Issue 1231 – Sing – August 25, 2023
I awakened at 2 AM with parts of an old Sesame Street song running through my head. Sing was written by Joe Raposo in 1971 and performed in English, Spanish and sign language by various show guests. The Carpenters had a hit version of it in the early 1970s.
It is a simple tune; perhaps you remember it.
Sing
Sing a song
Sing out loud
Sing out strong
Sing of good things, not bad
Sing of happy, not sad
Sing
Sing a song
Make it simple
To last your whole life long
Don’t worry that it’s not good enough
For anyone else to hear
Sing
Sing a song
La la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
Sing
Sing a song
Sing out loud
Sing out strong
Sing of good things, not bad
Sing of happy, not sad
Sing
Sing a song
Make it simple
To last your whole life long
Don’t worry that it’s not good enough
For anyone else to hear
Sing
Sing a song
The version that was going through my head was slightly different. It was going, “Sing, sing a Psalm.”
The book of Psalms is indeed a songbook, and the psalms are designed to be read or sung aloud. For centuries, they were the primary (often only) songs sung in the church. Some churches still use the Psalter or incorporate the Psalms in their hymnbooks (or worship software)
Even today, many worship songs are drawn from the book of Psalms.
You can find songs based on Psalm 21, 42, 90, 121,145, 150 and more. The Psalms Project has reset all of the Psalms to music.
Contemporary music, or even the versions sung for centuries, have a very different sound from the Hebrew, both in language
and musical style. Still, singing the Word of God in any language is always an extra blessing.
One of my favourites is “As the Deer” from Psalm 42. It’s a simple song and easy to sing. It doesn’t quote the Psalm entirely, instead using it as a launch point for a piece of simple praise and worship.
As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?
These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God, my rock:
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning
because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As with a deadly wound in my bones,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God. Psalm 42
May the Word of God flood your soul and cause you to break out in praise and worship songs.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2023 KF “Kevin” Corbin Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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