“Now these, the singers . . . they were on duty day and night.” 1 Chronicles 9:33
It was so well ordered in the temple that the sacred chant never ceased: for evermore did the singers praise the Lord, whose mercy endures forever. As mercy did not cease to rule either by day or by night, so neither did music hush its holy ministry. My heart, there is a lesson sweetly taught to you in the ceaseless song of Zion’s temple, you too are a constant debtor, and see to it that your gratitude, like charity, never fails.
God’s praise is constant in heaven, which is to be your final dwelling place, learn to practice the eternal hallelujah. Around the earth as the sun scatters his light, his beams awaken grateful believers to tune their morning hymn, so that by the priesthood of the saints perpetual praise is kept up at all hours, they swathe our globe in a mantle of thanksgiving, and girdle it with a golden belt of song.
The Lord always deserves to be praised for what he is in himself, for his works of creation and providence, for his goodness towards his creatures, and especially for the transcendent act of redemption, and all the marvelous blessing flowing therefrom. It is always beneficial to praise the Lord. It cheers the day and brightens the night. It lightens toil and softens sorrow. Over earthly gladness it sheds a sanctifying radiance which makes it less liable to blind us with its glare.
Have we not something to sing about at this moment? Can we not weave a song out of our present joys, or our past deliverances, or our future hopes? Earth yields her summer fruits: the hay is housed, the golden grain invites the sickle, and the sun tarrying long to shine upon a fruitful earth, shortens the interval of shade that we may lengthen the hours of devout worship. By the love of Jesus, let us be stirred up to close the day with a psalm of sanctified gladness.
Adapted from Morning and Evening.
