Worship Series: The Sound of Worship (Ps 145)

Snippet of Sermon by Pastor Raymond Fong from Wesley Methodist Church

INTRODUCTION

The Psalm is dedicated to praising God and in the preface, it says, "David's Psalm of Praise." It was deemed to have been one of David's last few psalms. It is written in the acrostic linguistic style i.e. each stanza starting with a letter in the Hebrew Alphabet. There are 22 Hebrew alphabets but in the Psalm there are only 21 verses meaning that 1 letter was omitted perhaps by the scribe during the copying process. This Psalm is recited three times a day by Israelites: twice in the morning and once in the evening. It was believed that doing so, one would definitely be blessed.

SERMON

There are 3 characteristics to the sound of worship.
1. Loud & Joyous: The word "extol" (ruwm) means to lift up on high. This is not only an outward expression but it also indicates the inner posture of the worshiper. That posture consists in:

• Humility (Shaa): to prostrate oneself before the Lord.
• Reverence (Yare): to fear the Lord.
• Service (Abad): readiness to work, labour, serve the Lord.

This posture determines the sound that we produce in worship. v 2 "I will Praise (Halal) your name" means to boast, to rave, to show off energetically. So there is a place for the loudness of worship unto the Lord. John Wesley himself in his Directions for Singing wrote, "Sing lustily and with a good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan." It is alright to give ourselves in adoration spontaneously and loudly much like the flash mobs we see today, people coming together in the streets spontaneously, with great energy, singing and dancing together.

Reflection Questions:
a. What actions of God will blow you away?
b. Examine your problem accepting loudness in worship.

Shout for joy the Psalmist says. It is commanded of us. Loudness does not always mean that it will be chaotic. That's why in the Directions for Singing written by John Wesley are these words:
"Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.
 

Sing in time. Whatever time is sung be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend close to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can; and take care not to sing too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first."

Do not sing in such a way as to become a distraction to others. There is a place for togetherness.

2. Creative and Fresh: In v 10, all the saints are invited to praise the Lord. In

• Psalm 96:11-12 "Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. ¹² Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy."
• Psalm 98:8 "Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;"
• Psalm 8:2 " Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger."

Because God is creative, when his creation praises Him, it's creative as well. In many places in Scripture, we are exhorted to "sing a new song" to the Lord e.g. Psalm 91:6; Rev 5:9; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 49:1; Isaiah 40:3. "His mercies are new every morning," so our sounds of worship are to be creative as well. Here are some ways to be creative:

• Instrumental Harmony: We may use different musical instruments just like the way David employed the lute and the harp etc. We can use even the Chinese er hu.
• Arrangement and Improvisation: He shared how at one worship in his church, they had the use of an Irish bagpipe before carols were sung etc.
• Vocal Expression: We may at times decide to sing without the use of music. He shared how he had the experience of listening to the Yi people in China who sang in 3 part harmony, blending their voices naturally. These people had no musical or vocal training, yet they were making creative sounds to the Lord.

3. Individual and Personal: The Psalm began in a big way, every part of creation is to praise the Lord. Yet in v 21, David concluded the Psalm like this, "My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD". He had been through a lot in his life: his own folly, the betrayal of friends, of his own son etc. yet he had experienced God's deliverances time and time again. He had experienced both vicotry and defeat in the various seasons of his life. So from his heart comes a different song, a mature song of praise.

Reflection Question:
c. If all of life is a song to the Lord, what is the sound like? What is the sound of your worship to the Lord?

John Wesley's Directions for Singing (Click on this link)