They shall sing in the ways of the Lord. Ps. 138:5
The time when Christians begin to sing in the ways of the Lord is when they first lose their burden at the foot of the cross. Not even the songs of the angels seem so sweet as the first song of rapture which gushes from the inmost soul of the forgiven child of God. You know how John Bunyon describes it. He says when poor Pilgrim lost his burden at the Cross, he gave three great leaps, and went on his way singing –
Blest cross! blest Sepulchre! blest rather be the Man that there was put to shame for me!
Believer, do you recollect the day when your fetters fell off? Do you remember the place when Jesus met you, and said, I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have blotted out as a cloud your transgressions and as a thick cloud your sins; they shall not be mentioned against you any more for ever. Oh what a sweet season is that when Jesus takes away the pain of sin. When the Lord first pardoned my sin, I was so joyous that I could scarce refrain from dancing. I thought on my road home from the house where I had been that I had been set at liberty, that I must tell the stones in the street the story of my deliverance. So full was my soul of joy, that I wanted to tell every snow-flake that was falling from heaven of the wondrous love of Jesus, who had blotted out the sins of one of the chief of rebels. But it is not only at the commencement of the Christian life that believers have reason for song; as long as they live they discover cause to sing in the ways of the Lord, and their experience of His constant loving-kindness, leads them to say I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. See to it brother that you magnify the Lord this day.
Long as we tread this desert land, New mercies shall new songs demand.
This is Spurgeon’s Daily Devo for February 1st.
It made me so happy to read it this morning because it is exactly how it feels when you have been released from bondage. Being that I am a part of the International House of Prayer – Kansas City and the whole point is to give to God the praise that He is worthy of through song, melodies and prayer this is very encouraging. You really do not have to be told what to do when encountering Him, there is a spontaneous and beautiful response. This is how we were made. When heart is awakened and life realized there is a true, uncalculated response whether it be weeping, singing, dancing or some other outward expression. It is Love Himself having come to meet us. Yes!
