February 16, 2012

Reason #2 - To Help Remember God's Word and Promises

One big reason God has given us singing is to help deepen and develop our relationship with Him.  One specific way that singing allows that to happen is by helping us remember God’s Word and God’s promises.

Words that are sung have a way of sticking in our memories better than just the words by themselves.  Why do you think so many commercials SING their phone numbers?  It is way easier to remember a song, than to remember a bunch of random numbers.

Or what about that board game, Encore?  You split up into teams and then the game gives you a word.  The teams then trade off singing a song that has that word it in.  My family would play this a lot when we were growing up.  Sometimes a word that at first glance seemed like there was no way we could think of 1 song would actually result in 9 or 10 songs.  It was crazy to see how many weird and random songs were stuck in our minds that came out when we were trying to remember certain words.

And much more important than the words from Encore or telephone numbers from commercials are the songs that help us remember God’s Word.

We read Colossians 3:16 last week as one of God’s commands for us to sing.  But, let’s look at that closer….it doesn’t just say to sing whatever you want.  It says to…

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” as you sing “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.”

It seems God has purposely placed a connection between His Word and our songs.   He wants us to use our singing to remember His Word.

In Deuteronomy 31, God Himself used this principle.  God tells Moses to write down a song and to teach it to the Israelites.  God said that the song would be remembered for generations to come.

Through song, they were able to remember God’s message.

John Wesley was a very popular and effective preacher in the 1700’s.  And since his sermons were so strong, we should still know them today.  So, can anyone quote some of his sermons for me?  Yeah, I didn’t think so.

However, John Wesley’s brother, Charles Wesley decided to put some of the messages of John’s sermons into song.  He published words to over 6,000 songs including:  Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus, Jesus Lover of My Soul, O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing and many, many more.

Through those songs, we are able to remember God’s Word.

In our personal lives and in our church services, we must be singing songs that are based on God’s Word.  Are we filling our minds with songs of the world...and the messages of the world?  Or are we filling our minds with songs that will deepen our relationship with the Lord?  

It’s great if a song is word for word from the Bible, but those are very difficult to find.  Many times we see songs share a summary of stories or a combination of Scriptures.  This is a great way to sing the messages of God.  Let me share some examples… 

            Jesus Messiah is a combination of stories from the gospels teaching us about Jesus’ sacrifice and amazing love. “He became sin, who knew no sin.  That we might become His righteousness.  He humbled Himself and carried the cross.  Love so amazing.  His body the bread, His blood the wine, broken and poured out, all for love.  The whole earth trembled and the veil was torn.  Love so amazing.  Jesus Messiah, Name about all Names.  All our hope is in You.”  

            Because He Lives is probably my favorite hymn.  I love how it tells God’s story in a powerful and personal way.  “God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus, He came to love, heal, and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon, An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.  How sweet to hold a newborn baby, and feel the pride, and joy he gives; But greater still the calm assurance, This child can face uncertain days because He lives.  And then one day I’ll cross the river, I’ll fight life’s final war with pain; And then as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.  Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone.  Because I know He holds the future And life is worth the living just because He lives.”

You Never Let Go is a powerful combination of Psalm 23 and John 10:28 saying “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, your perfect love is casting out fear.  Even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life, I won’t turn back I know you are near.  I will fear no evil, for my God is with me.  Oh no, you never let go, through the calm and through the storm, oh no, you never let go of me.”

These three songs alone are ways to remember God’s Word, His love for us, and how He is always with us.  We want to store these promises in our minds and singing helps us to do just that.

To push this one more step…and this is a hard step for me personally…. 

If we really believe that our singing helps us remember God’s Word and God’s promises…then we should strive to memorize more.  How much MORE valuable would these songs be if they were on the tips of our tongues all day long?

It’s great that I can sing “Oh no, You never let go” when we’re at church on Sunday morning and enjoying our time together.  But, how much more powerful would that song be to me during the week when I’m right in the middle of some huge struggle?  That’s where memorizing these songs makes them even MORE powerful and makes God’s Word even more prominent in our lives.

The more words about God we can store in up in our hearts, the more we can be helped by them throughout the day.  So, I challenge you, if a song really speaks to you and it is full of promises from God’s Word…memorize it.  And let it speak to you over and over again.

Singing helps the Word of Christ dwell in us richly by helping us remember it.

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