June 17th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER WITH PSALMS, HYMNS AND SONGS. 

Ephesians 5:18-19 “. . . be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord . . .” 

The Lutheran church is known among Christians as the singing church. Singing of hymns and liturgy, choirs, handbells, and special music provided by instrumentalists are part of the Lutheran worship service. A recent phenomenon within at least some groups of Christians is the use of “worship teams” in lieu of congregational singing. This has changed the character of worship. Since the days of formal worship of the Old Testament when the singing of Psalms was an integral part of worship to the present day, Christians, as St. Paul wrote here in today’s devotional verse, have been “filled with the Spirit” singing “psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.” They have “made music to the Lord in their hearts.”  

The Psalmist wrote, “Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.” (Psalm 96:1-3) The Psalmist proclaims, “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! Therefore, I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of Your name. (Psalm 18:46-49) Singing to the Lord is a lifelong activity of the Christian: “I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” (Psalm 104:33)  

Sing with your voice the songs that are in your heart. For it is from the heart that flows your words of praise to Him. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100) “Praise Him (Yahweh) with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. (Psalm 150:4-6)  

Prayer: Praise and thanksgiving, Father, I give You, for all the goodness and kindness You pour out upon me. Amen. 

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.  (LSB 808)