The Power of Praise

“Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob. Raise a song;  sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.” These words of encouragement  from the Psalmist point to one of the many reasons we sing praises to God. Bernard of  Clairvaux said, “One man praises the Lord because God is mighty; another because  God is good unto him; and, again, another simply because God is good. The first is a  slave, and fears for himself; the second mercenary, and desires somewhat for himself;  but the third is a son or daughter and gives praise to his Father.” 

Today we are celebrating the joy of music in our community of faith. Every week we  gather and sing songs of praise and worship. Through songs we recount the works of  God to inspire us to follow Jesus and share God’s love with the world. Worship of God  has always been a vital part of the spiritual life of believers.  

One of the unique aspects of worship is that it brings us closer to the Divine. Music and  song more than just words draw our spirits to a deeper awareness of God’s presence  within us and in this place. A few weeks ago we sang, “There’s a sweet, sweet spirit  in this place. And I know that it is the presence of the Lord.” Reminding us of the  wonder of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and how we can still experience God’s  presence whenever we gather in the name of Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit.  

Praise also works within us to change our mood or to give us comfort in difficult times.  Horatio Spafford, after the tragic loss of his daughters in a shipwreck in 1873 wrote the  words to a beloved hymn you may hear at times of tragedy or death. The song starts  like this: “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea  billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with  my soul. It is well, with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.”

Music and song have also accompanied many movements seeking justice and human  rights. African American Spirituals were used during the time of slavery as songs of  resilience and freedom for many. Songs reminding them of God’s past deliverance of  the children of Israel from their Egyptian enslavement. These same songs were be  used as coded melodies to guide people to safety or to signal that it was time to run  away to freedom. Later, during the Civil Rights movement, worship songs were often  sung before marches to prepare people for the conflict. Songs like “We shall  Overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome some day. Oh deep in my  heart I do believe, we shall overcome some day.” These became iconic songs sung  by people calling for equal rights and justice around the world. Sometimes these songs were as simple as a Sunday School song for children, but sparked a movement one  person at a time. Songs like, “This little Light of Mine, I’m gonna let is shine.” Which was the anthem of Fannie Lou Hamer during her struggle for voting rights.  

Still today, we sing songs to center our thoughts and hearts on God. To seek God’s  presence and guidance. We find comfort, courage, and hope in the many songs we  sing reminding us that God has better things in store for those who wait upon God.  

Jesus reminds us that we are not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was made for  us, to worship God, to be kind and seek justice for all. Let us give glory to God as we  sing.  

Lift ev’ry voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring, 

ring with the harmonies of liberty. 

Let our rejoicing rise high as the list’ning skies, 

let it resound loud as the rolling sea.