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Book: Ephesians
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Ephesians 5:19
I. Paul has told them that they are to walk circumspectly, then he tells
them how this is to be done.
A. Redeeming the time.
B. Understanding the will of God.
C. Being filled with the Spirit.
D. "Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns and spiritual
songs, making melody in your hearts to the Lord."
1. When David was living under the protection of Achish
king of Gath, because of Saul's endeavor to kill him,
the kings of the Philistines gathered to fight against
Saul, and David came with his 600 men. The kings of the
Philistines were afraid to allow David to go into
combat with them, so David and his me were sent home
only to discover that the Amalakites had invaded and
taken hostage the families of David's men, and much
loot. David was greatly distressed for the men had even
spoken of stoning him, we read that David encouraged
himself in the Lord.
a. The text does not tell us, but I think that it
is possible that he encouraged himself by
singing of the Lord's mercies and power.
b. We know that when Paul and Silas were in prison
in Phillipi after being beaten about the
midnight hour they were singing there in there
prison cell.
2. Throughout the scriptures we are encouraged to sing to
the Lord.
EXO 15:21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath
triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown
into the sea.
JUD 5:3 Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, [even] I, will
sing unto the LORD; I will sing [praise] to the LORD God of
Israel.
1CH 16:23 Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day
his salvation.
1CH 16:33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of
the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.
2CH 20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set
ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount
Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
2CH 29:30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the
Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David,
and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness,
and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
PSA 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and
will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
PSA 9:11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare
among the people his doings.
PSA 30:12 To the end that [my] glory may sing praise to thee, and not be
silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
PSA 89:1 {Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.} I will sing of the mercies of
the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy
faithfulness to all generations.
PSA 92:1 {A Psalm [or] Song for the sabbath day.} [It is a] good
[thing] to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto
thy name, O most High:
PSA 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a
joyful noise unto him with psalms.
PSA 104:33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing
praise to my God while I have my being.
PSA 105:2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his
wondrous works.
PSA 147:7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the
harp unto our God:
3. Jesus sang a psalm with His disciples before going to
the Garden of Gethsemene the night He was betrayed.
Matt. 26:30
4. To the Colossians Paul wrote,
COL 3:16 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.
5. James wrote,
JAM 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let
him sing psalms.
C. It is amazing how that by singing we can change our whole
attitude or outlet.
1. It redirects our focus.
a. We are so prone to focus on ourselves.
b. We focus on our problems, David said, "My sin
is ever before me."
2. It puts things in their right perspective.
a. I begin to see things in the light of God's
love and His power.
b. During the depression years there was a chorus
that was quite popular, "Cheer up ye saints of
God, There is nothing to worry about Nothing to
make you feel afraid, Nothing to make you
doubt, Remember God is still on His throne So
why not trust Him and shout, You'll be sorry
you worried at all Tomorrow morning."
c. During the years of world war 2 there was
another chorus appropriate for the times.
"What though wars may come with marching feet
and beat of the drums, I have Christ in my
heart, What though nations rage as we approach
the end of the age, For I have Christ in my
heart, God is still on the throne, almighty
God is He, And He cares for His own throughout
eternity, So then come what may, whatever it
is I only can say that I have Christ in my
heart, I have Christ in my heart.
d. My mother's theme song in going through the
stress of raising three active boys who were
always ready for action was, "Jesus never
fails." My one brother had severe asthma
attacks when he was a child and I can remember
at night when the lights were out the squeaking
of the rocking chair as she would be rocking as
she held him singing Jesus never fails.
D. Singing is a great way to express joy and praise.
E. Singing is a way of sowing to the spirit that I might reap of
the spirit.
1. Paul here mentions spiritual songs.
2. In his letter to the Corinthians he said that when he
prayed in an unknown tongue his spirit prayed though
his understanding was unfruitful so he declared that he
would sing with the spirit, and he would understanding
also, and that he would sing with the spirit, and I
will sing with understanding also.
3. I wonder if it is possible that when he speaks of
spiritual songs he is referring to that?
F. Making melody in your heart to the Lord.
1. We do not always need to sing aloud, you can in your
mind go through the melody and words of a song or
chorus.
2. Sometimes and in some places it might be quite
inappropriate to sing aloud.
3. Someone might command you to shut up, but they cannot
silence the song in your heart.
G. It is sometimes interesting to know just what is in your
heart, and this is often discovered by what comes out of your
mouth, especially in unguarded moments.
1. Sometimes we find ourselves humming a song sor of
unconsciously, when I realize that I am humming a tune
it is always interesting to me just what tune I am
humming.
2. Sometimes it is some crazy song from childhood and I
wonder just where did that come from.
3. Many times it is a song of worship or praise. I am
always blessed when I realize that even
sub-consciously I am making melody in my heart to the
Lord.
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