April 14, 2020 - SING TO THE LORD

Day 105 - (Today’s Bible readings: 2 Chronicles 25:1-13; Psalm 95; Luke 11:37-54)

SING TO THE LORD

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. (Psalm 95:1-5 ESV)

God’s children can truly sing to the Lord because He is the “great King above all gods.” He is the God of creation who made the sea and the land. He is the God of salvation through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. This makes Him “the rock of our salvation.”

These thoughts of the psalmist are reflected in the hymn “O, Sing to the Lord.” We are in need of a new song for these unique days of social distancing. However, what are learning is the newness of the old song, the Gospel, the Good News that is ours in our crucified and risen Savior. 

● Jesus and His love for you and the rest of the world is new every morning.
● You are not alone.
● You do not have to fell deserted.
● You have this new song of Christ-centered hope and assurance every single day!
● So you get to join in this song: 

O, Sing to the Lord, O sing God a new song,
O, sing to the Lord, O sing God a new song,
O, sing to the Lord, O sing God a new song.
O, sing to our God, O sing to our God.

For God is the Lord! And God has done wonders.
For God is the Lord! And God has done wonders.
For God is the Lord! And God has done wonders.
O sing to our God, O sing to our God.
(“O Sing to the Lord”, The Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, #808 stanzas 1&2)

Here is a link to what is not a new song. However, it is a new way of singing this beautiful Easter hymn. This is an excellent example of responding to the challenges of social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvEzENqai4c

Heavenly Father, because of Your overwhelming love in sending Jesus to save sinners like me, I will sing Your praises for the rest of my and beyond. In Jesus’ saving name. Amen. 

Link to St. Paul’s 9 am online Sunday Worship Service:
https://zoom.us/j/177003912
 password: 518940
 This Youtube link will get you to all previously recorded services:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNFbkeFTQAhiGc7bafdvlPkfwnuiDfTQ9

Pastor David Paape 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings
Then scroll down to 2020 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!