Sing!

A comedian once said that we parents don’t really want good children, we just want quiet ones. As with so many quips, there is an element of truth in it. However, the line is better as humor than as a philosophy of parenting.  Quiet children really are desirable and pleasant to be around most of the time. (I suspect the moms of boys are thinking, “No, when it is quiet I am most nervous.”) There is, however, a time when it is wrong to be quiet. 

Yesterday morning, I began Forum with the Lower School by reading Psalm 100:

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.

 Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

This Psalm gives us good reason to not be quiet. The Lord is good, His Mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations! When it is time to sing praises to our God,  we cannot be silent and we cannot allow our kids to be silent. When Christ our Lord entered the city of Jerusalem before the Passover and his crucifixion there were many men, women and children who cried out praises to the King! He may not have looked much like a king riding on that donkey’s colt, but it was a day spoken of in prophecy and they rejoiced! Some religious leaders of the day rebuked Jesus and told him to quiet down those who were singing praises. Jesus would not. He said that this was no time to be quiet. As a matter of fact, if God’s people didn’t praise Him the rocks would immediately cry out because the King of all creation WILL be praised. 

The real  issue is WHO will join in. There will always be singing; the Lord will be glorified. When we sing to God it is right. Furthermore, we sing not just because we ought to, but because it is our privilege to do so. It is also one of the things we were made to do. 

I encouraged the students this morning to sing with energy and volume.  They did with smiles on their faces.  It was a great way to start our week.   

I hope you are able to attend a church that sings.  Jesus said that if we don’t sing praises the rocks would cry out. So sing! When you do, don’t let your children sit quietly by. They can sing too!  They have better voices than a rock.