Singing God's Praise

Because I used the "Ps" word today in my exhoration, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get some complaing started. "He's going start making us sing only Psalms." Oh, if only I had that much power! (which, of course, I'd only use for good) :)Anyway, was openitng up James 5:13, "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms."Here's a portion of my exposition on the 3rd clause there (in note form):


I. There are some other reasons to sing praise in return for being cheerful:

A. It identifies the Christian.

1. Rom 1:21 “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened …but the opposite must be true of the Christian. “Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning;” If His mercies are new every morning, so ought our thanks, true?

B. It counteracts complacency and pride

1. When things are going well in life—success in business or work, a good home life, decent health, decent money in the bank, etc. Those are what help us feel comfortable…but as we feel comfortable, as we shift our focus to these things of the earth…what kind of danger is there? Duet 6:10"So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, 11houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant--when you have eaten and are full-- 12then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

2. The Israelites got comfortable in the land, homes, and crops the Lord provided…but look what happened to that.

C. It glorifies God

1. Psalm 50:23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God."; Psalm 96:8 Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts.; Psalm 34:3Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.

2. Henry: We cannot make God greater or higher than he is; but if we adore him as infinitely great, and higher than the highest, he is pleased to reckon this magnifying and exalting him.

3. Each of us as individual Christians has something glorious to sing about. Our redemption from the power of sin, being freed from a particular besetting sin…or deliverance from some suffering…That is what James is talking about here, not, "Is anyone happy? Then sing!" That is the world's attitude: "Roll out the barrel," and so on. Happiness is just another occasion for singing. We can have a great time with a bunch of friends, or driving in the car, singing along with “Friends in low places”…but that fun doesn’t last much longer than the 8:56 that the song lasts (if you go by the long version on Garth’s Double Live album). But James says, "Let him sing songs of praise." A song that will bless the Lord, sing is praise, reflect his glory—it won’t just be an expression of thanks and praise, and joy…but it will increase your joy—something that will last an eternity.

4. The Christian has something to sing about, and someone whose praises he can sing. There’s nothing wrong with having fun, but it’s just a passing thing. Praising the Lord isn’t.

D. Lastly, rehearsing the glories and graces and mercies of God in song helps us to lodge them in our brains, so that when we need them for encouragement during a rough patch, or to share with someone else…they’re available.

1. For this reason I’d encourage the use of capital “P” Psalms in this—sure, you might have to start out with some work in learning them. But what better thing to sing God’s praise for deliverance or provision or health, than His own inspired Word matching just such a condition? What better words to drive into your hearts and mind for future use? Yes, a well-written and Biblically based hymn or “praise song” can do the same...but it won’t have quite the same punch in the long run. You know you see commercials on TV for CD’s of Hymns or you can subscribe to Time-Life’s praise and worship series…some of those songs sound so cliché, so trite, so yesterday. But yet I know not too long ago my friends and I were abele to close our eyes, lift our hands and get that quiver in our liver while singing that song. Doesn’t happen now with us, not because I’m a cold Calvinist (well, not just because that anyway, but they’re Pentecostals and Nazarenes, etc.)..but because time moves on, and the same sentiment can’t last forever. But Psalms are god’s living word. They don’t get old. They’re never yesterday—they’re always today.