Keys to the Kingdom
By Carolyn Tucker
Don’t Forget to Sing
As a child, I dearly loved attending Vacation Bible School. I enjoyed singing the songs that were geared for my age. One of my favorites was: “Praise Him, praise Him! Praise Him in the morning, praise Him in the noontime. Praise Him, praise Him! Praise Him when the sun goes down!” I also had a favorite grown-up song in the hymnal entitled, “He Keeps Me Singing” written by Luther B. Bridgers 1910: “There’s within my heart a melody. Jesus whispers sweet and low: ’Fear not, I am with thee; peace, be still,’ in all of life’s ebb and flow. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus — sweetest name I know. Fills my every longing; keeps me singing as I go.” The following anonymous quote really speaks to me: “Don’t let the song go out of your life.”
In the Old Testament, we read of the account when the land of Judah was in dire straits because of the invasion of the Moabites and Ammonites. King Jehoshaphat prayed a prayer that we’ve all uttered when we’ve found ourselves in a dilemma. In everyday language, here’s what the king prayed to God: “We have no way to protect ourselves against this mighty army! We don’t know what to do — but we’re looking to You.” Jahaziel, the spokesman for God then answered: “Don’t be afraid nor dismayed, for the battle is not yours, but God’s!”
Early the next morning the army of Judah went out toward the battlefield. After consulting with the leaders of the Israelite people, King Jehoshaphat appointed a choir to march ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising Him for His faithful love. “At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped (2 Chronicles 20:22-24 NLT).
This Old Testament incident clearly indicates that Christ followers should reason less about our problems and sing and praise more. “Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and sing joyful songs of praise” (Psalm 95:2 GNT). We could be more joyful and peaceful if we would stop self-revolving and inward thinking. We can pray and sing our cares away a lot easier than we can reason them away. When we don’t know what to do, we are to look to God to give us strength and a victory song.
I’ve heard that singing is the last thing robins do before retiring for the night. When they’ve finished their daily work; flown their last flight, and eaten their last worm, then they give voice to their evening song. When my schedule allows, I’ve recently started playing piano and singing gospel songs before going to bed. “God is the One who saves me; I will trust Him and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord gives me strength and makes me sing. He has saved me” (Isaiah 12:2 NCV). Surely we can be as smart as a bird and bring a prayer of thanksgiving and a joyful song before turning in for the night.
The Key: Don’t let the song go out of your life.