The Hymn Book--“Banished and Vanished”-part 3

The Hymn Book--“Banished and Vanished”-part 3 

 Regardless of popular thought, everyone who comes to know Jesus Christ will have difficulty conforming their lives to the image of Christ unless they know who He is, what He is like and His expectations are for those who love and serve Him.  Romans 8:29 states, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”  Singing hymns has for centuries been an excellent source of gaining that necessary knowledge.  It is a valuable staple in a church’s spiritual diet.  As I have often mentioned in my teaching and philosophical writings, every fellowship of seekers and believers needs a balanced musical diet.  Although a church may survive on an incomplete spiritual diet, why impoverish them?  If we do they will probably will have a harder time growing spiritually. 

Think about what the Bible is teaching us when it states in Psalm 26:6 -7, “I will wash mine hands in innocence: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.”  Without writing a lengthy homily, let me simply say that the psalmist expressed his belief that it was important to tell others (with thanksgiving) about the wonderful things that YHVH had done in his life. Psalm 98:1 also teaches that our musicing should tell others about the marvelous things that the LORD has done when it states, “O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.”  Singing gospel songs does just that—they brag on God for what he has done in the life of the born-again Christian. These scriptures clearly teach that those who love and serve God to compass God’s altar with music that tells of His wonderful works. Psalm 34:2 explains, {My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.”  Psalm 44:8 states, “In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever.”

 So, our musicing in the worship service should include this vital dimension.  I find it difficult to understand what could cause a worship leader to not want to sing about the marvelous freedom that the saving grace of Jesus Christ our redeemer brings to the believer.  It has been the responsibility of the Chief Musician to be a teacher and a teller for as long as the Holy Writ has recorded the responsibilities of worship in ancient Israel.  An ancient landmark of musicing unto God is grateful, joyful, thankful Chief Musicians who are seers and tellers of God’s goodness, justice, love, forgiveness, longsuffering, mercy and wisdom—to mention only a few of the things about who God is and what He does.