Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Psalm 100:2
Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things. Psalm 98:1
I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Psalm 104:33
Throughout scripture, we are given instructions for worship like these. And we are given examples of worship. David before the Ark. Paul in prison.
We are to sing joyfully…with all our hearts…as long as we live…in good times and in bad. But isn’t it interesting that there is one piece of instruction that is omitted in scripture?
Style. Throughout the ages, styles have changed. We don’t know the style of music that David sang. We don’t have a playlist of what Paul sang in prison. But we do know two things: they sang from their hearts….and it was a different style than what we sing today. We know historically and culturally, music was different then.
Even today, we have different styles of songs we sing in worship. One is not right and the other wrong. They are different. Just different.
I love Psalm 33. The version many are familiar with (NIV) begins this way:
Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
The Message paraphrase puts a 21st-century context to it:
Good people, cheer God! …Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs! Play His praise on a grand piano! Invent your own new song to Him; give Him a trumpet fanfare.
Different styles. Grand piano. Orchestra. Guitars. The most important thing: sing with your whole heart. Whatever style resonates with you, use it to praise Him! For as long as you live!
We have two opportunities coming up in the next two weeks that give you opportunities to worship through song.
This Friday at 7:00 Jeremy Camp and Mandisa will be singing in our sanctuary. Jeremy Camp is a platinum-selling recording artist known in contemporary Christian circles for such great songs as Overcome, Mighty to Save, and Give Me Jesus. Propelled into the national spotlight through American Idol, Mandisa has become a force in Contemporary Christian music with such favorites as Overcomer, Not Guilty, and Broken Hallelujah. You will experience a night of singing from the heart with great passion. Tickets are still available for $20 for church members. Email gcrosthwait@jcbc.org or lshields@jcbc.org.
The following Thursday, May 12, a completely different, but equally powerful, evening of worship music will be presented by the Jubal Chorus. The Jubal Chorus is made up of church musicians from Baptist churches across Georgia. Jubal Chorus is the combined ladies’ choir, Jubalheirs, and men’s choir, Sons of Jubal. They will be accompanied by a 45-piece orchestra, piano, and organ. We are anticipating about 400 musicians to be here that night. You will experience powerful choral sounds as only a huge choir of trained musicians can bring. Arrangements of such classic hymns as Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing, How Great Thou Art, and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross will be included in the evening. Also, great choral anthems like Thou, O Lord and It is Finished will be featured. Come, prepared to be blessed! This concert is free.
So, whatever style resonates with you, come. Come to either. Come to both. But come prepared to worship with all your heart as His praise and glory are sung.
It is good to praise the Lord and make music to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 92:1
Glenn Crosthwait
Worship Pastor
Johns Creek Baptist Church