The Lord's Supper, Part 3: Let the music flow!

Rev. Enoch Thompson | September 10, 2023 | Matthew 26:26-30

KEY VERSE:

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Matthew 26:30 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

Music is universal. All human cultures have different musical forms to suit different occasions and to mark birth, marriage, work, death etc. Our focus today is on the singing of the Church. The Christian faith is a praising, singing faith. The songs of the faith embody our experiences of God in life, and our appropriation of the words of the Bible, as we embark on our pilgrimage to the City above.

We are told in today’s focal text that the Lord Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn after He had instituted the Lord’s Supper. A hymn was in place, for a great ceremony had been enacted. The music, the melody, and the lyrics of the hymn they sang are not reported in the biblical text, but it was most probably a selection from Psalms 113 to Psalm 121, which the Jews normally sang at the end of the Passover meal.

A song, a hymn, or a psalm, is in place for the people of God at all times. The wide range of experiences, of joy, of sorrow, of anguish, of pain, of trials and tribulations, of liftings and casting downs, all of these can find expression and outlet in music which communicates to our God, and our souls and the comfort of others.

The Apostle Paul caught this revelation of singing; we read in Acts 16:25 that after they had been arrested, beaten, and thrown in prison for preaching Christ and the freedom He offers to those under Satan’s power, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. NIV

Led by the Holy Spirit, and empowered by his own experiences Paul writes to us in Col 3:16, “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.”

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

Are you singing, in the day and the night? Have your songs stilled because of the noise around you? Start singing again. Sing the songs of faith, hope and victory. Sing in the midst of the fires of your trials. Sing for the joy of the Lord. God loves to hear you sing! Let the music begin!!!

PRAYER:

Dear Lord and Master Jesus Christ, I sing your praises and sing the songs of faith with the family of God. Please give me a spirit that sings, in the day and the night.

Lord, help your Church to be a singing Church, in line with your Word and with your Spirit. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! ____________________________ DAILY word study: HYMN The word "hymn" in Matthew 26:30 is translated from the Greek word "ὕμνον" (hymnon). This Greek noun specifically refers to a song of praise or a hymn. It is used in the New Testament to describe songs of worship and praise to God.

The mention of singing a hymn in this verse signifies a moment of worship and praise, even amid the profound events that are about to unfold. It reflects the Jewish tradition of concluding the Passover meal with hymns of praise to God. This hymn likely served as a way for Jesus and His disciples to acknowledge and express their reverence and dependence on God, even in the face of impending trials.

This verse invites us to reflect on the role of worship and praise in our own lives, especially during challenging times. Just as Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn before facing the crucible of Gethsemane and the subsequent events of the Passion, we can find strength, comfort, and spiritual renewal through worship and praise in all circumstances. May our reflection on the singing of hymns inspire us to cultivate a heart of worship, recognizing that even amid trials and uncertainties, praising God can bring peace, strength, and a deep sense of His presence in your life.

Reflections:

How does the act of worship, including singing hymns and songs of praise, impact your spiritual journey and your ability to face life's challenges with faith and resilience? How can you incorporate more moments of worship into your daily life?