For the past four weeks Theology 101 has looked at Songs of Christmas. Known by their Latin titles, these poetic and prophetic passages sprang from the lips of people closely connected with the incarnation of Christ — Mary, His mother; Zecharias, the father of His forerunner; angels that sang to the shepherds; and Simeon, who experienced peace at seeing the infant Jesus. Many of us once again listened to inspiring songs of Christmas in special worship services over recent weeks. More than a few of us likely gave voice to favorite Christmas carols or blended with choirs to celebrate Christ’s coming through inspiring musicals.
Thinking about songs we sing brings to mind a rather unusual turn of phrase found in Psalm 40. Subtitled as a song of David, the Psalm is a testimony to the Lord’s redeeming work in a life that had become bogged down, feeling itself to be sinking in a miry pit. It tells of the Lord’s response to a sinner’s cry, a response that exchanged the miry pit for a solid rock. The response of one rescued was to testify how the Lord “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” (Ps. 40:3). When we read that verse we want to do a double take. Expecting to read that many will hear the song, we stare at the verse that says many will see that song. We expect songs to be heard not seen.
As all of us live into 2015 we ask ourselves, “Do I have a song of praise to raise to the Lord?” Then we ponder, “What kind of song can we raise that others can see and, as a result of seeing our song, turn to the Lord?” Obviously such a song must be more than one from our lips; it must take its origin from our lives. People hear words but they see conduct. Beautiful vocal music can move our emotions and lift our spirits. Beautiful lives can influence us by their example to draw closer to the Lord themselves. A theology lived out for others to see goes further than one that is held only in theory or even articulated with eloquence.
Many will enter the new year with at least a mental list of resolutions, if not a written one. Psalm 40 suggests this year we trade our resolutions for a song — a song people can see. We can aspire to a quality of living that makes a melody using acts of generosity, compassion, fairness and faithfulness as the notes that compose it. Those around us will be able to see these qualities composing our song using shaped notes — those shaped by Christlikeness in action.
The song we live may well leave a more lasting impression than any we might sing. The songs of Mary, Zecharias, Simeon and the angels have staying power because they are enshrined in God’s Word that will never pass away.
Songs people see also can have staying power if these songs influence them to receive eternal life. If that happens then we will meet our songs again when we join them in the company of just persons made perfect.
Share with others: