Your ShelfYour Projects

SINGING PRAISES

10%

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 17, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 3.

Read the full edition

SINGING PRAISES.

By Charles P. Whitford

BY CHARLES P. WHITFORD.
"My servants shall sing for joy of heart." Isa. 65:14.
SINGING was a part of the services of the early Christian churches. "And that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto Thy name." Rom. 15:9.
We have numerous examples of God's servants who have praised the Lord in song in times of trouble and temporal difficulties. "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God." Read Acts 16:22-27.
A number of the books of the Bible are songs—Lamentations, the Psalms, and considerable portions of Isaiah and other prophets. Solomon had his men and women singers, and Josephus tells us that the number employed by him at the dedication of the temple was three thousand.
We have scripture for congregational singing. Here it is. "Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints." Ps. 149:1.
David exclaims: "While I live will I praise the Lord; I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being." Ps. 146:2.
In the 150th psalm we are exhorted to praise God with all kinds of instruments. "Praise ye the Lord. . . . Praise Him with the psaltery and harp. . . . Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals. . . . Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." The poet expressed a wonderful truth when he said: "Music the fiercest grief can charm, And fate's severest rage disarm; Music can change the pain to ease, And make despair and madness please; Our joys below it can improve, And antedate the bliss above."
Such being the character of music, and with the approval of our heavenly Father, is it not well worth our while to cultivate a love for it? In our song selections let us be sure to select only such words and music as will tend to elevate, ennoble, and direct the mind to high and holy aspirations.