We hear a great deal of depressing news today. I told my wife that I don’t have any interest in watching the evening news, because all the news they tell is discouraging. I don’t believe that is because the news-people are looking for bad news to share in the news. I believe it is because there are many things that are going wrong in the world around us today. If we are not careful, we can focus on those things and become very discouraged, and even depressed. How can I keep a song in my heart in this world that his filled with so many negative things?
Today I read: “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new son; play skillfully with a loud noise. For the word of the LORD is right, and all his works are done in truth” (Psalm 33:1-4). Consider a few things with me from these verses that are certain antidotes to the discouragement you see around you regularly.
The first reason for singing is that we know the Lord! We can rejoice that He has ceased to be a stranger to us, and He has become our Lord, our Master. We naturally are drawn to praise because of all He has done for us. If you are feeling discouraged, think about the Lord, and praise Him for all His is doing, and all He has done for us. The verses go on tell us to use whatever is in our hand to praise the Lord. If God has allowed you to play the harp, or a psaltery, or an instrument of ten strings; or any other thing … we are to play those things skillfully and with a loud voice.
We begin with praising God with what He has blessed us with; whether that be an instrument, or a voice; and we do that because of what verse 4 tells us. “For the word of the LORD is right, and all his works are done in truth.” We can praise the Lord because the Word of God is true! I read the Bible every day, not because someone is forcing me to do it, but because I need a healthy dose of encouragement that only the Bible can give. I need a book that has total truth in it. A book that I can trust from cover to cover!
I am thankful to have a reason to praise! In a world filled with discouraging events, I am thankful for the firm foundation of the Word of God. Today is a good day to spend some time thanking God for His Word. We just celebrated the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Without that resurrection, we have no hope of eternity. Without the Word of God, we have not foundation on which to build our faith. This is a reason for singing!