Psalm 96:3, 4
In this day and age it is hard to escape the songs of the world. Radios blare in stores, offices, and factories. One cannot listen to the news without a product being advertised by means of singing to praise it.
The word of God, however, exhorts us otherwise. There we read: "Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people. For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods," Psalm 96:3,4.
The wonders for which He is to be praised, as the psalmist pointed out in the preceding verses, are the works of salvation in Christ. Indeed there is no more wonderful work, no miracle like the work of God when He saved us by a virgin birth, an accursed death, and a glorious resurrection of His own Son. What a miracle to make dead sinners alive with the glory of Christ — as holy as He is, and with heavenly beauty and glory!
Do we really need to be exhorted then to praise Him and to sing His praises before the world? The joy of that salvation ought to impel us to singing songs of His praise so that we just cannot keep still.
Our versification presents it that way in these words (PRC Psalter):
Tell of His wondrous works, tell of His glory,
Till through the nations His name is revered;
Praise and exalt Him, for He is almighty,
God over all let the Lord be feared.
This brings to us an awesome calling and reason for soul-searching. What songs do the unbelievers hear you sing? Are they the songs of the world that deny that He is above all the gods of man's imagination? Are you a joyful witness of His power and wonder-working grace? Are you eager to have Him praised by all men, and want them all to confess that He alone is God?
Keep the songs of the devil out of your home, and let your lips sing God's praises before all men. Be a joyful witness in this vale of tears and sorrows. We have reason to sing and ought to give the world this reason, and show them the folly and sin in their singing.
Read: Psalm 145
Psalter versification: #259:2
(Words and Music of the Psalter)
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #72
Why not sing along??
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Through the Bible in One Year
Read today: Ecclesiastes 1 ; Ecclesiastes 2 ; Ecclesiastes 3:1-22
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
Psalm 46:1-11
Proverbs 22:15
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Quote for Reflection:
“It is well, therefore, that we never forget the proper place of the law in Reformed preaching. It always must serve only as a rule for a life of thankfulness to God for the great salvation which He has sovereignly wrought in Christ Jesus, and equally sovereignly bestowed upon His people. The effect of the preaching of the law may never be that the people of God attempt to add to the righteousness which they have in Christ, and that they begin to imagine that their own good works have anything to do with their salvation, except as a fruit of thankfulness wrought by the grace of God in their hearts. The righteousness of Christ is perfect. No one can ever add to it. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and ye shall be saved. Such is the truth. No preaching of the law can or ever may detract from that truth. ...The fruit of such preaching is rather, in the first place, a deepening of the knowledge of sin and a more earnest appreciation by faith of the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, in Whom we have reconciliation and the forgiveness of sin and perfect righteousness. ...Secondly, the proper preaching of the law has through the grace of God a sanctifying influence upon the Christian.” ~ Rev. Herman Hoeksema
Additional Info
- Date: 2-September
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.