Title:- The Deep Songs of The Spirit
Psalm 33:1-3 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
“While we sing the Praises of our God in His Church, we are employed in that part of Worship which of all others is the nearest a-kin to Heaven: and ‘tis pity that this of all others should be performed the worst upon Earth. The Gospel brings us nearer to the heavenly State than all the former Dispensations of God amongst Men: And in these very last Days of the Gospel we are brought almost within sight of the Kingdom of our Lord; yet we are very much unacquainted with the Songs of the New Jerusalem, and unpracticed in the Work of Praise.” So goes the opening paragraph of the preface to the ‘Hymns and Spiritual Songs’ of Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
I have been to too many ‘Praise Meetings’ which, if they are a testimony of what heaven shall be like, make me want to stay on the heavenly train and purposefully miss my stop! If praising God forever and ever in heaven, is like some of those ‘Praise Meetings’ we have found ourselves in on earth, then friends, I’m just not going!
Worship it has been said ‘is not about us’, but about God! I agree with that, but I am not prepared to have that truth as an excuse for the continued pitiful spouting of pious platitudes and numb, dumb choruses hung so much about with limp and lame lyrics that leave people totally unmoved, except for thoughts of sleep and bed. A combination of powerful words, spirit moistened lips and a moved heart, should supernaturally raise the spirit of a man and wing him up to Jesus.
Neither do I think it right that on hearing a few notable chords we should clap our hands in glee and say, “oooh I like this one!” Well if you do then good for you friend, but remember, ‘it’s not about you!” Unfortunately though, most of our postmodern songs are nothing short of mere spiritual masturbation. They are mostly about us and are written with a view to our own emotional stroking.
When the words and the music and our hearts are all in tune, weeping in wonder at what Jesus has done for us, and given to us, then all the world shall come out in droves to hear us, the people of God, praise our Redeemer and I tell you the truth, all of hell, shall in turn, quake in fear to hear us holy ‘Men of Harlech,’ warriors famed in song and story, arrive on the field in glorious praise, singing to Jesus the deep songs of the Spirit, prepared for these last days.
Maybe the call needs to go out for some more warrior poets, sons of the Greater David to take up their pen as well as their sword and reset some deep roots into the Isaacs of old, that once looked toward the coming days of praise. For truly, “in these very last Days of the Gospel we are brought almost within sight of the Kingdom of our Lord; yet we are very much unacquainted with the Songs of the New Jerusalem, and un-practiced in the Work of Praise.”
Tell me friend, how’s that New Song coming along? How’s your praise life today? Have you really felt the darkness tremble just lately? Or are you just singing empty lies?
Listen: - He has put a new song in my mouth — Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:3
Pray: - Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered. Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise. (Psalm 40:5-6A & Psalms 51:15 NKJV
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