Think Before You Sing

 This week’s video was about the hymn “ I’m But A StrangerHere. ” That song as a whole can be summed up with Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, One of the things that you have probably heard me repeat. Why does this matter? And often it’s unanswered. This has a clear answer and it would be surprising if you don’t know it. I think that is why it is often omitted. Clearly though, that doesn’t mean I like it being omitted. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Isaiah 59:2 but your iniquities have made a separation     between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you     so that he does not hear. 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. The forgiveness of Christ is unimportant without that reminder of your sin. Yes, we have joy in knowing this is not our home, but withou...

In this week’s video on When Morning Gilds the Skies , we went through the definition of mirth – amusement, especially as expressed in laughter. We looked at this as it connected with the lines: When mirth for music longs, This is my song of songs: “May Jesus Christ be praised!” We talked about this as when we are joyful we should be singing praises to Christ. Mirth is used in the Psalm 137:3 The word seems to be used slightly differently in different translations. Let’s just take a look at two of them. KJV For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. ESV For there our captors required of us songs, and our tormentors, mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” Depending on how you interpret this you can get the same effect. KJV clearly states that the captors required the captives to be happy and express that in song and laughter. You can read ESV the sam...