IS THERE A SONG IN YOUR SOUL

IS THERE A SONG IN YOUR SOUL?

Eph 5:18-21

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

           Singing is one of the most natural things in God’s creation. Coyotes howl at the moon. Have you ever wondered why? Elephants trumpet and birds warble their own tune. Children, even before they can speak, express their joy and sorrow, their love and anger simply by changing the tones in their voice. Mothers listen for these songs and, by some instinct known only to mothers, translate these songs into intelligent speech.

           Music expresses emotion and is defined by culture. Most of us know the difference between classical symphonic music and the music of mountaineers we call blue grass. Celtic music conjures up even visual images of the Scotts and the Irish. But what are psalms, hymns and spiritual songs?

PSALMS -- These are the compositions of the Shepherd King David and can be found in the Bible. Some were chanted and others were put to music which is now mostly lost. Some were sung antiphonally (one group would sing a verse and another group would respond with the answering verse). When ancient psalms were put to modern music the result was early praise and worship.

HYMNS – These are songs written by more modern saints. These are poems and rhymes set to music that pictures the Christian experience. Fanny Crosby’s hymn, “All the Way my Savior Leads Me” praises the sure guidance of God in the life of the believer.

 SPIRITUAL SONGS – These are odes intended to magnify God and edify man.

 All Creatures of Our God and King

All creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing,

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou burning sun with golden beam,

Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

Refrain

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Dear Lord, fill my heart with song and let my lips praise you in the streets. AMEN

PITIFUL

PITIFUL!

James 5:11

11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

1 Peter 3:8

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

           It doesn’t cost anything to show compassion and sympathy for others except a small loss of our own self focus. We have no idea the pain others may be going through. The smile you see may be hiding a broken heart. We can’t see it unless we look closely but God does. He is very pitiful. Show kindness whenever you can and receive kindness whenever it is genuinely offered.

1 John 4:8

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

Dear Lord, make me very aware of the pain others may be feeling today. Make me able by your Spirit to minister pity. AMEN

BUT THOU O LORD

BUT, THOU O LORD!

Ps 3:1-4

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Ab'sa-lom his son.

3 Lord , how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3 But thou, O Lord , art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4 I cried unto the Lord  with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

           The chapter heading for Psalm 3 reads “A psalm of David when her fled from Absalom his son.” In 2 Samuel 15:1-6 we read that Absalom had prepared himself a chariot and 50 men to “run before him” so that he might look like a worthy official. A handsome devil who liked to wear his hair long, Absalom slowly began to steal the hearts of the people. Micah 7:6 says that “a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.” How much more terrible when your enemy is your son?

           As the situation grew worse and worse, (see Psalm 31:13) many were saying that the situation was hopeless for David. Interestingly, the word "help" in the Hebrew (‎yeshua‎) is translated "save" in verse 7 and "salvation" in verse 8 and gives us the names "Jesus" (Matt 1:21) and "Joshua." It's used 136 times in the Psalms (Warren W. Wiersbe. All rights reserved.)

           But Thou, O Lord! David remembers his “Ace in the hole.” No matter how bad things seemed to be there was God! Never bet against a poor loser who has God as his helper! Never!

Dear Lord, you are a shield for me, my glory and the lifter up of my head. Thank you that no matter how bad things seem to be, I will always have you as my helper. AMEN

YOU'RE STRONGER THAN THAT

YOU’RE STRONGER THAN THAT!

2 Cor 12:9

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

           If you have ever been injured or have had surgery and needed physical therapy, you know the dread of having to strain those relaxed joints and muscles. You know the therapist is going to challenge you – really challenge you. The therapist is going to push you till it hurts. He is going to manipulate those wounded areas and get the blood flowing again. What he is really saying is: “You’re stronger than you think.”

           If you have ever experienced an emotional or spiritual hurt you may be afraid to try again. You have found a level of discomfort you think you can live with and you just hang out there. God then comes along and challenges you – really challenges you to walk by faith one more time. He will ask you to move ahead in uncertainty and risk manipulating those wounded places once again. You don’t think you can endure it but God thinks you can because He is going to add His strength to yours. What He’s saying is: “You’re stronger than you think.”

           So, when the challenges come, don’t think of them as enemies to your comfort zone. Think of them as therapy. You are on the road to recovery and God is your therapist.

Eph 3:14-16

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Dear Lord, someone today is afraid to try again. Give them your strength and your Spirit. AMEN

GENERATIONS

GENERATIONS!

Ps 71:17-18

17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 18 Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

           From my youth! The psalmist remembers the way God has guided him, protected him, and used him like a sharp instrument. He recalls the satisfying relationship he has had and still has with his Lord. But he senses his edge is becoming dull.

           Old and gray headed! Now the psalmist feels the approach of age. He has run his race swiftly and valiantly but now he looks for a younger and stronger one to whom he might pass the baton while he slows for a rest. He expects one like himself waiting to grasp that baton and sprint to the finish. But there is concern in his voice.

           Generations change! The generation we now see do not share our focus and has not accumulated our experiences or our wisdom. Worse, they do not seem interested in learning. He asks his God for continued strength to keep running because the expected relay partner was not at the appointed connecting point. He prays!

           He is focused on the next generation! He puts aside his disappointment in their youthful errors because he remembers his own. He asks God to let him become a mentor and to spend the last of his strength as a coach. He wants the next generation to know and experience God like he has. Only then will he feel at ease to stop and rest.

           Are you young? Look around and find your mentor. Likely there is one watching you. Are you old? Look around for a candidate and invest yourself in him or her.

Joel 1:3

3 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.

Dear Lord, let me pour myself into a younger and stronger vessel. AMEN