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Psalm 5: 11 But let all who take
refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.
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Blessed are those who are totally dependent on Jesus for their joy.* |
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David wants us to sing for joy - and he doesn’t give
us any other specifications. He doesn’t say whether we should sit, stand, kneel
or dance. He doesn’t direct us to sing verses one, two and four. He doesn’t
tell us to clap or not to clap, or what instruments to use – if any at all. He
doesn’t tell us to sing only songs written between 1890 and 1946. And he
especially doesn’t suggest that we look critically at others whose joyful
expressions are not like ours – robbing all of us of our joy.
As Christians, we have a refuge in our Savior. A
refuge is a place – singular - of
safety, not places - plural. That
means we all share the space and, according to this verse, we sing for joy
together. Well . . . wouldn’t that be nice? Has there ever been anything more
divisive in the church than our taste in music? Would I start looking for
another congregation to worship with if the one I attend suddenly adopted a
country music format? Would it be wrong if I did? Could my attitude make a difference
in the right or wrong of it? What does music have to do with our salvation? We
sing for joy because we are saved,
not to become saved.
As one writer expresses
it, “It is the inalienable right of every true child of God to accept this
passage . . . as his very own inheritance.”* How are we to take joy
in our inheritance if we squabble with the other heirs over matters of personal
taste? And why would anyone want to become a part of a family like that?
I don’t have answers for
the questions I have posed - I have my own opinions and preferences, after
all. But here is something I do know: Not
all music is beautiful to my ear but all praise is beautiful to God’s ear. If
we were to put our efforts into praising God in everything we do – if we would
ever sing for joy - perhaps our hearing would improve!
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I have learned that God blesses people I disagree with!* |
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