison in Philippi and what do we read? And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them (Acts 16:25).
It is also true of the Lord Himself on the night He was betrayed, for we read – And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives (Matt 26:30). In this instance, our blessed Lord knew what lay ahead that night and beyond and He could sing.
We have much to sing about now and we will be taken up with singing in a coming day (see Rev 5) but as the hymn exhorts –
Let us with joy adopt the strain
We soon shall sing for ever there:
‘Worthy’s the Lamb for sinners slain,
Worthy alone the crown to wear!’
Steve