Sermon Snippet – Love Sings
INTRODUCTION – Last week, we saw from Scripture that love works. Today from God’s Word, we will see that love sings. Working and singing – these two are quite opposite (except for those happy souls who whistle while they work). Yet, it is true that love works and that love sings; the comprehensive nature of love is revealed in these extremes.
1. LOVE SINGS ABOUT THOSE WHOM WE LOVE
The Song of Solomon is a lengthy and involved love song. Throughout its eight chapters are expressions of genuine affection. For example, the bride-to-be trills, “My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies. Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountain of Bether” (2:16-17). Similarly, the groom-to-be rhapsodizes, “Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks; thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from Mount Gilead” (4:1). He then proceeds with a specific and poetical description of his “love.” Since these passages are right from the Bible, it is clear that it is appropriate to sing the praises of others. Although this context is romance, the principle applies to all good relationships. We can think of the loyal friendship of Jonathan and David and the steady devotion of Ruth and Naomi. The command of Proverbs 27:2 necessitates that we praise others openly: “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger [someone else, not an actual stranger], and not thine own lips.” Proverbs 31:28 is a good example of singing the praises of another – even if we are not literally singing.
2. LOVE SINGS ABOUT OUR LOVING SAVIOR
Isaiah 12:1-6 is a small but superb song to our Savior God. Part of verse 2 especially speaks to me: “The LORD JEHOVAH [literally, YAH YAHWEH – an emphatic affirmation of absolute trust] is my strength and my song.” God is our mountaintop and our music. Our song is about Him; moreover, He has placed the song within us. Psalm 42:8 is one example of this kind gift: “Yet the LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” The account of Paul and Silas praying and singing at midnight while unfairly confined in a jail at Philippi (Acts 16:11-40) is a reminder of the power of music in the lives of Christians everywhere.
3. LOVE SINGS ABOUT US
“God is love” (I John 4:8, 16) – perfect love – and He sings about us! The One Who created music and is our “song” chooses to sing about us: “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.” We can be certain that this song of love will never turn into a “love gone wrong song.” Because our loving Savior God does not change – cannot change – His song of love will be the same forever. It is a humbling thought that God sings over us to give us “rest”; this divine lullaby is another expression of His infinite love, a love that will not let us go.
CONCLUSION – Jesus sang as He prepared to go to the Cross (“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives” – Matthew 26:30). Thus, Jesus was singing a love song to us just hours before His Physical and spiritual death on Calvary. We know that He was singing Psalm 118, which includes this statement: “The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation” (verse 14). Later, we read, “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it” (verses 22-24). Remarkably, Jesus was singing about His death and choosing to “rejoice.” It was indeed “for the joy that was set before Him” that He “endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). Trust in Him today: He will be your “strength” and “song” and “salvation” unto all eternity.