Psalm 96:1; 98:1; 149:1
I SING BECAUSE
Singing is as universal as any activity individuals participate in.
A seminary student was leading the music for a small church. His first Sunday "jitters" became apparent after the choir completed a beautiful special number. Relieved, he turned to the congregation and said, "Let’s all stand and sing, ’When We All Get to Heaven’ while the choir goes down below."
Did you hear about the lady who got terribly upset and quit singing in the choir? Apparently, the one Sunday she was absent, several people inquired if the organ had finally been fixed.
The Bible is filled with instances of singing. It was an vital part of the worship of Israel, and now is an essential part of the worship of the church.
However, about forty percent of churchgoers seem to have picked up the idea that "singing in church is for singers." The truth is that "singing is for believers."
Lest I miscalculated “sing” or a form of the word are mentioned some 218 times in the Bible. Our phrase "Sing Unto The LORD" appears on 16 occasions, 10 of them in the Psalms.
It was interesting to me that this phrase appeared on three occasions in those Psalms with the addition of the phrase, "a new song." The word "new" means that which is fresh. Christians are to be a singing people. Psalm 40:1-3 “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 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.” OUT OF THE MIRE INTO THE CHOIR.
One of the marks of being filled with the Spirit is joyful singing. See Ephesians 5:18,19. Spirit-filled people overflow with song.
Several years ago a pastor stayed overnight at the home of a young couple. He was awakened the next morning by a soprano voice singing, “Nearer, My God to Thee.” At breakfast he mentioned to his hostess how pleased he was to hear that lovely old hymn, but that it seemed to go much faster than he had ever heard it sung before. "Oh," replied the hostess, "I guess that’s because I wasn’t paying too much attention to the words. You see, it’s a good song my mother used to sing, and I’ve found that it’s a good one to boil eggs by. Just repeat the first verse five times rapidly for soft-boiled, and eight times for hard.”
Now when we sing, we must be thoughtful and sing from the heart.
I want us to look briefly at the three occasions where the Bible says “sing unto the Lord a new song” and observe some interesting connections for the Christian. I SING A NEW SONG BECAUSE:
I. I sing because of my EXPERIENCE OF GRACE (Psalm 96:1,2)
Psalms 13:6 “I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.”
Psalms 57:7 “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.”
A. Abundant Grace
“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” His grace abounds. His grace is abundant. His grace is sufficient grace. The word "sufficient" speaks of that which is enough. God’s grace is always enough for whatever you need. God’s grace will be what you need, all you need, and sufficient for your need.
Charles Spurgeon was riding home one evening after a heavy day’s work, feeling weary and depressed. The verse came to his mind, "My grace is sufficient for thee." In his mind he immediately compared himself to a little fish in the river, apprehensive lest drinking so many pints of water in the river each day he might drink the river dry. Then the river said to him, "Drink away, little fish. My stream is sufficient for you!"
Next he thought a little mouse in the granaries of Egypt, afraid lest its daily nibbles exhaust the supplies and cause it to starve to . Then Joseph comes along and says, "Cheer up, little mouse. My granaries are sufficient for you!"
Then he thought of a man climbing some high mountain to reach its lofty summit and dreading lest his breathing might exhaust all the oxygen in the atmosphere. The Creator booms His voice out from heaven, saying, "Breathe away, oh man, and fill your lungs. My atmosphere is sufficient for you!"
Whatever the need , whatever the problem, whatever the size or degree of your situation, God’s grace is sufficient! Not only do we see that is, the abundant grace, but it is also:
B. Available Grace
Do you need His grace today? His grace is available to you. Are you at a place where you don’t what to do or which way to turn? God’s grace is available. Is the burden of your problem more than you are able to handle? God’s grace is available.
God’s grace is available when you need it. God’s grace is always available for whatever you need, and whenever you need it. Will you not let Him give you this day the grace you need?
Wonderful grace of Jesus, Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it, Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden, Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus, Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me. Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame, O magnify the precious Name of Jesus. Praise His Name!
II. I sing because of my EXPRESSIONS OF GRATITUDE (Psalm 98:1)
Psalms 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”
Count your blessings. Thankfulness is a commanded grace, a crowning grace, and a conquering grace.
INGRATITUDE is the worst of vices.
A man by the name of Robert E. Bruce relates the following incident: "While walking along a busy street one day, I heard someone singing. His sweet voice was distinguishable even above the noise of the traffic. When I located him, I noticed that he had no legs and was pushing himself through the crowd in a wheelchair. Catching up with him, I said, ‘I want you to know, friend, that to hear singing from a person in your condition gives everyone else a lift.’ He answered with a grateful smile, ‘When I stopped looking at what I had lost and began concentrating on all what I had, I found much for which I could rejoice and be thankful.’"
I am Thankful for...
....the taxes I pay because it means I’m employed.
....the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
....a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
....the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
....my huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
....all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
....the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.
....the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.
....the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I’m alive.
The whole Christian life is one big “thank You,” a living expression of our gratitude to God for His goodness.
A. The presence that shepherds me
Psalm 23
B. The peace that settles me
C The power that sustains me
D. The person that strengthen me
E. The provisions that satisfy me
1. His provisions are always on time
2. His provisions are always on target
3. His provisions are always on top (the best)
F. The people that surround
1. Christian family
2. Christian friends
3. Christian fellowship
G. The precepts that steer me
Psalm 119:105
III. I sing because of my EXPECTATIONS OF GLORY (Psalm 149:1)
Psalm 149 is clearly anticipating the second coming of Christ. I can cheerfully sing in the present when I reflect upon the future. For the child of God the best is yet to come.
A. There is a glorious resurrection
I THESSALONIANS 4:13-18
If I die, I will be raised up.
B. There is a glorious rapture
If I am alive, I will be caught up.
C. There is a glorious reunion
D. There is a glorious rest
1. Rest from all my sorrow
2. Rest from all my sufferings
3. Rest from all my struggling
4. Rest from all my sin
C. H. Spurgeon once asked, “Do we sing as much as the birds do? Yet what have birds to sing about, compared with us? Do we sing as much as the angels do? Yet they were never redeemed by the of Christ? Birds of the air, shall you excel me? Angels, shall you exceed me? You have done so, but I intend to emulate you, and day by day, and night by night, pour forth my soul in sacred song.”
Conclusion:
Eternity is too short to sing His praises. May we begin now.
