Songs of Praise

I think there is almost nothing in this world as beautiful as hearing a congregation stand and sing hymns to the glory of God. It just takes my breath away as you hear the lovely music and words to the wonderful old hymns that were written by men and women who loved the Lord and wrote words and music to praise and thank Him. This goes right back to the Old Testament and is mentioned there many times. If you do a search on your computer, you will find many references to singing and songs. You can also find many of these old hymns online if you have a computer.
In a world full of chaos and uncertainty I find it very comforting to listen to hymns. They change your focus from what is going on in your life at the time to praising God. “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” (Psa. 40:2-3). “O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.” (Psa. 96:1-3) It’s amazing how just singing the words in these hymns reinforces them in your heart and you feel His presence there with you as you praise Him.

I am very fortunate to go to a fairly large church that still sings these wonderful old hymns and a friend of mine who visited church with me one day commented on how the congregation sang with gusto and with a commitment to the words of the hymns. We were all glorifying God and He was there with us. We were singing for His glory, not for our own satisfaction. Our focus is on God, not on ourselves. This takes us away from this earth to God and His Kingdom. Listening to and singing these wonderful hymns could be a help to us in these troubling times. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” (Eph. 5:18-20) Words of comfort in song, “No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isa. 35:9-10) “And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” (Rev. 15:2-4)

Of course we must not forget Mary’s Song of Praise to the Lord in Luke 1:46-55 which is often know as the Magnificat. This is Mary’s response to Elizabeth when she spoke of the child that was in Mary’s womb.  What wonderful words these are. “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”