New Year, Same Gospel: Glory to our Unchanging God!

 At the end of 2024 I took on a new role as worship leader at my local church. This is a role I do not take lightly and which requires much prayer and meditation on God's word. It is my hearts desire to see Christ exalted in both the songs we sing and in the words spoken. With that in mind, I have also decided to start writing blog posts that reflect some of the choices that have been made, explain how the songs chosen or the verses selected for reading were done so to magnify our great God, amplify the truth of His word, and provide insight into the message being proclaimed that week. It is my sincere hope to also use this blog to introduce my congregation--and others--to new music that is Christ exalting. 

Why do we sing?

Why are songs important in the life of the Christian? This is a really great question and one that it is important to address. We know that singing is repeatedly referred to by those who wrote the psalms:

Psalms 40:3 (ESV) He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

Psalms 81:1 (ESV)  Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

Psalms 104:33 (ESV) I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

It is our God who redeemed us, made us a new creation, and who has put a new song in our mouth. With our mouth we then sing praises to God. Paul wrote to the believers in Colossae to teach them how they ought to be unified as a body of believers. In chapter three of Colossians, Paul explains the role of music in the local church.

Colossians 3:16 (ESV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
 

Singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs is one way that we, as a local body of believers, can ensure that we are teaching and admonishing one another. The careful selection of these songs to ensure they echo the truths of God's word also allows the "word of Christ" to dwell in us richly. In singing these songs, we can also express our thankfulness for what God has done for us.

New Year, Same God

As we begin the year 2025, let us remember that we serve a God who does not change. We should take comfort in this truth. In our world we experience ups and downs. For some, you embark in the new year full of hope. For others, the new year brings reminder of recent loss or ongoing trials. The christian life is marked with valleys and mountains. It is in the times of trial and persecution that we are drawn closer to our God and Savior. It is equally important that we praise Him and give thanks in the valley of despair and when we find ourselves on the mountaintop. We are reminded that Job, who suffered the loss of many temporal/material things--including the lives of his children--would not do as his wife advised and curse God. Job explains in verse 10: "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?”. We are here reminded that God is unchanging and sovereign. He is the same loving, compassionate God during all of the trials of life as well as in the moments of triumph. 

James 1:17 (ESV)

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Since God does not change (Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6), we can rest in the assurance that what He has promised regarding our salvation in and through Jesus Christ is true. 

Ephesians 1:3-9 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ...

Bible Reading: Sunday, January 5, 2025

Psalm 32 (ESV)

A MASKIL OF DAVID.

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah 6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. 7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. 11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Justification at the Heart of Psalm 32

Let's take a moment to unwrap the glorious truth in this Psalm of David. If you are like me and had no idea what a maskil is, then you will be interested to know that the term maskil is from the Hebrew and means "to instruct" or "to make wise". Here in Psalm 32, David wants to instruct us on who is the blessed man and what makes him blessed. The heart of this psalm is the gospel itself. For David begins with the eternal truth that the blessed man or woman is the one whose sins have been forgiven--the one against whom the Lord will not count his or her sin. If you are in Christ, you are the blessed man or woman of Psalm 32! The truth of our justification lies in the reality that when God the Father looks upon us, He sees us clothed in the righteousness of our redeemer. 

Repentance, Prayer, and Gladness are Hallmarks of the Blessed Man

David reminds us here in Psalm 32 that despite our standing before God as justified through the finished work of Christ, we continue on in our sinful flesh in this world. There will be times that we sin and find God's hand heavy on us as well. David encourages us not to keep silent. We are to take everything to God in prayer. Repentance and confession do not save the Christian for we are already hid with God in Christ. But confessing our sins to God will bring us help and usher us back into the hiding we place where God waits to deliver us from our troubles. When we go to God in prayer and confess our sins, He not only forgives our sins, but He will instruct us and teach us. David reminds us that His steadfast love surrounds us. As children of God in Christ, we have a great high priest who ever lives to make intercession for us to the Father. The creator and owner of all things is our Lord and King. He does not change. If the steadfast love of the Lord surrounds those who trust in Him, then we have that promise to cling to as well. Is it no wonder that the Christian can in any and all circumstances find his joy in the Lord? Let us also be glad and rejoice! Let us shout--and I will add SING--for joy!

Song for Consideration: Blessed is the One by Sovereign Grace Music

VERSE 1

Blessed is the one whose sins are overcome

Whom God has sheltered deep within His grace

Blessed is the one who trusts in God the Son

His steadfast love the sinner’s hiding place

CHORUS

Jesus, Your blood covers all my sin

Jesus, Your love draws my heart to sing

What a Savior, Jesus

VERSE 2

I will always hide at my Savior’s side

I find my refuge in His sovereign care

When the waters rise, God will hear my cries

His steadfast love will hold me safely there

Song Selection for Sunday, January 5, 2025

1. Amazing Grace

This song was written by John Newton in 1772 and published in 1779. It is a reminder of the good news of the gospel for all men. For all of us who have been saved can echo in the first verse how sweet the sound of the gospel is for a wretch like us. It is also a reminder of the full scope of the gospel from regeneration, sanctification, and to glorification. "When we've been there ten thousand years...We've no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun."

2. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

This hymn was written by Robert Robinson in 1758. In Christ, we who are being saved drink from that fount of God who gave Himself for us. The hymn writer implores God to "tune my heart to sing Thy grace." And so we should lift our voices to Him. For we are daily reminded that we are but debtor's to God's grace. May He hold us fast when our hearts wander. We have this promise that He who began a good work in us will complete it.

3. To God Be The Glory 

Having considered what God in Christ has done for us through his death, burial and resurrection, is it any wonder that all glory would be due to Him? God is to be glorified for the what He has done in the saving of His people--"So loved He the World that He gave us His son, Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, and opened the life gate that all may go in!" The refrain of this hymn calls us to "Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!"