Sing to the Lord

by Ami Hendrickson

Psalm 96:1

Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth.

God loves to hear His children singing.

“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” These are among the last words Jesus uttered on the cross before He died for our sins. These are also the opening words of Psalm 22.

The Psalms were Israel’s hymnal. The Psalms are by far the longest book in the Bible for a reason: they contain over a hundred songs of prayer and praise, featuring something for every situation.

Like any hymnal, the Psalms feature songs for many occasions. These songs of happiness, of mourning, of supplication, and of historical events were all a part of Israel’s culture. Like the Top 10 songs of today, everyone knew the Psalms.

So, when Jesus cried out His final words, everyone present must have instantly known the Psalm He was quoting. (When you read it, you might be surprised. Though it begins with a deep sadness, it ends with a prophecy that Jesus Himself fulfilled.)

Sing to the Lord!

Even in your darkest moments, you can lift up your voice and sing. Tell God what is in your heart. Sing to Him your song today.


Reflection

How many hymns and Psalms can I readily sing to God? What would happen if I devoted time every day to learn one more song of praise?


Prayer

Lord of Music, Please hear my song of love and gratitude to You. No matter what I have to say, I know that You will always hear me. You will never forsake me. In Jesus’ holy name I pray, Amen.