The Living Song

The language of music, made up of rhythm, melody and harmony, is universally ‘spoken’ across every continent on earth. In a psalm, King David wrote, ‘I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth’. Ps 34:1. In a similar theme, Paul wrote to the Hebrew people, ‘Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God’. Heb 13:15. Of course, David and Paul were not speaking literally, nor were they speaking to any specific group of people. It’s remarkable to think that their perception of praise and song was universal, not limited to distinct nationalities, writers or singers. Even more intriguing, they implied that song was to live on perpetually! In this month’s ‘On That Note’, we will learn how our song of praise is indeed a continual and continuing reality.

Before the era of King David, God’s people would bring animals to sacrifice as an offering. David instigated an entirely new mode of offering based on music and worship. We explored this in last month’s article, ‘The Calves of Your Lips’. Our question this month is how our common song of praise continually ascends to God. If we consider Abraham and his journey with the Lord, we note that at every new geographical location he reached, he would construct an altar and sacrifice ‘burnt offerings’. The aroma would ascend to God. Abraham would follow the Lord’s direction, build an altar, and thank Him with offering.

The same principle applies for us today. As we walk with the Lord and He guides our steps with His word, our first response should be to offer thanksgiving. But we need to remember that song replaced the type of burnt sacrifices Abraham offered! ‘I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving, and it will please the Lord better than an ox or a young bull’. Ps 69:30,31. Abraham heard and followed the Lord’s instruction, and immediately sought to thank the Lord with offering, This is the reality of Christianity today. Every time we hear and embrace God’s word, our attitude should be to thank the Lord with song.

Our individual song resounds as the Lord speaks to us. The song reflects the personal journey we are walking with Christ. Jesus said, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’. Matt 4:4. And the word [bread] of God, like the manna that fell from Heaven in the Old Testament account, is new every morning. The word of God for all of us, found through prayer and reading the Bible, comes each day, and is the sustenance of our very life! As that life-giving word comes, our heart responds with song. This is the same mode of response Abraham showed when he built altars to offer. Our song is the ongoing reflection of Christian life itself. The song continues as surely as life itself continues. This is the living song.

Lachlan Perrin

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Feature Articles
May 2008

Marvellous Faith

The Living Song

Present Truth

The Faith of Abraham

Wisdom and Folly

The Valley of Baca

The Nature of Business

Willing Obedience

Light to the Nations