OT DAY 225 - Sing Songs to Praise God as Often as You Can (Please click here for English podcast)

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Silence

1.   Put on your “brakes” and stop for a moment of silence

2.   Wait for God. Breathe deep for God's peace. Exhale your worries.

Praise and Thanksgiving

1.   Think through your day, all the times that made you smile

2.   Thank God for all those moments, and for all those people

3.   Open your heart to praise the Lord

        
           Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

                             Psalm 73:25

Confession and Repentance

1.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to work in you:

     “Dear Holy Spirit, shine your light into the places of darkness in my life. Show me my sins, everything that blocks me from encountering God. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

2.  Through the Holy Spirit, examine yourself for a short silence and then pray:

     "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our sins and being victorious over death and sin. I confess my sin to you(pause, to tell Jesus what the Holy Spirit has shown you). Forgive my sins by your blood and help me follow you. Holy Spirit, fill me that I may be able to receive your gift to love God and His people. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen."

The Word (Numbers 21:10-35)

English(ESV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers 21&version=ESV

14 Therefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord,

“Waheb in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,
15 and the slope of the valleys
that extends to the seat of Ar,
and leans to the border of Moab.”

16 And from there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the Lord said to Moses, “Gather the people together, so that I may give them water.” 

17 Then Israel sang this song:

“Spring up, O well!—Sing to it!—
18 the well that the princes made,
that the nobles of the people dug,
with the scepter and with their staffs.”

Therefore the ballad singers say,

“Come to Heshbon, let it be built;
    let the city of Sihon be established.
28 For fire came out from Heshbon,
    flame from the city of Sihon.
It devoured Ar of Moab,
    and swallowed the heights of the Arnon.

                             Numbers 21:14-18; 27-28

Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmax47l2hLU

My Listening
     This passage gives us two events when the Israelites sang songs after they experienced God's provision giving them a well full of water and then victory in a war. God's people sing songs when they experience the great power of God. 

Let's see how Professor John Goldingay tells us: 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Goldingay) :

    

     The song about the well would testify to God's provision regarding a need that often arose on the journey, not least earlier in this chapter. It would also testify to an Israelite claim to this land east of the Jordan: "We dug the well there." The Book of the Wars of the Lord" is referred to only here, though "The Lord's Wars" are mentioned later in the Old Testament. It was apparently a collection of celebratory songs relating God's victories over different peoples.
     Another such victory follows as the Israelites reach Amorite territory, and the story incorporates another celebratory song that the Israelites evidently enjoyed hearing.    

John Goldingay. Numbers & Deuteronomy for Everyone. Louisville,KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010, p.55.

      Do you know how important it is to sing songs to praise God? I know because this is one of my secret weapon to remove all my fear, doubt, insecurity, anger and everything blocking me from the presence of God the past thirty years. 
      Recently I got a new insight from Sabah that I noticed that the new Bishop of Sabah, Bishop Melter always sang songs during all kinds of occasion. Even during the time he was talking to me and when there was a kind of silence, he sang songs, humming a tune praising God. Wonderful and inspiring!
      So, after my visit to Sabah two weeks ago I always sing songs whenever I have a chance. It is a new way of transformation to my life. Why don't you try that? 

Dear Lord Jesus, 
Lead us to enjoy singing songs to praise you whenever we have a chance so that we can enjoy your powerful presence and provision. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Reflect on these questions:

1. Do you have a habit to sing songs to praise God? Do you enjoy singing praises to God? Why Yes or why No?   

2. Have you got a new understanding in the importance of singing praises to God? Can you enjoy more in singing praises to God the next time when you go to church? Can you practice to sing more songs to praise God everyday?

Praise and Thanksgiving

Let's give thanks for God with us. Let us praise Him:

10,000 Reasons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E

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Daily Devotion on Fire: http://bishopsilas.blogspot.ca/

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