Psalm 47 commands us to sing like we mean it. Specifically, it tells us to sing loudly. God expects his praise to be an orderly ruckus. Look at all the volume signals in this psalm:
Why does God want his praises to be loud? Well, look at the psalm:
He is! That’s why we should sing like we mean it. So why don’t we?
A brief word to the men and fathers: Music in our culture has been feminized, so men don't like singing. This isn’t helped by the many, many church songs that sound like prom songs to Jesus (“Oh, how he loves us, how he loves us, how he loves us…Oh”). But men, we must reclaim singing. If we don’t, another generation of young men will grow up with fathers who don’t sing—not even at the greatness of God. Consider how that will hamstring their faith.
So, for God’s sake, let’s sing like we mean it.
Amen.
- Clap your hands! (v. 1)
- Shout to the Lord with loud songs of joy! (v. 1)
- God goes up with a shout and a trumpet blast! (v. 5)
- Sing! Sing! Sing! Sing! Sing! (vv. 6–7)
Why does God want his praises to be loud? Well, look at the psalm:
- Is he the fearsome Most High? (v. 2)
- Is he a great king over all the earth? (v. 2)
- Has he subdued our enemies and brought us into a glorious inheritance? (vv. 3–4)
- Does he sit on his holy throne ruling the nations? (v. 8)
- Does every military do his bidding? (v. 9)
- Is he a fortress for his people? (v. 9)
He is! That’s why we should sing like we mean it. So why don’t we?
- We don’t feel like it. Praising God is not a “buffet-it-your-way” situation; it’s an obey-it-God’s-way situation. And he says to sing.
- We aren’t musically inclined. Many of our children are not vegetable-inclined either. If music isn’t your thing yet, that’s fine. It’s just a place to mature. You’ll get there the same way your kids learn to eat their veggies.
- We aren’t prepared. Many of our songs may be new to you. To be ready to sing on Sunday, you’ll have to prepare. If we had been invited to sing at the presidential inauguration, we’d know the songs. So let’s be ready to sing to the King of the earth.
A brief word to the men and fathers: Music in our culture has been feminized, so men don't like singing. This isn’t helped by the many, many church songs that sound like prom songs to Jesus (“Oh, how he loves us, how he loves us, how he loves us…Oh”). But men, we must reclaim singing. If we don’t, another generation of young men will grow up with fathers who don’t sing—not even at the greatness of God. Consider how that will hamstring their faith.
So, for God’s sake, let’s sing like we mean it.
Amen.
Posted in liturgy