Tag: singing

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Going to church with Jesus

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Some “through the bible” thoughts from Zephaniah 3.

Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
    shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
    O daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;
    he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
    you shall never again fear evil.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
    let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:14-17)

The book of Zephaniah begins with disturbing descriptions of “the day of the Lord,” world wide destruction that includes Judah and Jerusalem. Rampant idolatry will come to an end with distress and anguish, ruin and devastation, darkness and gloom (1:15).

But the final chapter ends with singing, shouting, and rejoicing. The most amazing part? The Lord is right there in the middle of it all, rejoicing, exulting, and singing. In other words, the Lamb who is at the center of praises in John’s visions of heaven (Revelation 5) is right there with his people in worship.

It makes perfect sense. Our great high priest is like us in every way. He is fully human in our world, going to synagogue on the Sabbath and festivals in Jerusalem. I really like the image of Jesus going to church with his people.

I truly believe Jesus would love to be in church, at home in every form of worship found in any and every denomination. From quiet moments of prayer to joyful singing, Jesus wouldn’t miss a moment.

Churches have long been divided by worship style, language, and meeting place. The presence of Jesus in each and every place destroys those distinctions.

I just hope you like being with him as much as he enjoys being with you!

Posted in 2021 Advent devotions

A music filled road

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“The Road to Bethlehem” Advent devotion for December 20, 2021. Photo by Ryk Naves on Unsplash

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

No other holiday or celebration is filled with as much song as the Christmas season. Our catalogue of patriotic songs for Independence Day is a distant second. Nothing else comes close.

Winter concerts, worship services, radio playlists, and background shopping music feature both sacred and secular songs about Christmas. Songs about Jesus, Mary, Joseph, shepherds, angels, wise men, drummers, snowmen, Santa, reindeer, the Grinch, snow, sleigh rides, donkeys and hippos fill our ears. It’s hard not to hum, sing or whistle along with them.

Music is a part of God’s creation. The sound of birds singing accompanies the dawn. Mournful whale song sounds in the depths. Wolves and dogs howl, wind whistles through the trees, sheets of rain beat out a rhythm, crickets chirp, a snake hisses, a hawk shrieks, a brook babbles, and thunder rumbles.

Sometimes it’s a solo. Other times it’s a huge chorus of voices. A quartet gives you four part harmony. A piano, a bass and a drummer are all you need for a trio. It sounds like a million frogs are singing outside my house after a summer shower. Or it’s just my voice in a morning shower.

In scripture, the nations, the trees of the forest, the mountains and the hills, the wilderness and desert, and the mute all sing for joy. They sing when God comes to save, renew, and restore them. They sing because the Lord bring them back to life.

In scripture, the Lord himself sings (Zephaniah 3:17). No wonder his people, created in his image, want to sing. It’s who we are. It’s because of who he is. Most importantly, it’s because of what he’s done. The Redeemed have a song to sing. You and I have a song to sing because our God has come, the Christ is born, and our Savior is alive!

Most people I meet tell me they cannot sing. The cannot sing their way out of a paper bag. They cannot sing to save their lives. They can’t carry a tune in a bucket. Most of the time that’s just not true. You may not have an award winning voice, but you are part of that earthly and heavenly chorus who sings the praises of the Lamb on the throne. He’s worthy of anything and everything you’ve got.

Lately, some of my best moments have been singing with my young grandchildren. Especially the Christmas songs. “Away in a manger,” “Silent night,” “Joy to the World.” Sing it again, Apa. Gladly. I can use all the practice I can get for eternity!

Thank you, Lord, for all those who join me in singing your praises. Amen.

Posted in Lent devotions

Singing with Jesus

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Scenes from the passion” Lent devotion for Friday, February 26, 2021.

“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (Mark 14:26).

What hymn do you think Jesus and the disciples sang on their way out of the city? Amazing Grace? Beautiful Savior? Just As I Am? Of course not. Those hymns wouldn’t be written for another few millenia.

It would have been a psalm. Maybe it was one of the Hallel psalms (Psalms 111-118), praising the Lord for his mighty works, his many blessings, and his steadfast love that endures forever. Remember, it’s the Passover, a festive time for remembering God’s powerful deliverance. The songs they sang that night they might have sung many times with their families growing up. They all knew them and loved to sing them.

Continue reading “Singing with Jesus” →