Sing

Sylvia's Note: I receive newsletters from Arlo and Jane Moehlenpah. I wanted to post this one because it encourages the persistence of faith in times of adversity. There is something about singing unto God that has a way of lifting our spirits and placing our focus back on God, where it belongs! 

This message was my response to perhaps the toughest trial of our lives. Over 28 years have passed and I share it now in the hope it will encourage others who are going through a difficult time.   

The word "will" means to express determination, obligation or firm resolve. It is relatively easy to sing when things are going as you want them to as evidenced by some verses in the New Testament regarding singing. "in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee." Hebrews 2:12. "Is any merry? let him sing psalms." James 5:13. "I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also." I Corinthians 14:15.  But will you sing when you are going through a difficult trial?

Let's interview Jesus at the last supper. (Matthew 26)

Question: Are all the disciples loyal?

Jesus: No, one of them is going to betray me and sell me like a slave.

Question: What about the other eleven?

Jesus: In the very near future Peter is going to deny me three times. All the others will forsake me and flee.

Question: What is your future?

Jesus: My body will be broken and my blood will be shed for all.

Question: How do you feel?

Jesus: My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death. I will pray shortly that if it is possible this hour might pass from me.

Question: What are you going to do?

Jesus: I WILL SING! Matthew 26:30, "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."

Let's interview Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail. (Acts 16)

Question: How did you get in here?

Answer: We cast the spirit of divination out of a slave girl.

Question: Why would that cause you to be put in prison?

Answer: When her masters saw the hope of their gain was lost they brought us to the rulers.

Question: Then what happened?

Answer: They falsely accused us of troubling the city and teaching unlawful customs.

Question: How did you get these awful wounds on your back?

Answer: The magistrates tore off our clothes and commanded us to be beaten with many stripes.

Question: Why didn't you claim your Roman citizenship?

Answer: Somehow I just didn't feel led to, but if this ever happens again I sure will.

Question: What is that about your feet?

Answer: These are called stocks.

Question: You are way down here in the inner prison and no one will ever find you down here. What are you going to do?

Answer: WE WILL SING! Acts 16:25, At midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God.   

Let's interview David. Psalm 101. (1 Samuel 18:7-28; 19:10-16; 23:14; 26:2)

Question: When did your trouble with Saul start?

David: When the women said, "Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands." Apparently Saul imagined I would want to be king.

Question: What has Saul done to you?

David: He tried to kill me with a javelin several times. Also he was hoping to have me killed when he required me to kill 100 Philistines in order to marry his daughter Michal. Later he sent messengers to my house to kill me. He has been seeking my life every day and now has 3000 chosen men seeking me in the wilderness of Ziph.

Question: Are you going to retaliate?

David: No, the scripture says, "Touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm."

Question: David, what are you going to do?

David: I WILL SING!  

What will you do with setbacks in life?  

When you are:

Falsely accused or slandered against.

Laid off or fired from job.

Voted out of an office.

Or when your:

Child, spouse, or near relative dies.

House burns to the ground.

Automobile is totaled.

Body is stricken with a terminal illness.

Business fails.

Marriage fails.  

Will you sing then?

I trust that you will be able to say with a firm resolve like Jesus, Paul and David "I WILL SING!"  

Many of you are familiar with my lack of musical talents. I am not asked to sing solos or participate in a choir. However "I WILL SING!" because "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28. There is a song of praise in my heart! I encourage you to keep singing.

Sylvia's Note: The Moehlenpahs were instructors at Christian Life College when I was a student there. I enjoyed his "Teacher Training" class. I hope you were blessed by his message about the benefits of singing unto the Lord...even if you are tone-deaf!