The Song Of Life

From ancient times, God’s people have been a singing people. There are 150 hymns in the

Bible – we call them Psalms. The Israelites sang them in times of anxiety and lamentation,

in times of joy and celebration, in times of victory and praise.

The Psalmist urges us, “Sing a new song to the LORD, for he has done wonderful deeds. His

right hand has won a mighty victory; His holy arm has shown His saving power! The LORD

has announced His victory and has revealed His righteousness to every nation! He has

remembered His promise to love and be faithful to Israel. The ends of the earth have seen

the victory of our God. Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for

joy! Sing your praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song, with

trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the LORD, the

King! Let the sea and everything in it shout His praise! Let the earth and all living things

join in. Let the rivers clap their hands in glee! Let the hills sing out their songs of joy

before the LORD. For the LORD is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with

justice, and the nations with fairness.” Psalm 98:1-9 (NLT).

God even provides the music! “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our

God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.” Psalm 40:3 (NIV).

Let’s consider our lives to be a song about Jesus. When your life sings about Jesus,

certain things must hold true:

I. LET THE SONG BE JOYFUL:

A. “Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!”

B. God is not a sour-pussed old grouch! God doesn’t want any of His children to

be pickle-pussed, snarly-faced crosspatches, either. However, the fact remains

that there are appropriate times for a sad song.

1. Consider Job. He was being tormented by Satan and lost his wealth, his children

and his health. His wife urged him to curse God and die. He refused to do so and

said, “My harp plays sad music, and my flute accompanies those who weep.” Job

30:31 (NLT).

2. Consider Jeremiah, the heart-broken prophet. He said, relevant to Israel’s sins,

“My grief is beyond healing; my heart is broken.” Jeremiah 8:18 (NLT).

3. Consider the Psalmist who wrote, “You know of my shame, scorn, and disgrace.

You see all that my enemies are doing. Their insults have broken my heart, and

I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn

and comfort me.” Psalm 69:19-20 (NLT).

4. And most important, consider Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus. We read, “Jesus

wept.” John 11.35 (NLT).

C. There is a time to weep, but Joy is the final verse and chorus.

1. “Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise His holy name. For His anger

lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the

night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:4-5 (NLT).

2. “Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!” Psalm

98:4 (NLT).

D. So, ok, what’s the payoff? What do we gain or impart by being joyful?

1. Joy feels a lot better than the blues.

2. Joy is attractive and draws others while negativity drives them away.

3. Joy glorifies God because, regardless of circumstances, it says, “God is still

blessing me!”

4. Joy, like the “crankies,” is contagious and adds joy to others.

5. Joy makes us productive because we cease our pity-party and engagé with life.

E. There is a story about King Richard I, known also as Richard the Lionhearted,

who in one of his adventures during the Crusades was taken prisoner and

confined within the gloomy walls of an Eastern dungeon. In England Richard had

a favorite minstrel, who was always able to lessen his master’s weariness with song.

There was one song in particular that always cheered the king, so the faithful singer

went singing this song outside the walls of many foreign prisons and fortresses,

seeking his master. At last one day he heard it echoed from within a dungeon and

knew the voice, and cried out, “O Richard! O my king!” That song had floated

around many prisons and had been heard within by many other prisoners, but it

meant no more to them than a beautiful song by an idle wanderer; but to Richard it

was a song of joy because meant deliverance and happiness and home.

So Christ moves through the world in His followers, passing the prisons of the earth