Songs of Deliverance

Songs of Deliverance

You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. 

Psalm 32:7

‘Let me sing you the song of my people’ is a catchphrase currently in vogue. The Church of Jesus Christ is a singing Church. Our text for today speaks of the songs, not first of the Church, but of Christ Himself unto His forgiven people. The thirty-second Psalm is a Psalm of the Forgiven Penitent, a companion to Psalm fifty-one.  David was a great sinner, but he was also a great repenter. In the Psalm, he lays out his confession and does not attempt to diminish the seriousness of his sin. In the midst of the Psalm he sounds this great note of assurance and hope; ‘You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.’

We surround ourselves with music that suits our moods. On days of mourning, we hear the dirges and mournful tunes. When we are upbeat, we listen to bouncy tunes. When we are forgiven and joyful in it, we learn the ‘new songs’ of deliverance. Christ gives us those songs. He gives them, not in small numbers, but He ‘surrounds’ us with them. These are the songs of the soul set free.When we have sinned against God we are heavy, burdened and not much for music. When Christ has forgiven our sin, after confession, He provides for us an abundance of music to reflect the joy that forgiveness brings. Look around you today, Saint of God. See what tokens for good Christ has afforded you. Listen. Can you not hear?  It is not just one song, but many ‘songs of deliverance,’ with which Christ has surrounded you.

Our most Loving and Forgiving Savior,
We sing the songs with which You have surrounded us.

Where the Bush is Burning
Tomm Tice