Sing!

Here’s a bit of Ed Sheeran to get you in the mood – Sing!

Music continues to be so important in our culture. Many young people cannot function without headphones in their ears. Nicola has to have music on in order to get dressed. And singing is so liberating and exhilarating – just ask any of my friends who sing a choir and they will convince you of the power of singing.

Writing songs is a different thing all together of course. My son does it. I don’t know how, but he sits in our studio and scribbles on scraps of paper and plays and sings and raps….and produces song after song after song. Of course I am proud – he’s my son – but I am in awe of his originality and creativity too. I could never write a song. This one continues to be my favourite of his – Liquor Love. Expressing himself through lyrics and song has kept him sane I think. It’s been an emotional outlet. He’s so reserved and private normally and yet he’s able to stand up there on a stage and stand out and share his own material – his own heart.

So let’s have a look at Moses’ song. This is a song with a purpose – a song that is recited rather than sung interestingly (doesn’t that make it a poem?) –

Moses came with Joshua son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”  Deuteronomy 32:44-47

These words bring life. They are the basis of their faith. Here is a summary of what the song contains….

Listen! Let these words refresh you and restore you.

I have to tell you how amazing God is – He’s perfect, faithful, upright and just. He’s my rock.

How can you behave so badly towards Him? Have you forgotten that He created you? Is this how you should treat your Creator?

Take a long look at history – at what God has done throughout history for your ancestors.

He found them. He shielded them. He cared for them. He guarded them. He taught them to fly. He led them. He provided for them. He nourished them.

And what did they do? They grew content and satisfied and abandoned their rock. They looked to other distractions. They forgot their God who gave them life itself.

They made God jealous. They made God angry. He taught them a lesson.

How can they not see what they have done? How can they not accept the consequences of their actions?

It’s simple. Just don’t forget that God is God. There is no other god like Him. He alone can bring life and death.

Rejoice because God is all-powerful. He will put everything right in the end.

So what is your song? What do you need to be reminded of in the good times? What can encourage you and strengthen you in the tough times? How would you describe God?

Have a go at jotting down some thoughts today. It doesn’t have to be a poem or a song. You won’t have to tell anyone else or sing it to anyone else. But you might want to keep it with you and add to it and refine it and make it your own precious song between you and God.

Sing!