The other night I was reading Psalm 137, and it struck me that this psalm isn't joyful. It doesn't start joyful as the people are in captivity and they don't feel like singing. Nor does it end joyfully as they contemplate the destruction of those holding them in captivity. And yet it's a psalm.
We know that a psalm is sung. Some of us actually sing them in our churches. Others of us sing hymns, which is a psalm's close relation. Whether a psalm or a hymn, most of them praise God and talk of His wondrous ways, and what He has accomplished on our behalf. We are taught that the songs we sing in church are meant to praise and glorify God: the One we are singing to. And, somehow, we grow up with the impression that in order to do that rightly we sing with joy and happiness. Right?
In fact, giving a passing thought to music in general, the first thought is happy. But what about funeral dirges? Or the fact that some of the greatest composers ever were often in depressive moods? David wrote a psalm after falling into one great sin that led to several more or when he was surrounded by his enemies. William Cowper wrote "God Works in Mysterious Ways" after almost committing suicide. Joseph Scriven wrote "What a Friend we have in Jesus" after the death of not one, but two fiancees in a short period of time.
Last night in my class with the kids at church we read a devotional on another aspect of song. When King Jehoshaphat in the Bible faced an army much mightier than his own, he asked God in despair what he was to do. "Sing," God answered. "Send out your choir before your army and sing." The songs of praise the choir sang as the army march to battle caused such chaos in the enemy camp, the enemy killed one other. Victory for a song.
And isn't it true? Of course, we sing when we're happy. But it's also true that we sing when we're sad. Why? To make us happy. And, it's just as true that I sing when I need God's help. How many hymns come to mind when I'm facing a challenge I don't know how to solve...and what a comfort they are.
So sing! And then watch yourself smile.
So true. Many trials in my life have been lightened by singing hymns, but not always at that moment... One particular experience comes to mind, of when we heard that a young friend of ours was dying. The church we were attending at the moment when we heard the news started singing "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty". Singing that hymn reminded us that God can and should be praised even in the midst of the "valley of the shadow of death", and that He gives us strength to live through it.
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