The Value Of Song

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Illustration.
David And His Harp. "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing." Ps. 100:2.

1. How early in the world's history do we read of singing?

“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? ... when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Job 38:4-7.

2. What did Israel do when delivered from Egypt?

“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, ... The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: ... and I will exalt Him.” Ex. 15:1, 2.

3. How did the angels manifest their joy at Christ's birth?

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:13, 14.

4. How are we told to come before the Lord?

“Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing.” Ps. 100:2. See 2 Chron. 29:30.

5. How does David say such service is regarded by God?

“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. Ps. 69:30, 31.

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6. What instruction did Paul give concerning singing?

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Col. 3:16. See also Eph. 5:19; James 5:13; Ps. 149:5, 6.

Notes.—Music, like poetry and flowers, is elevating and refining in its nature, and should therefore have its place in the worship of God, and in the life and experience of God's people. It is adapted to every mood and feeling of the human soul, and many times has reached hearts when other means have failed. Next to prayer, music seems best adapted to worship.

The history of the songs of the Bible is full of suggestion as to the uses and benefits of music and song. Music is often perverted to serve purposes of evil, and it thus becomes one of the most alluring agencies of temptation. But, rightly employed, it is a precious gift of God, designed to uplift the thoughts to high and noble themes, to inspire and elevate the soul. As the children of Israel, journeying through the wilderness, cheered their way by the music of sacred song, so God bids His children today gladden their pilgrim life. There are few means more effective for fixing His words in the memory than repeating them in song. And such song has wonderful power. It has power to subdue rude and uncultivated natures; power to quicken thought and to awaken sympathy, to promote harmony of action, and to banish the gloom and foreboding that destroy courage and weaken effort.Education, pages 167, 168.

O that we might sing evening and morning, and let song touch song all the way through! O that we could put songs under our burden! O that we could extract the sense of sorrow by song! Then sad things would not poison so much. Sing in the house; teach your children to sing. When troubles come, go at them with song. When griefs arise, sing them down. Lift the voice of praise against cares. Praise God by singing; that will lift you above trials of every sort. Attempt it. They sing in heaven, and among God's people on earth song is the appropriate language of Christian feeling.Henry Ward Beecher.

7. What instrument did John see the saints have?

“I saw ... them, ... having the harps of God.” Rev. 15:2.

8. And what song are they to sing?

“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.” Verse 3. See Ps. 87:7.


Out of my heart I sing a song,
O world so great and grand!
But hearts are weak, and hands reach out
For the touch of a kindly hand.
O song that I sing, I pray you bring
To some sad soul thy balm;
Fall soft, I pray, like the breath of May,
Or the touch of a loving hand.
I sing for hearts that ache and break,
I sing for hearts that are true;
O world so vast, O world so wide,
I sing my song for you!
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Illustration.
The Good Samaritan. "When he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds." Luke 10:33, 34.
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