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SONGS AND WORSHIP

Rt. Rev. Alfred Acton

Do you know what a psalm is? If you’d gone to a Hebrew Temple when the Lord was on earth, you could have heard a psalm as it was intended to be used. The man who was reading wouldn’t have read the psalm; instead he would have sung it. Psalms in Hebrew were songs—songs to be sung to the Lord; songs of praise; songs of joy; songs that asked the Lord for forgiveness; songs that asked for help. All of them were songs of worship.

Do you know why songs are important in worship? Songs are used in heaven to worship the Lord even as they are used on earth for worship. Each morning when angels wake up they hear beautiful music sung by angel choirs which turn their thoughts to the Lord and help them worship Him.

The reason is because songs bring people together as one. If we know the words and the music, we can sing together, either in unison or in harmony. As we all sing we become as one. The beauty of it is that when we worship together the Lord hears one voice. Each person can give his little perfect bit to the harmony of the whole.

You know, all of heaven is a place where people come together as one. Each person has very special talents. Each person can do something that no one else in heaven can do. So they can come together as one, all giving of their special talent. This is like a beautiful song, or the work of many instruments. When they come together they sound in harmony as one beautiful chorus or performance.

But suppose someone sings a bad note. What happens to the music? It doesn’t sound as good as it could. Some of the beauty is hurt. So it is with us. When we work together, each using his special talents for the common good, the job is done better, and the people doing the job feel good. But when someone is selfish and does not join in the work, does not use his special talents for good, the job suffers. Eevil spirits in hell, like bad notes in music, destroy their own harmony and happiness. But angels in heaven work together, and their lives are in harmony.

So remember the value of songs in which many people can join together as one in worshiping the Lord!

Amen.

Printable Version: songsandworship.pdf

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