SINGERS AND THEIR SONGS
Suggested Reading: Nehemiah 12
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Church of All Nations, also known as the Church or Basilica of the Agony, is a Roman Catholic church located on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, next to the Garden of Gethsemane. Here worshippers gather to encounter God.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Nehemiah 12:46
For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
Name after name after name! It’s for sure that God treats each individual as VIP’s (very important people). Let us always do the same and rejoice that each of us are the object of God’s attention. This knowledge of God’s care will put a song in our hearts and in our mouths. This was the case in Jerusalem as we read in today’s reading. Seven times the words “songs” or “singers” are mentioned. King David and Asaph, the Minister of Music, had left at least 150 songs (Psalms) for the worshippers of God.
As was suggested in yesterday’s blog, we may want to continue to compile a list of all the good things God has done for us. Then review the list each day. Try composing a song about God’s blessings! Our songs may be sung by others if we publish them, but chances are that it’s just between God and us. God is the most important audience we will ever sing to.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I desire that Your praise will continually be in my mouth. As Paul wrote to Timothy, “Having food and raiment, with these things we are content.” He also wrote, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” I have so very much for which to praise You Lord, that I’ll keep doing this into eternity. You are worthy, O Lord, of all my worship! Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
As a pastor of four different congregations during the first few years of my public ministry, I encountered various modes of worship. Believe it or not, I tended to be quite conservative in my tastes in music. Give me a magnificent sounding organ and I was content in worship. A lovely lady in my last congregation insisted on bringing her tambourine. She was the art teacher at the high school attended by my daughter Elaine. I must admit that I prayed for grace each time I saw her in the congregation. God gave me grace and then would you believe guitars and drums began to make an appearance. I’ve opened my heart and mind to various forms of expression in worship.
I began a Sunday School when I was a school teacher. One Lord’s day an elderly man arrived. Under his arm he had a violin case. I thought that we were about to be treated to a violin solo, but such was not the case. He carefully took out his instrument and proceeded to sing into the openings in the body of the violin. I must confess I laughed to myself. He must have liked the sound of his voice coming back to him. He sang to the Lord songs of his own composition. I found out that he worked at Atomic Energy of Canada, not as one of the scientists, but as a dish washer in the cafeteria. I came to the conclusion that, crazy or not, his worship was pleasing to God. He came every Sunday. I can see him and hear him now in my memory. I think he’s in Heaven now; I wonder if he has his violin. I hope I have the opportunity to meet him again. God put a love for him in my heart.
Yours for singing to the Lord “a new song” (Psalm 96),
David
Good morning David and fellow bloggers. Trust you are feeling better, David. The Lord definitely set forth singing and music as a very important part of our worship of Him. Bridgewater, Me. Campmeeting is going on this week here and there is always a lot of anointed singing there and I hope to attend at least once. Being blessed today by a visit from my sister, Kathy and husband. Will make a list of God’s blessings(definitely have some to add to my former lists; this blog and all my new brothers and sisters in Christ) amd try to compose a song. The sun is out here. God bless all of you!
We had a Pastor once that said, “If you can’t sing like a nightingale, sing like a gail in the night”. I am surr he also had someone in mind when he said that.
Good morning blog buddies!!!! Trust you are feeling better Pastor David. I love to sing although I do not have a great singing voice. It is awesome how you can feel the presence of God through singing and can enter into worship and praise to Him. Hallelujah!!!!!!
Have a great day everyone!!
Thank you David…I love how our Savior prepares our hearts
to receive His blessings. Before reading Nehemiah
as well as listening to the reading…I’m so thankful
for that because I could never get the pronunciation
correct, I was asking that the Lord would fill all
believers hearts with rejoicing and gladness today.
We should look like the happiest people on planet
earth. So it was exciting to read how the people
praised the Lord with rejoicing and instruments.
I like to make up songs too David but when I finish
I can never remember them enough to write them out.
Enjoy a great day bloggers….rejoice and be glad
for we serve an amazing God, Who loves and cares
for each one of us. May the Lord strengthen those
who are weak in body as we continue to believe
God for the needed miracles.
Blessings of joy and thanksgiving today.
F
Psalm 89:1
“I will sing of the Lord’s great love, forever.”
………and ever and ever.!! Amen.
Today’s reading was as being there in the midst of the singers, stringed instruments and all the jubilation which could be heard far off. Past all the opposition for the rebuilding of the temple, the Isrealites were free in this peaceful time to express their gratitute and worship for the Creator of all things created!! Contentment and peace were found by holding fast to the promise of hope in all circumstances. Have a great day, to all!
Everyone with a voice can sing. If the music is in the right range and you haven’t had a drink of milk, you can sing. Anyway the Bible says, “make a joyful noise”! Found this poem last night. Would not want to connect it to any particular writer. I might make a mistake and credit a wrong person. :
The Master’s hand; I felt His touch
Amid the sorrow and despair.
Beyond the reach of human hands,
He alone was there.
No other power could ever draw
The broken pieces of a life,
Within the circle of His love –
Which conquered even death.
Psalm 33:3. Sing a new song of praise to Him
play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy! N.L.T
Thank you Doreen for the beautiful words of that poem!
Praying healing, comfort and blessing upon all blogging buddies!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all people here below
Praise Him above all heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost
Amen
I praise God for all the blessings He has bestowed on us.May his Name be praised among all his people. Bless you all …R…
Wow! Talk about seeing the glass half empty or half full! After listening to the reading this morning, I wondered about the importance of ALL those impossible names!! (glass half empty). David, you came back beautifully with describing the significance of the names by saying how very important each and every one of us is to our God (glass half full). Thank you for that and for each and every blog that you write. You are such a blessing to so many!
Amen, Amen and Amen!!!
🙂
Filled with JOY and feeling very Blessed!! I prayed fervently for a God fearing man to come into my life and God made our paths cross and we met in our church!! I am very busy now preparing for our wedding on September 21st!! HE DOES listen to our prayers and has done this many times for me over the years!!
With LOVE & PRAISE every day of my life!!
Nancy
All intimate relationships require touch– but how can we hug God?
Sing praises.
All intimate relationships require gratitude- but how can we thank God?
Sing praises.
All intimate relationships require laughter- but how can we make God smile?
Sing praises.
All intimate relationships require empathy- but how can we wipe God’s tears.
Sing praises.
“How good it is to give thanks to the Lord, to sing in your honour, Most High God,
to proclaim your constant love every morning and your faithfulness every night,
with the music of stringed instruments and with melody on the harp.”
Psalm 92:1-3
That’s beautiful Donna!
God alone is surely the one worthy of all of our praises! Amen!!
I know the Lord does not write words just for the sake of writing words, but all those names sure can bog one down. More so when they are so difficult to wrap one’s tongue around!
Thank you, and bless you David M for such a beautiful description to how each person and name…(for those back then and for us today)… is important to the Lord. I will remember this as we continue to read all those names!
I, too, like to make up my own songs using various scripture, or singing my prayers to Him. I don’t sing like a nightingale, but know whenever we sing (or pray) to the Lord, it is like a sweet aroma to Him.
How wonderful to be able to express our worship openly to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ there are so mamy that cant express their love to God openly so praise God for our Christian freedom love you David and I read your conversation every day thank you again
Dear Rev. David M.
What a great way for me to make my covenant with God by listing all the blessings that he has freely poured on me since I was born . Love the idea of putting all of them in my will. So thank you Jesus that through the Holy Spirit you are making me Christs Vessel and final testimony to all my family.
Thank you everyone for your beautiful poems and yes we may not all be the greatest singers but our love our passion to worship Our KING does resonate and open the Heaven until His RETURN
Have a blessed day everyone
xxxx Carole
Hi David, You mentioned that we sing our praises only to God. \this brought a humorous memory to me. We were attending a church that was experiencing a wonderful move of the Holy Spirit, and everyone was excited! The home group we went to suggested we would all meet for some Carol Singing outside. l assumed it would be around lampposts in front of peoples houses. l was astounded when we were all led into a secluded valley to sing. l just didn’t get it, how on earth could anyone hear us ? Apparently the idea was to sing to God alone, an audience of one. l get it now, but at the time l thought they had gone mad! l hope you are feeling better and the cold has left you David, and everyone of our Blog buddies are well too.
Sorry David’s It was Wanita’s reply that triggered that memory!
And what a wonderful memory– makes me wish I had been there. It is a lovely image; simple and pure. Thank you for sharing it.
Hello everyone I am a bit late in entering this blog. Sing a new song to the LORD; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to Yahweh, praise His name; proclaim His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful works among all the people. Psalm 96: 1-3 God ‘s blessings be with each one!!!!!!!