Sing Praise to the Lord - Part III
“You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.” ~Psalm 40:5
“Yet they are more than can be told.” Indeed, they are. The psalmist is reflecting on the sad reality that all of God’s wondrous deeds done on behalf of sinners cannot be sufficiently recounted. He wants to proclaim them, yet he knows that this short, passing life is not enough to adequately tell of the triumphs of God’s marvelous grace. If only the psalmist had a thousand tongues, then, perhaps, he could begin to scratch the surface of all God’s wondrous thoughts and deeds. Then, just maybe, he would be equipped to sing his great Redeemer’s praise.
In our Hymn of Praise for this Lord’s Day, “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” (164), we find this exact sentiment from the pen of Charles Wesley (1707-1788). Originally entitled, “For the Anniversary Day of One’s Conversion,” the song was written with eighteen verses! The first verse was a brief doxology, followed by five verses that recounted Wesley’s conversion experience, ending with a declaration of his assurance of salvation. The first verse we will sing this Lord’s Day was actually verse seven in the original. Apparently, one year after Wesley was converted to Christ, he wrote this song to declare his desire to praise the God who had saved him. Our current title is a riff on the words of 18th century Bohemian minister Peter Böhler, who once said to Wesley, “Had I a thousand tongues, I would praise Jesus Christ with all of them!”
Wesley wrote this hymn to declare the glory of Jesus in His work of salvation. Consider the catalog of praiseworthy things the Lord has done for you: He “charms our fears,” giving us peace. “He bids our sorrows cease,” granting us joy. “He breaks the power of reigning sin,” enabling us to obey Him from hearts full of gratitude. “His blood can make the foulest clean,” making us acceptable in the sight of a holy God. He “assists us to proclaim,” causing our feeble attempts at worship to be empowered by His Spirit, that they might become a pleasing aroma to our God and Savior.
As we prepare to worship the Lord this Sunday, let me encourage you to consider your conversion. Do you remember it? Have you considered recently how much Jesus has done for you and at what cost He redeemed your life from the pit? Allow the words of this song to remind you of the joyful thanks Christ deserves for giving you new life, for rejoicing your broken heart, for loosening your tongue to employ it in the worship of His majestic name. Come, ye formerly blind, behold your Savior; and leap, ye formerly lame, for joy!
Rev. Kyle Lockhart, Associate Pastor