They Shall Sing in the Ways of the Lord
Christians have reason to sing in the ways of the Lord, especially when they experience forgiveness and lovingkindness.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that the true joy of singing in the ways of the Lord begins when Christians release their burdens at the foot of the Cross. He reflects on the profound joy experienced by believers upon receiving forgiveness, likening it to the moment when Pilgrim lost his burden and sang praises. Spurgeon encourages believers to remember their own moments of liberation and to continually express gratitude for God's everlasting love and mercy. He asserts that the reasons for singing and praising God extend beyond the initial experience of salvation, as His lovingkindness is a constant source of joy throughout life. Believers are urged to magnify the Lord and celebrate His new mercies daily.
Text
The time when Christians begin to sing in the ways of the Lord is when they first lose their burden at the foot of the Cross. Not even the songs of the angels seem so sweet as the first song of rapture which gushes from the inmost soul of the forgiven child of God. You know how John Bunyan describes it. He says when poor Pilgrim lost his burden at the Cross, he gave three great leaps, and went on his way singing--
"Blest Cross! blest Sepulchre! blest rather be The Man that there was put to shame for me!"
Believer, do you recollect the day when your fetters fell off? Do you remember the place when Jesus met you, and said, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love; I have blotted out as a cloud thy transgressions, and as a thick cloud thy sins; they shall not be mentioned against thee any more for ever." Oh! what a sweet season is that when Jesus takes away the pain of sin. When the Lord first pardoned my sin, I was so joyous that I could scarce refrain from dancing. I thought on my road home from the house where I had been set at liberty, that I must tell the stones in the street the story of my deliverance. So full was my soul of joy, that I wanted to tell every snow-flake that was falling from heaven of the wondrous love of Jesus, who had blotted out the sins of one of the chief of rebels. But it is not only at the commencement of the Christian life that believers have reason for song; as long as they live they discover cause to sing in the ways of the Lord, and their experience of His constant lovingkindness leads them to say, "I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth." See to it, brother, that thou magnifiest the Lord this day.
"Long as we tread this desert land, New mercies shall new songs demand."
Sermon Outline
- The Time of Singing
- The Experience of Forgiveness
- Continual Cause for Song
- Reason for song throughout the Christian life
- Experience of constant lovingkindness
Key Quotes
“Blest Cross! blest Sepulchre! blest rather be The Man that there was put to shame for me!” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Long as we tread this desert land, New mercies shall new songs demand.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- Believers should continually bless the Lord and magnify Him.
- New mercies demand new songs of praise and thanksgiving.
- The experience of forgiveness and lovingkindness should lead to a life of praise and worship.