Meditation on the Text of the Week

By Their Songs You Shall Know Them

Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33: 1

A culture is manifested by its songs. The things about which men sing are the objects of their desire and worship. A culture can claim to believe this or that, but what it sings about is the real desire, the real belief, the real longing and loyalty of the heart.

In the light of this, what can we say about modern Athenian culture? There have been times when the songs of the day have been patriotic anthems, of longing for one's homeland, of prideful boasting in the glory of one's nation, such as “By the dawn's early light.” Or they have been songs to boost a nation's spirits during a terrible time, like when a nation has been at war—such as “Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag.”. Or they have been songs of lamentation and mourning during a time of calamity—such as the Negro spirituals. Or they have been songs tinged with bitterness and sadness during times of social dislocation and poverty—such as the Blues.

By today's standard, all such formerly popular historical music can seem quaint and very strange. None of these things reflects the current Athenian culture's objects of desire and worship. For two generations, now, modern Athens has worshiped at the altar of romantic love and sexuality. Ninety-nine percent of all songs have romantic love and sexuality as their dominant, recurring themes. What you sing about betrays and portrays your god: Athenian gods are on display, and it is not a pretty sight.

Jerusalem is a city of music and song. But its songs are not about men, in the first instance. The recurring theme of its songs is the glory and wonder of the Lord. Consequently, its songs are have cadences of wonder, awe, and praise. They can also be sad and mournful, reflecting sorrow over sin and evil. In the end, however, all the songs of Zion are joyful. So our text commands: “Sing for joy in the Lord.” This is not just because the people of the Lord are irrepressibly happy—although that is most often the case—but more importantly the joy and lightness of heart arises from contemplating the beauty and glory of God Himself.

So, our Psalm commands us to sing for joy in the Lord, and goes on numerate some of His glories--the things which bring us joy: His faithfulness, His love of righteousness, His lovingkindness, His making all things of nothing by the mere speaking of His Word, the fact that His Word and counsel stands forever and that He brings the plans and schemes of the unbelieving nations to nothing. God is wonderful indeed—and therefore, blessing without peer belongs to the people He has chosen as His inheritance.

These wonderful realities mean that that Jerusalem is a city of music and song. The timbre is not lamentation but joy—and the overwhelming subject of our songs is the Lord and His glory. As the Apostle Paul wrote, under the inspiration of the Spirit, many centuries later: “Rejoice in the Lord always—and again, I say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

This is not to say that the songs of Zion do not touch upon things in the creation—they clearly do. They do sing about man, about romantic love, about bearing children, about justice, honour, longing and struggle. But these things are sung about always in the light of the pre-interpreting, pre-ordaining Word of God. The songs of Zion speak of all of these aspects of creation being part of a comprehensive orchestra and universal choir joining in the praises and honour of God. Man is the recorder and the conductor of the performance.

Music is universally found in all human cultures. The subject of its songs—those subjects which capture the popular mind and imagination in its singing—they are the heart of a culture on display. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth sings. Popular Athenian culture is fixated on its god of romance and sex. To this god it sings it paeans of praise and longing. But God's people still gather in worship—and when they do, their songs are utterly unlike the songs of the modern dominant culture. They sings the songs of Zion—songs of joy in the glory and greatness of our God.

Never has there been a more striking contrast between the two cities.