SINGERS AND THEIR SONGS

Today’s 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 a VIP (very important person). 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 saw 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 public 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 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