O come, let us sing out to the Lord…

Growing up, we read Psalm 95, out loud, every week or two in church. I can say it in my ‘church voice’ without looking at the book. This is not a brag: it’s thanks to other people. I wasn’t the one who brushed my teeth and combed my hair and tied my laces every Sunday. And my parents didn’t choose Psalm 95.

Psalm 95 has been part of the standard Morning Prayer service so long, William Shakespeare had to read it in church (we’ve tweaked the wording since then). Catholic priests use it too, which makes me think it’s even older. We still say it together at our 8 am service here at CCM.

I think we’ve been doing this for all these centuries because of what Paul once said:

Colossians 3:16-17   ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

This week at church, let’s share the wisdom that the gospel gives us. Let’s be grateful that God has saved us through Jesus Christ, and let’s sing that thanks together.  Let’s sing out to the Lord, and let’s shout in triumph to the rock of our salvation.

And let’s do that so that this week outside the church building, we’ll do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Alan Wood