CQ Youth Sabbath School Lesson

CQ Youth Sabbath School Lesson

29.7.11

Something to Sing About

   New songs often are written for special events. The psalmist contemplates the idea of new songs in six different chapters. We are told in Psalm 33:3 that God put a new song in David’s mouth. In Psalm 144:9, David promises he will make music and sing a new song to God. The other four new-song mentions in Psalms are invitations to “sing to the Lord a new song!” (Ps. 96:1).
   With the psalmist as our guide as to who and how, the rest of the Bible shows the when, where, and why of the new-song experience. After the Exodus, both Moses and Miriam led worship with new songs to the Lord on the shore of the Red Sea (Exodus 15). Isaiah, after prophesying of Israel’s long-awaited Savior, commissions all who wait to sing “to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth” (Isa. 42:10). In Deuteronomy 31:19–23, God teaches a new song to Moses to help the people remember their own folly! In Revelation, we see two new songs being sung to celebrate the worthiness of Jesus (Rev. 5:9; 14:3).
   New songs are written and sung by believers when there is something to celebrate or remember. Where does this singing take place? Wherever we are! And why do we sing? Because, according to Jesus, if we fail to proclaim His glory the stones will cry out (Luke 19:37–40).

A Worthy Sound (Psalm 150)
   Much has been said about how we bring our worship to God. King David had many such conversations in his day. He wrote Psalm 150 to clarify what God put on his heart. From these inspired words, we learn that it isn’t so much about which instruments are used or where they are played. Instead, the worthiness of our worship is seen in whether we are worshiping or not. Everything that has breath should be praising the Lord!

Switching On the Song (1 Thess. 5:16)
   But what if you don’t feel like singing? Scripture gives us three reasons why you should sing: (1) Your sins have been forgiven (Ps. 32:1). David tells us that when he kept silent, his bones wasted away from all his groaning (verse 3). No wonder Paul advises to “rejoice always” (1 Thess. 5:16, NKJV). (2) God is amazing (1 Chron. 16:9). We will be led to singing when we tell others about God’s wonderful acts. His name is glorious and worth seeking (verse 10). (3) God is strong (verse 11). He has done miracles and made perfect judgments (verse 12). You have been chosen by God (verse 13). He never forgets His covenant (verse 15).
   So, “Sing to the Lord, all the earth; / Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day” (verse 23, NKJV).

 Finding the Melody (Phil. 4:8)
   Many things vie for our attention. It takes a concerted effort to block out the myriad sights and sounds around us in order to focus on matters of holiness.    After giving a list of all that was wrong with the world in his day, Paul challenged his readers to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8). Let’s take a look at each of these adjectives:
   True. God’s Word is as true as life gets! Read and study it every day.
   Noble. Connect with a person whom you consider to be godly. By beholding we are changed, so go behold a noble person. Most of all, behold Jesus!
   Right. Don’t let people walk on others. Stand up for the underdog and the underfoot.
   Pure. Press pause. Test every thought. Lock up the bad and release the good (see 1 Thess. 5:20, 21).
   Lovely. There is a truly lovely person you know well. Go tell that person how lovely they are. Nature is often lovely. Spend time in it, or read books about it and contemplate pictures of it.
   Admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. When you see these attributes in yourself or others, God is revealing Himself. Recognize Him and rejoice.

Swan Song (Ps. 40:3)
   Don’t think that you can put off singing a new song until the Second Coming. Jesus calls each of us to celebrate His awesome majesty as often as He crosses our mind while we are on earth. Perhaps you’re not a musician. Compose something new for God from within your own giftedness as an act of worship: a poem, a blog entry, a Tweet, or a conversation. How about a smile, a friendly hug? Or perhaps a meal, a warm fire, a clean room, a helping hand, or eye contact.
   The phrase “a God-shaped hole”* implies that within each of us there is a void waiting to be filled by God. As you fill your emptiness with Him, you will find something to sing about. Your new song will emerge.

REACT
1. When was the last time you heard a new song? What was its purpose?
2. When was the last time you tried something new? What was it?
3. Have you ever done something new as a response to God’s presence in your life?
4. What is worship to you?
____________
*Mark Nickens, “Searching for God,” http://www.christiantimelines.com/God%20shaped %20hole.htm (accessed May 12, 2010).

Written by: David Edgren, Melbourne, Australia

The Role of Music in Worship

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   As the name suggests, 1 Chronicles is a historical record. Beginning with a chronological listing of names from Adam to David and his sons, it goes on to give highlights of the events from Saul’s end to David’s death. So why, in a brief summary of David’s life, include a song?
   Many cultures have used music, in the past and present, as a form of or as a part of worship. In the early church, music never really used to include instruments. Some 1,200 years passed before the organ was tentatively used. Before then there were many church leaders against the introduction of this instrument, including the great Reformer, Martin Luther. He went so far as to say that the “organ in the worship service is a sign of Baal.”*
 
   One argument against the use of the organ in worship services was the interference and corruption of worship they believed instruments would cause. But as music became more and more intricate and complicated, the introduction of instruments was inevitable. And now, it is hard (and perhaps painful) to think of praise and worship without instrumental accompaniment.
   King David was musically minded. He put so many of his words to music, or at least into poetic form: his joy and praise (Psalm 150) and his grief and pain (Psalm 22). He composed many songs of thanksgiving for victories won and a number of heartfelt confessions and pleas for forgiveness—like for the terrible things he did to satisfy his lust for Bathsheba (Ps. 51:1–6, 17). We also know he played at least one instrument—the harp (1 Sam. 16:23) and that he composed songs for voice with instrumental accompaniment, a fact early church leaders seemed to have overlooked in their arguments against music.
   Music, by its nature, is emotive. It is meant to inspire some sort of re-action. This is why some early church leaders feared it. They feared worship would become more about feeling good than about praising God—perhaps a fear not entirely unfounded.

*“Historical Quotes About Music in Worship,” http://www.bible.ca/ef/topical-historical
-quotes-about-music-in-worship.htm (accessed May 12, 2010). Also see “The Organ in Worship—Historically,” http://www.churchmusic.ca/org3.html (accessed May 12, 2010) for other facts about the history of music in worship. 

Written by: Kerry Arbuckle, Cooranbong, Australia 

Whose Music Is It, Anyway?

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   Growing up in a Buddhist family, I learned to worship Buddha at a young age. I chanted and sang prayers. Visiting the village temple on special occasions was another part of worship. Many musical instruments played while many people danced around the temple to show their happiness or gratitude to our god. We never wore shoes on the temple ground, and a big concrete water trough was provided for washing feet.
   While meditating on Buddha’s teaching as given by the monks, we sat almost motionless. We never pointed our feet at the monks or the Buddha images. Inviting monks to our home was another part of worship. My parents invited them to our home almost every week of the year. On special occasions, the monks gave us special blessings and requested the good spirits to dwell in our house. Worship was never a “one-man show.”
   The Bible recorded similar occasions when God asked Moses and Joshua to remove their sandals because the ground where they stood was holy (Exod. 3:5; Josh. 5:15). The Israelites sang songs, played music, and danced their way to the temple to show their gratitude to God.
While most of us do not dance our way to church, we do all sing in church. Why is it that music has turned into one of the most contentious subjects regarding the way we worship? When we sing, why do we turn our songs, which are meant for God, into commercial-like productions? Why do we criticize each other about what sort of music should be sung in church?
   In Exodus 34:14, God infers that He is jealous about His relationship with us. So when we come to worship Him, let us come to build a relationship with Him. Cain sacrificed to God the best of his farm produce, but it was not what God had asked from him. As a result, the fire didn’t consume Cain’s sacrifice. Abel brought what God required for a sacrifice, and God looked with favor upon him and his sacrifice.
   So as we gather to worship our God, let us offer our different services to Him according to His will. Let us come with the desire of building a closer relationship with our God. When we sing, let God be praised. When we preach, let God be glorified. When we serve, let God be magnified.

Written by: Peempahn Henley, Brisbane, Australia

Worship in Song and Praise

monday
JULY30 - AUGUST 6