Our Reading: Psalm 98 & Psalm 52:10
I was at a Christian concert recently with my youngest daughter and I had an amazing time worshiping God collectively. The coliseum can hold 22,000 and it was pretty full. As I looked around at the thousands of people united in their joy and expression of faith through music I thought that this is just an inkling of what heaven will be like. It truly gave me goosebumps.
God designed us to connect with music and be able to enjoy it. He also designed music to be a form of connection and worship to glorify Him. You can find at least 185 songs in the Bible and 80% of these come from the book of Psalms which we are currently studying.
The use of song in the Bible covers a multitude of events to include songs of sorrow, funeral dirges, and tales of battle and tragic events. But, in this Psalm, the Psalmist encourages us to focus on the positive and from that focus, can come hopeful songs of joy that glorify God and look forward to a brighter, wondrous future.
“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.” Psalm 98:1-2
Has the Lord done marvelous things for you? Has He provided salvation for you? Then, you too have reason for joy and to join in songs of worship to celebrate all that God has promised you from His outpouring of love.
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!” Psalm 98:4-6
But what if your circumstances aren’t joyful? I think music and focus on praise can help to lift our countenance. Perhaps that is why Paul and Silas were singing while fastened in chains within the prison.
“We may sing beforehand, even in our winter storm, in the expectation of a summer sun at the turn of the year; no created powers can mar our Lord Jesus’ music, nor spill our song of joy. Let us then be glad and rejoice in the salvation of our Lord; for faith had never yet cause to have wet cheeks, and hanging-down brows, or to droop or die.” Samuel Rutherford
Current circumstances are just that…current. Eternal circumstances are what we can look forward to. Hope gives us cause to sing a new song. All the Earth awaits the joy of His coming when He shall take all sorrow and corruption away.
“Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.” Psalm 98:7-9
Prayer: Father, we thank you for the gift of music. We also thank you for all of the joyous reasons You have provided for us to lift our voices in praise. May You lift our countenance and fill our hearts to bursting with a new song that glorifies You!