Singing To Remember

Singing To Remember

Psalm 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

       Many times in the Book of Psalms we are admonished to “sing unto the LORD”.  As a matter of fact the Hebrew title for the Book of Psalms is the Cepher Tehillim (5612, 8416) which means the Scroll of Praises.  This verse from the Scroll of Praises specifically admonishes those who are “saints of his” to sing unto Jehovah.  It is a good thing for the unregenerate person to sing about God, but this psalm is directed to the redeemed.  This lyric poem is identified in the superscription as a mizmowr shiyr (2167, 7892) which the AV renders a Psalm Song.  These two words actually mean a song set to instrumental music.  So, we justly gather that it is a praise song (poem) set to instrumental music. Furthermore it is a song of thanks and remembrance.

       The poet remembers that the LORD has lifted him up, healed him, brought his soul from the grave, made him to stand strong, as well as other wonderful things.  Although he has many needs, the self-existent, eternal God, who not only was but is alive, has and will deliver him from his troubles.

       Christian musicians, being prone to melancholy, fail to have the attitude of this psalmist.  Because they get depressed they “sing the blues” about their troubles rather than remembering that it is amazing what praising can do for the Christian who is depressed .   Ministering musicians are so intensely involved in their busy little “cloudy world” that they fail to take advantage of the means of grace that will build them up in the “most holy faith”.  These depressed musicians lead others in worship but fail to partake of the divine fruit that is on God’s table.

        The psalmist admonishes these musicians to “Sing unto the Lord”.  He also emphasizes the importance of singing songs of praise that will cause the “saints” to remember of Jehovah’s holiness (quodesh 6944), which means remembering “most holy” things about God.

     Why not stop whining right now, and start singing God’s praises as you call to remembrance all the wonderful things God has done for you.  Surely you, as a musician, know an appropriate praise chorus that is fitting for your situation.  I suggest that you sing out loud so that you can drown out the whispering of Satan.  Remember that you will probably remain depressed if you continue to listen to the wrong voice.