Sacred Song Lyrics Must Catechize the Listener

                                                           Sacred Song Lyrics must Catechize the Listener

Deuteronomy 31:19

Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.

                The children of Israel had time after time forgotten the goodness of Jehovah and had turned to false gods of their neighbors.  In verse 16, God told Moses that it would not be long until Israel would again go after false Gods.

                Jehovah was always faithful to His people so once again he sent his man with a message.  It was a song (see Deuteronomy 32).  The purpose of this song was to witness against an apostatizing nation. 

                The musician was first to compose a song, second to teach it to them, and third to have them sing it.  It is never sufficient to “talk” the songs of Jehovah.  They must be sung.  Now song leader you know a little more why we sing the Logos Christos in church.  God has given musicians the solemn opportunity and responsibility to compose, teach, and sing the songs of Jehovah.

                Not all songs that should be sung in church will be “hippity hop over the top”.  Some of them will be “Are you living where God answers prayer?”  “A Charge to Keep I Have”, “Nothing Between My Soul and the Savior” and “Guard Your Heart”.  Whether our music is a simple praise chorus or a serious song about God’s judgment of the wicked, we should count it a privilege to catechize those who attend our church services with the songs of Jehovah.