There’s a lot of singing going on these days. Visit any shopping center in America, for example, and you are apt to hear music associated with Christmas piped through loudspeakers. Visit a congregation on Sunday in most parts of the world and I suspect you will hear special anthems and notice that the hymns are sung with extra zeal. Groups of carolers are making their rounds, and even families will break into song from time to time as they decorate their homes for the Christmas season.
I think that the prophet Zachariah would approve of most of the music, at least that of a religious nature. “Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion!” we read. “For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst…” (Zechariah 2:10-11b). What better reason to sing? What better reason to rejoice? The Lord is coming to be Emanuel, God with us. The nations will be drawn together on that day as God’s reign is finally and firmly established. All will be set right and grace will abound in fullness.
Reading the promise of Zachariah I am reminded of James Weldon Johnson’s powerful words:
Lift ev'ry voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list'ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
Here, too, I believe the prophet Zachariah would readily approve. Let every voice be lifted in glad rejoicing. After all, ‘tis the season!
Prayer: Lord, may our songs of praise bring glory to your name, today and all days. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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