Zion is a place of singing whatever song your heart composes
The songs that you will sing to the Lord will be different in different seasons of your life. That is part of what makes them so beautiful to the Lord. Worship songs you sing at church are great, but He wants to hear what your heart writes. So, no matter where you are or what is going on in your life, sing it to the Lord. Of all the Psalms David wrote in the book of Psalms (he didn’t write them all!), one thing you will notice if you read through them is that his songs always ended with hope in the Lord, no matter what he was going through. Psalm 51 is a perfect example of this.
Read through Psalm 51 today. It was written right after David and Bathsheba had been given the devastating news that their son would die as recompense for the sin they had committed against the Lord in their affair and the subsequent murder of Bathsheba’s husband. David begged the Lord to spare his infant son’s life, but he understood even his horrific situation in light of God’s love. He still acknowledged the righteousness of God in the song written by his very broken heart. “Do good to Zion in Your good pleasure; build the walls of Jerusalem,” David wrote. He was singing to the Lord, asking to have his heart cleansed, restored, renewed and made whole again.
However, the hope that came through Jesus Christ also brought with it a new song, a reason to eternally celebrate, thus restoring Zion to its original intended eternal joy.
You, the city of Zion, the dwelling place of the Lord, your heart was made to be a place of singing. You were created to worship. Isaiah 61:3 says the Lord will comfort “those who mourn in Zion”. Why? Because you were never meant to mourn in the place where God created you to have joy. God will help you get through. He has given you the gift of worship to keep you connected to Him. Compose a song in your heart, and sing it to Him, no matter the lyrics. God can handle it. Remember that your life is more than the sum of its parts. You exist in a spiritual world outside and above the natural world and its evils. Worship will keep your eyes fixed there. The Lord promised to give you, “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” That word garment in this verse literally means to wrap yourself in praise for warmth, protection, comfort. Wow!
Thought for today
Not every song sung in Zion was a joyous one, but the Lord originally intended it to be a place of celebration in Him. However, the hope that came through Jesus Christ also brought with it a new song, a reason to eternally celebrate, thus restoring Zion to its original intended eternal joy. Yes, life has its brutalities, but we know from Revelation 21:304 that, “God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain”. Worship can exist on every level of human existence. As you minister to the Lord, which is the one and only purpose of worship, the Lord ministers to you in return because He is faithful.
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