"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? . . . when the
morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" Job
38:4-7.
2. What did Israel do when delivered from Egypt?
"Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, . . . The
Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: . . . and I will exalt
Him." Ex. 15:1,2.
3. How did the angels manifest their joy at Christ's birth?
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising
God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward
men." Luke 2:13,14.
4. How are we told to come before the Lord?
"Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing."
Ps. 100:2. See 2 Chron. 29:30.
5. How does David say such service is regarded by God?
"I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and
hoofs." Ps. 69:30,31.
6. What instruction did Paul give concerning singing?
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Col. 3:16. See also Eph. 5:19; James
5:13; Ps. 149:5,6.
NOTES.-Music, like poetry and flowers, is elevating and refining in its nature, and
should therefore have its place in the worship of God, and in the life and experience of
God's people. It is adapted to every mood and feeling of the human soul, and many times
has reached hearts when other means have failed. Next to prayer, music seems best adapted
to worship.
"The history of the songs of the Bible is full of suggestion as to the uses and
benefits of music and song. Music is often perverted to serve purposes of evil, and it
thus becomes one of the most alluring agencies of temptation. But, rightly employed, it is
a precious gift of God, designed to uplift the thoughts to high and noble themes, to
inspire and elevate the soul. As the children of Israel, journeying through the
wilderness, cheered their way by the music of sacred song, so God bids His children today
gladden their pilgrim life. There are few means more effective for fixing His words in the
memory than repeating them in song. And such song has wonderful power. It has power to
subdue rude and uncultivated natures; power to quicken thought and to awaken sympathy, to
promote harmony of action, and to banish the gloom and foreboding that destroy courage and
weaken effort."- "Education," pages 167,168.
"O that we might sing evening and morning, and let song touch song all the way
through! O that we could put songs under our burden! O that we could extract the sense of
sorrow by song! Then sad things would not poison so much. Sing in the house; teach your
children to sing. When troubles come, go at them with song. When griefs arise, sing them
down. Lift the voice of praise against cares. Praise God by singing; that will lift you
above trials of every sort. Attempt it. They sing in heaven, and among God's people on
earth song is the appropriate language of Christian feeling."- Henry Ward Beecher.
