Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The universal language of the
saints of God is that of praise to the name of Jesus Christ.
There is no more common activity among them than this activity
of the heart and soul as well as the mind and tongue. When
David speaks of singing a new song, he is not specifically
referring to the composition of before-unheard-of phrases
of poetry or prose. but rather is describing the
newness of the praise itself which must emanate from the soul
which is stirred anew with desire to magnify this one who is the
king of kings and lord of lords worthy to be praised. It is entirely
possible and proper to repeat songs which we have heard many
times and they yet constitute a new song if the heart of the
singer is genuinely moved to magnify and extol the glory of
the one who is the object thereof. A song does not have to be set
to music. Rather, it is an intimate and
joyous expression of the feelings and rejoicing one has before
the Redeemer. Solomon wrote a book called The
Song of Solomon, which is not set to any particular tune, but
is said to be a song because of the glory described therein.
and the joy which is conveyed in that song. Mary's prayer of
magnification is a song, though we have no reason to believe
any particular tune was involved with it as she extolled the Lord.
To encourage the practice of singing the open expressions
of joy and praise which emanate from the heart and souls of the
redeemed when they are gathered together is very beneficial to
a congregation and is one of the chief ways that each part
of the body can minister to each other part. from whom the whole
body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every
joint supplieth, according to the effectual working and the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself in love. True praise can only and ever
be found, as it is first given to men, as a token of the presence
of his Spirit. Only the Spirit of God can cause
men to render true praise. That people or congregation which
is given a spirit and attitude of genuine praise is a blessed
people. Blessed is the man whom thou
choosest, and causes to approach unto thee that he may dwell in
thy courts. The early disciples met together for four reasons,
doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers, which
is primarily worship of which praise is a key part. And they
continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,
and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Because men will
be men, in time the spirit of diatrophies, that is, those who
love to have the preeminence, began to show itself. As it did,
the concept of the office and calling of elders shifted from
being members of the body who carried out the functions of
their office primarily as examples to the flock to those who wielded
power as the members of a ruling class complete with titles such
as bishop, elder, pastor, or reverend. The outgrowth of this
concept of clergical distinction has had the effect of causing
the saints of God to become mere spectators in the congregation
rather than vital participants. Ministry has become a function
of a selected few rather than that of each member of the body.
Many so-called modern churches treat worship as a spectacle
or performance which is orchestrated by these elite spokesmen and
talented leaders. A true New Testament church is
an assembly of brethren who are individually kings and priests
in the house of God, each assuming the other above themselves, having
but one Lord and one faith. As important as the preaching
and teaching of the gospel of Christ is, the church's purpose
in assembling is not primarily to hear someone preach, but rather
for the saints to come together as one body to remember the death
of Christ until he comes. The activity of praise to Christ
is central to the gathering of this body, which in turn feeds
the flock of God as he is magnified in the preached word by the brethren
with such gifts. The testimony of the saints as
to his faithfulness, the declaration and enunciation of the holy scriptures
and their applications in the lives and recollections of the
saints, and the songs of Zion which are raised as anthems to
the work which Christ alone has performed as the redeemer of
his chosen bride. The praise in the congregation
arises out of the diversity which the Spirit of God has been pleased
to bestow upon his saints. It is unfortunate when this diversity
is sometimes erased by some who don't grasp that God is not the
author of confusion, but of peace as in all the churches of the
saints. He alone is able to produce order as he produces true praise
in the congregation of the saints. The praise in the congregation
is singular as to its object. Those who are given a true desire
to praise Him will be jealous in His behalf, that none else
be lifted up, nor share in the glory which belongs to Him alone. Praise ye the Lord, for it is
good to sing praises unto our God, for it is pleasant, and
praise is comely. Do you praise God in the congregation
of the saints? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.