How God Can Use a Song
“Come, let’s sing for joy to the LORD. Let’s shout praises to the Rock who saves us. Let’s come to him with thanksgiving. Let’s sing songs to him.” – Psalm 95:1-2
There is power in a song. When I hear a certain song played on either the radio in the car or at church, it has the power to move me in different ways. I have heard a DJ say on the radio that a song that is played is played at the right time. The right time could be when a song is played when we are sad, going through a hard time, or a death in the family. Did you know that songs in the Bible have many purposes? They are used in praising God, (Psalm 98:1-2) building up the church as Ephesians 5:19 says, “Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord.” Look at what Colossians 3:16 states about how songs are used in building up the church:
“Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and instruct each other by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Songs are a powerful tool to express deep emotions of joy and lament. David used songs to express his deep anguish due to his sin, notably in Psalm 51 which was written after his affair with Bathsheba and Nathan's rebuke. He also wrote about loss for the deaths of King Saul and his beloved friend Jonathan (2 Samuel 12). Paul and Silas sang songs in prison to God as the other prisoners listened (Acts 16:25). These spiritual songs, whether hymns or psalms, connect believers' hearts with biblical truths which provides them with comfort, perspective, and unity in both good and bad times.
Did you know that the well-known song “Amazing Grace" was written by John Newton? He was converted to Christianity after nearly drowning at sea. The song he wrote reflected his past sins. It is a powerful song of a man who was shown grace by God. The song is Newton's personal testimony, describing how God's grace saved a "wretch like me," which offers a universal theme of redemption, hope, and healing that have resonated in the hearts of the hearers throughout history.
Prayer for the day:
Dear heavenly Father,
There is power in a song. You provide music for many reasons, please allow us to use it for Your glory. A song can affect our hearts in a way that can give us a reason to praise You. It can be during good or bad times. It can be during church service to connect the members’ hearts. Whenever a song plays, please allow us to remember what Jesus did for us. In His great name, we pray, Amen!
