Insight from our Singing - part 2

The act of singing is inherently theological.  As we speak words to music, those words have a tendency to impact our lives far beyond our conscious understanding.  This past Sunday our church held a service at a nursing home.  It always amazes me to see people who it is near impossible to carry on a conversation with due to the level of mental decay who when "Amazing Grace" begins to play will sing out and remember every single word.  This kind of ingrained theology is impossible to produce in a sermon.  No one has ever sat up in the middle of the night remembering a sermon of mine, but they have awoken with a song inexplicably on their lips. 

This is why it is so crucial that when we sing together as a church we do so with proper theology as the foundation of our songs.  Our songs should not primarily be about what makes us feel good, or even what we can tap our feet to, but we should constantly be aware of what we are saying as we sing. 

This is why I love going back to songs that I may not be familiar with and learning the words.  Today I want to dwell upon the words of a song that is relatively new - written in 1982, but is so very true.  The song is called "O Father, You are Sovereign".

O Father, you are sovereign in all the worlds you made
Your mighty word was spoken and light and life obeyed
Your voice commands the seasons and bounds the ocean's shore
Sets start within their courses and stills the tempest's roar. 

O Father, you are sovereign in all affairs of man,

No powers of death or darkness can thwart your perfect plan.

All chance and change transcending, supreme in time and space

You hold your trusting children secure in Your embrace. 

O Father, you are sovereign the Lord of human pain,

Transmuting earthly sorrows to gold of heavenly gain.

All evil overruling as none but Conqueror could

Your love pursues its purpose, our souls' eternal good. 

O Father, you are sovereign!  We see dimply now,

But soon before your triumph earths every knee shall bow

With this glad hope before us, our faith springs up anew

Our sovereign Lord and Savior we trust and worship You.

Is your response to God today the same trust and worship as the song calls for?  Perhaps you need to be reminded this day that God is in control, even in the midst of your pain.  Praise God that he is in control.