Col 3.16 “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 (gratitude) in your hearts to the Lord.”
Eph 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”
It is interesting to see that from the beginning, the Church was a singing Church. A historian by the name of Philo tells us that often the church would spend the whole night in hymns and songs. One of the earliest descriptions of a church service we possess is that of Pliny, the Roman governor of Bithynia, who sent a report of the activities of the Christians to Trajan, the Roman Emperor, in which he said, “They meet at dawn to sing a hymn to Christ as God.” The gratitude of the Church has always gone up to God in praise and song.
Worship is the language of redemption…we see this in Exodus 15.1 “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea. 2The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him…..” Rev 4,5,19
Worship is the language of faith when we are facing insurmountable odds or circumstances…we see this in 2 Chronicles 20..”And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper. 21And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for His mercy endureth for ever. 22And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”
Worship is the language of a genuine revival….we see this in Psalm 85.6 “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?”
Worship is the language of victory in the face of persecution…we see this in Acts 16.25 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
Indeed, Our Father is looking for those Who will worship Him in Spirit, and in truth.
Love it!