Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise him.
(Psalm 33:1, NLT)

Music has a way of stirring emotions within us.  Joy, excitement, passion, sorrow, expectation.   Music can lift us up, sooth us, put us in a party mood, and even speak to our pain and suffering.

It seems fitting, therefore, for the Psalmist to call us to sing to and praise our Lord.
Whether we set the Psalms to music or compose our own, sing contemporary songs or love the old hymns, use a few instruments, a band, an entire orchestra, or none at all, we can be drawn into a time of praise and worship of our God through music.

Every once in a while, our church revisits some of the old hymns.  They are such beautiful reminders of who God is and touch on the deeper truths of Scripture.

The truth of God eternal and His perfection:
Holy Holy Holy
“Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be…
…Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.”

The truth of Christ, eternal, suffering, victorious, glorified:
Crown Him with many Crowns
“Crown Him the Son of God, before the worlds began,
And ye who tread where He hath trod, crown Him the Son of Man;
Who every grief hath known that wrings the human breast,
And takes and bears them for His own, that all in Him may rest.
Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save….
…Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,
Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.”

He is our Wisdom, True Word, Shield, Sword, Dignity, Delight, Shelter, and our Inheritance:
Be Thou My Vision
“Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art…
…Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.”

A call for all of creation, sun, moon, wind, waters, earth and men, to worship Him:
All Creatures of our God and King
“Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!”

To consider the stars, thunder, woods, birds, mountains, breezes, and yes, to consider Christ who died for us and is coming again.
How Great Thou Art
“Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!”

Are you singing for joy to the Lord? Are you praising Him today?
Put on some music, warm up those vocal cords, lift up those hands, and even dance with abandon as you sing.
“Lift up your voice and with us sing, Alleluia! Alleluia!”

Prayer
Father, thank you for vibrations that travel through the air and for ears to perceive those vibrations as sound.  Thank you for sounds that can be combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony and melody.  Thank you for the gift of words and the ability to praise You.

Grace & Peace