Do You Have A New Song In Your New Heart?
Good Morning Friends,
I recently received a devotional from a friend on today’s scripture. It was about having a song in one’s heart which is really about having God in one’s heart and not so much about vocalizing at all. And then it dawned on me how important it is to have a song in one’s heart before one vocalizes for then the adoration and glory somehow makes is all the more melodious and tuneful. We become the songs we sing friends. Do You Have A New Song In Your New Heart?
Scripture:
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)
O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory. The Lord has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. 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. Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it. Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Psalm 98 (NRSV)
Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the end of the earth! Let the sea roar and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants.
Isaiah 42:10 (NRSV)
Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,
Ephesians 5:18-19 (NRSV)
Message: Last evening we were at choir practice at Moorings Presbyterian Church and some of the songs we sang were direct from scripture and some were not. Calvin’s conviction was that we should only sing the Psalms because singing was so instrumental in what forms our beliefs and it was just too risky to sing anything but scripture. That restriction has thankfully died, for if we had retained it we would never have sung songs like Amazing Grace. We would have denied the creativity of Christ in us. Still we should not brush away Calvin’s conviction of the importance of singing. Making scripture our own can be powerful. Perhaps you have a favorite hymn that has become your song. When that happens it in a way it becomes new each time it is sung. And as we look to scripture it is surprising how many times in the Bible it says “Sing a new song unto the Lord.” I count nine times and at least seven depending on the Bible version being used. Interestingly I could not find where the Bible tells us to sing old songs. What the scripture is getting at, I think, is really to sing in a way that is refreshing and alive. During worship, we sing songs about struggles. We sing of God’s help and strength through these struggles. There are songs reminding us of God’s love. There are songs of celebration, praise and testimony. But the objective is not just to sing the songs well and in tune but to make the words our words. We need the convergence of praise and a maturity of music that blends feelings and order. Like so much of God’s work we learn it is about feeling and theology connected in harmonies and also simple beautiful melodies that the Spirit works. It is not one or the other but always both that is most powerful. Maybe that is the real message.
Pray that we grow in unity with the mind of Christ. Pray we sing new songs but remember the old as well. Pray the music on our hearts blend our emotions with theology. Pray the music we sing as choirs encourages the congregation to sing to God. Pray we learn new hymns and challenging music as a way of glorifying God…as a living sacrifice. Pray we sing songs for those just beginning on the journey of faith as well as liturgical breath that spans life’s experience with Christ. Pray we lead with love people out of the ruts in which they travel. Pray we follow Christ in joy and with a song. Pray we learn to sing songs that refresh our hearts.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 