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The Song Of Life
Contributed by David Nolte on Oct 3, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: Compares a song to the Chriatian life
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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