Happy are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance…” vs. 15
Psalm 89:15-18
There’s something to be said for familiarity in worship. While it is true that the old hymns can seem boring and often lack the spirited tempo of contemporary music, simply dropping traditional liturgies in favor of those that change from week to week doesn’t always make our hearts sing. The psalmist knew from experience the joy that came from being able to sing out with others during the temple festivals. Everyone knew the words and sang praise to the Lord with exuberance. Their joyous worship lifted them up and gave direction to their daily walk. Too often in recent years, worship leaders have begun to overpower congregational singing, and something valuable has been lost. Sometimes those leaders seem to be the only ones who know the tune or the words. By contrast, the feeling of being in a mass of people who are singing out familiar hymns as one body is incomparable. Such moments in worship lift our hearts and fill us with happiness, and sometimes we are even bold enough to sing in parts. Often the lyrics to those old songs carry a carefully crafted message that reflects the basic teachings of scripture, and we massage our faith as we sing. Certainly there is a need for new songs in the church, and often the new tunes also spark our joy. But thank God for familiarity–it’s what keeps us coming back.
Thought for the Day: My favorite “old” hymn!
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