Keep Singing

Meditations on Christ in the Psalms 

November 17, 2022

Keep Singing

“Sing a new song to the Lord,

    for he has done wonderful deeds.”

Psalm 98:1a

In reading Psalm 98, I remember a time when the Music Director at my church brought a youth group to visit the adult/dementia day care at our church. One of the young girls began singing a solo and a woman who had appeared almost comatose, raised her head, and began singing along. As soon as the song ended, the woman dropped her head and resumed her previous state. Such is the power of music in the human soul. The Book of Psalms appreciates this part of human nature, as the subject of singing appears at least eight-six times.

Not only are we inspired by music, but the scriptures also show us that God is inspired by our praise. When a vast army came against Israel, King Jehoshaphat went to the Lord in prayer. God answered his prayer saying, “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” In response, “the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!” At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the enemy armies to start fighting among themselves. Not a single one of the enemy escaped.” (2 Chronicles 20:1-24 Emphasis mine).

Often the psalmist calls us to “Sing a new song to the LORD!” Every great Christian movement has birthed new songs. From the reformation movement of Martin Luther to the Methodist movement of John and Charles Wesley, to the charismatic movement, men and women have been inspired to create new songs for praise and worship of God.

Sometimes the song we sing isn’t new, as in brand new; it is new to the circumstances of our new day. Thus, we sing a new song to the Lord as we choose to praise God amid uncertainty.

My Takeaway: I am writing this on election day and there is uncertainty about the makeup of our government in the coming months. Today is a good time for me to sing anew, and I invite you to join me,

“Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!”

2 Chronicles 20:21

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.