Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 180

4. What does he exhort all to do?

"O magnify the Lord with me, and _let us exalt His name together_." Ps.

34:3.

5. What personal experience does he say he will declare in the hearing of all who fear G.o.d?

"Come and hear, all ye that fear G.o.d, and _I will declare what He hath done for my soul_." Ps. 66:16.

6. What effect do such testimonies have upon the humble?

"My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: _the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad_." Ps. 34:2.

7. Into what condition did those lapse anciently who failed to glorify G.o.d and to be thankful?

"Because that, when they knew G.o.d, they glorified Him not as G.o.d, neither were thankful; but _became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened_." Rom. 1:21.

8. What element should enter into all our worship?

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication _with thanksgiving_ let your requests be made known unto G.o.d." Phil. 4:6.

See Col. 4:2.

9. In how many things should we give thanks?

"_In everything give thanks_: for this is the will of G.o.d in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thess. 5:18.

10. How often, and for how much, should we render thanks?

"Giving thanks _always for all things_ unto G.o.d and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Eph. 5:20.

11. With what exhortation does the psalmist close his songs of praise?

"Praise ye the Lord. Praise G.o.d in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: praise Him upon the high-sounding cymbals. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." Psalm 150.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, Bow down before Him, His glory proclaim; With gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness, Kneel and adore Him, the Lord is His name.

Low at His feet lay thy burden of carefulness, High on His heart He will bear it for thee, Comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness, Guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.

Fear not to enter His courts in the slenderness Of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine: Truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness, These are the offerings to lay on His shrine.

These, though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness, He will accept for the Name that is dear; Mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness, Trust for our trembling, and hope for our fear.

The Value Of Song

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

David And His Harp. "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing." Ps. 100:2.

1. How early in the world's history do we read of singing?

"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? ... _when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of G.o.d shouted for joy_?"

Job 38:4-7.

2. What did Israel do when delivered from Egypt?

"Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, ...

The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: ... and I will exalt Him." Ex. 15:1, 2.

3. How did the angels manifest their joy at Christ's birth?

"And suddenly there was with the angel a mult.i.tude of the heavenly host praising G.o.d, and saying, Glory to G.o.d in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:13, 14.

4. How are we told to come before the Lord?

"Serve the Lord with gladness: _come before His presence with singing_."

Ps. 100:2. See 2 Chron. 29:30.

5. How does David say such service is regarded by G.o.d?

"I will praise the name of G.o.d with _a song_, and will magnify Him with _thanksgiving_. _This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs._" Ps. 69:30, 31.

6. What instruction did Paul give concerning singing?

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in _psalms_ and _hymns_ and _spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord_." Col. 3:16. See also Eph.

5:19; James 5:13; Ps. 149:5, 6.

NOTES.-Music, like poetry and flowers, is elevating and refining in its nature, and should therefore have its place in the worship of G.o.d, and in the life and experience of G.o.d's people. It is adapted to every mood and feeling of the human soul, and many times has reached hearts when other means have failed. Next to prayer, music seems best adapted to worship.

"The history of the songs of the Bible is full of suggestion as to the uses and benefits of music and song. Music is often perverted to serve purposes of evil, and it thus becomes one of the most alluring agencies of temptation. But, rightly employed, it is a precious gift of G.o.d, designed to uplift the thoughts to high and n.o.ble themes, to inspire and elevate the soul. As the children of Israel, journeying through the wilderness, cheered their way by the music of sacred song, so G.o.d bids His children today gladden their pilgrim life. There are few means more effective for fixing His words in the memory than repeating them in song. And such song has wonderful power. It has power to subdue rude and uncultivated natures; power to quicken thought and to awaken sympathy, to promote harmony of action, and to banish the gloom and foreboding that destroy courage and weaken effort."-_"__Education,__"__ pages 167, 168._

"O that we might sing evening and morning, and let song touch song all the way through! O that we could put songs under our burden! O that we could extract the sense of sorrow by song! Then sad things would not poison so much. Sing in the house; teach your children to sing. When troubles come, go at them with song. When griefs arise, sing them down. Lift the voice of praise against cares.

Praise G.o.d by singing; that will lift you above trials of every sort. Attempt it. They sing in heaven, and among G.o.d's people on earth song is the appropriate language of Christian feeling."-_Henry Ward Beecher._

7. What instrument did John see the saints have?

"I saw ... them, ... _having the harps of G.o.d_." Rev. 15:2.

8. And what song are they to sing?

"And they sing _the song of Moses_ the servant of G.o.d, _and the song of the Lamb_, saying, Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord G.o.d Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints." Verse 3. See Ps. 87:7.