Singing of Reality

Scripture:
You who ride on white donkeys,
    sitting on your saddle blankets,
    and you who walk along the road,
consider the voice of the singers at the watering places.
    They recite the victories of the Lord,
    the victories of his villagers in Israel,
Judges 5:10-11

Observation: Deborah sings a song to the Lord for Israel's victory over the Canaanite army, and includes this line about singing and song itself. The songs, she says, tell of God's great work. These songs are not for entertainment, but for worship, and part of their worship is to recount and acknowledge the deeds God has already performed - his victories. Everyone then, including noble and rich people who can ride saddled white donkeys, should consider the songs as a lesson and teaching about God's greatness.

Application: In our modern worship songs, we sing of God's love and caring and blessing. We often sing of how the Lord has delivered us from hardship, or seek that he will provide deliverance. In these, then, it becomes clear that the writer has experienced that salvation, and when I sing I often recount how the Lord has likewise delivered me in times of sorrow and hardship and strife.

We worship God not by randomly offering praise, but by remembering the great things he has actually done. We acknowledge his greatness not in a vague and abstract way, but through very real actions and results. Just like delivering a strong army into the hands of ~18% of Israel, our Lord does great things for us every day that are worthy of praise, and our songs recount those as realities.

The Lord provides, and that provision is worthy of all praise and worship.

Prayer: Lord, today I sing with Deborah for the very real things you have done. There is nothing in my life that is not from you, and I celebrate you and your love. May I sing of your goodness forever and ever. Amen.