This Psalm* is darker, in a minor key, kind of
brooding and stern. What are we doing singing this kind of song in worship?
The book of
Psalms gives us more moods to sing than just positive and encouraging, and we
should use them. There is certainly a time to sing about nations rejecting our
God and our Lord Jesus, these days. And the mood that brings is lament or stern
resolution, not bounce and cheer. We should weep with those who weep in our
singing together.
This
can be tricky to engage with in worship. It takes some preparation. We don’t
mentally veg out and just let the music float us down stream. One reason we
have a printed bulletin is so you can look ahead a step or two and prepare for
what is coming. Changing emotional gears can be a little abrupt sometimes. If
it takes a verse or so to get into the new mood sometimes, that’s fine.
The key
is this: are you singing the Word of God? Is the Word driving the words? Are we understanding
and responding appropriately with our emotions to the Word of God as we sing?
No response at all
or a deadpan is not appropriate. An artificial insistence on personal happiness isn’t
appropriate, either.
Sing the Psalms with your whole heart and voice.
1/12/15
* Psalm 2 in the Cantus Christi, tune POURQUOI FONT BRUIT, from Strasbourg, 1539
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