 By James H. Cagle |
“I call to remembrance my song in the night” (Psalm 77: 6 KJV).
Songs are poems put to music. The poems are written first. That’s because the words with their meaning and message are the most important and the music is written later to “enhance the meaning of the words.” Words carry meaning and words that mean something to us bring with them meaningful feelings.
Songs are first of all literature, and like all literature of every age, they express the mind-set and morals of a people. Harriet Martineau (1802-76) says, “Ballads and popular songs are both the cause and effect of general morals; they are first formed, and then re-acted. In both points of view, they are an index of public morals.”
The songs the church is singing says a lot about the spiritual state of the church. True church music uses the words of the songs with their meaning to bring the “Word of God” to the listener.
Most of the contemporary church music with its lyrics that portray God, Jesus Christ, the Spirit and Christianity in an unbiblical way might be popular but will do us no good in the night seasons because they were not written to edify but to entertain.
When a person gets saved they dump their old songs and get a new song, a song of praise unto God (Psalm 40: 3). They then get a favorite song and that song becomes their song that when they hear it they say that’s “my song.” No doubt Paul and Silas sung their favorite songs while imprisoned at Philippi (Acts 16: 25). Elihu said God gives songs in the night (Job 35: 10).
What is a song in the night? It’s a song we sing during those hard and trying times when the enemy oppresses us that the words of the song (no music because we’re then singing without music) remind us of the power, goodness, love, and faithfulness of our God. And such songs lift our spirits and our voices above the dark night clouds into the very presence of God Who hears our song in the night.
Do you have a night song? What is it? Have you had to sing it lately? You need a song for the night for the night is coming.
A Song in the Night
I love those dear old church hymns,
And their sweet melody.
And how we’d lift these songs in praise,
In perfect harmony.
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These songs reminded us of Christ,
Of His living and His death.
Of the blood He shed on Calvary,
To save us from Hell beneath.
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These songs turned our thoughts t’ward Heaven,
And God our Father up above.
Spoke of His power and mercy,
And His sacrificial love.
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We sang songs about the Bible,
And what a faithful guide it’s been.
How it’s a light to light our pathway,
And how it cleanses us from sin.
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We sang songs about the Spirit,
And how He helps us run our race.
And with His help we’ll win the prize,
When we see our Savior’s blessed face.
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We sang songs of joyful praise,
That brought honor to our King.
We sang songs about redemption,
That would make the Heavens ring.
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We sang songs in the night season,
In long valley’s dark and low.
That reassured us of God’s care,
And how this truth we came to know.
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It’s easy to sing a lighter song,
When things are going so well.
But the soul needs a lifting song,
When they’re passing through some vale.
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A song for the night each one needs,
When the darkness is all about.
You have one and I do to,
That turns our doubt into a shout.
James H. Cagle
