Sing To The Lord
Hi, on this page I will be sharing, reviewing, and recommending resources for children’s, family, and all-age, church-based work. I love to explore and discover new ideas, and creative ways of supporting this fantastic ministry. It’s such a privilege to serve the church and to help make worship meaningful and fun for children and families. I hope you’ll find my ideas and recommendations helpful.
Our lectionary reading for today is Psalm 98 and it talks about singing a new song to the Lord. I have to say we have quite a musical family and I feel very proud of the music they produce. Our grandson has just been chosen for the school chamber choir and he also plays several instruments. His favourite of course is drums and his Grandpa on his father’s side is a drum teacher who custom built an amazing drum kit for him and gives him lessons. But this is a photo of Grandpa Ish teaching his young grandson the statue song on the guitar many years ago. He laughed so much it was pure joy to watch.
Amongst all the joy and laughter there have been times in my life when music has calmed my soul and ministered deeply to me especially in times of sadness. There are so many references to the positive effect of music in the scriptures here are a few examples:
After escaping from the Egyptians and crossing the Red Sea, the people of Israel sang a song to the Lord in Exodus 15.
Singing was part of Israel’s worship in the tabernacle and the temple in 1 Chron. 6:31-32, 16:42.
The Psalms are full of inspirational songs of joy, sorrow, praise, and lament, that minister to our every circumstance.
Hymn singing was also practiced by Jesus and his disciples in Matthew 26:30.
Music was used in the New Testament Church we read in Colossians 3: 16-17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
When I first met Ish he had just co-written a nativity musical and that was what encouraged me to go along to his church youth group, who performed it in a local hall. He has of course written hundreds of songs since then and music has always played a large part in our family. Even now there is probably not a day goes by when music is not playing out of one or more of the rooms in our house. We play it in our garden and in our car when we travel. Music is a great way to process and express our feelings sometimes it just sums up everything about the way we feel.
LET US PRAY
Read Psalm 98 as a prayer and in these cold, wintry days let it lift and warm up your spirit.
Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvellous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
3 He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
RESOURCES
Finding God in the Psalms – Sing Pray Live – by Tom Wright
Praying with the Psalms: A Year of Daily Prayers and Reflections on the Words of David by Eugene H. Peterson
Praying the Psalms by Thomas Merton
