Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! [Psalm 84:4]

Martin Luther loved music saying, “I have no use for cranks who despise music, because it is a gift of God. Music drives away the Devil and makes people joyful; they forget thereby all wrath, unchastity, arrogance, and the like. Next after theology, I give to music the highest place and the greatest honor.”

In fact, “Sing” occurs 115 times; “singing” 29 times; “song” 85 times; “hymn” 3 times; and “music” 29 times in the ESV. That is 261 references to singing songs to God in 66 books of the Bible.

Faith Lutheran Choir is starting up again with Wednesday night rehearsals from 6:30 to 8PM. Chester Bammel is directing and we have a new pianist who will accompany us. I’m excited because this will greatly enhance our worship on Sunday mornings.

We would love to have you – any and all levels of skill. (And if you are not in our church, join or start a choir in YOUR church.)

If you are not quite ready to join a choir, please ask God to give you the boldness to participate in singing the hymns on Sunday morning.

Music and singing is like God’s Neosporin for your scratched up soul. It helps you heal and protects you from infection.

We can sing in any situation.

We sing when we win.

Considering what God has done for us in Christ, we have won big!

Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! [Psalm 105:2]

We sing when we lose.

We rebel against the world by proclaiming God’s faithfulness in spite of our circumstances.

But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. [Psalm 59:16]

Paul and Silas knew this. [The Philippian Jailer] put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them… [Acts 16:24-25]

Afraid?

Afraid your singing will strike fear into those around you? Here’s YOUR verse!
(Spoiler alert! It all turns out fine in the end, so sing anyway!)

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. [Psalm 40:3]

As [Jesus] was drawing near–already on the way down the Mount of Olives–the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”

He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” [Luke 19:37-40]

No storm can shake my inmost calm
while to that Rock I’m clinging.
Since Love is lord of heav’n and earth,
how can I keep from singing?

The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
a fountain ever springing!
All things are mine since I am his!
How can I keep from singing?*

How can we keep from singing?

Darren

*Verses from https://hymnary.org/text/my_life_flows_on_in_endless_song_above