Singing

And they sang a new song... Revelation 5:9

"I can't sing!" How often people say that when others say, 'let's sing!' But everyone at a rugby or football match seems to sing anyway — even if not all are in tune!

God's people have always been a singing people — the book of Psalms shows us that and as we read in the book of Revelation there will be lots of singing in heaven — spontaneous outbursts of a new song, a song of praise to the great Saviour Jesus. For through him, God has truly done marvellous things for us.

Singing is a wonderful way of expressing our emotions, not just in happy times but in sad times too. Some of the Psalms are laments, sad and pleading from a broken heart, as in Psalm 25:16 - "Turn to me for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distress" Some Psalms are confessions. Psalm 51:4 says "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight".

But mostly we love to sing when our hearts are glad because we look to Jesus and find our mercy, forgiveness and full salvation in him alone. Psalm 27:1 says: " The Lord is my light and my salvation: whom shall I fear?" We can join the crowds in heaven now and sing that great new song.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the gift of song. Help me to praise your name often and gladly. Amen.