Songs of Praise
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Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for February 2nd, AM.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.
“May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.” Psalm 138:5
The time when Christians begin to sing songs of praise to God is when they first lose their burdens at the foot of the cross. Not even the songs of the angels seem so sweet as the first song which gushes from the inmost soul of the forgiven child of God. John Bunyan describes such songs in his classic book “The Pilgrim’s Progress.” Bunyan says when poor Pilgrim lost his burden at the cross, he leapt into the air, and went on his way singing “Blest Cross! Blest Sepulchre! Blest rather be The Man that there was put to shame for me!”
Do you remember the day when your shackles fell off? Do you remember the place when Jesus met you, and said, “I have loved you with everlasting love. I have absorbed your transgressions; they will never be held against you again.” What a sweet season it is when Jesus takes away the pain of sin and replaces it with the joy of serving Him in spirit and truth!
When the Lord first pardoned my sin, I was so full of joy that I could scarcely refrain from dancing! I thought on my road home from where I’d been saved that I must tell the stones in the street the story of my salvation. My soul was so full of joy that I wanted to tell every snow-flake that was falling from heaven of the wonderful love of Jesus, who blotted out the sins of one of the chief of rebels against him … me.
But it is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that believers have reason sing. As long as we live we will discover new reasons to sing songs of praise to the Lord. Our experience of His constant loving kindness leads us to say, “I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” (Psalm 34:1) See to it, friend, that you magnify the Lord this day, in songs of praise on your lips and through your life.
Questions: What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) Christian worship songs, and why? What does it say to you about God?
About this Author: Charles Spurgeon
Tis So Sweet is one of my favorites. Every time I hear it, sing it, my heart softens and I am reminded of why I chose to follow Jesus. It is the experience that Mr. Spurgeon and Mr. Bunyan are illustrating.