Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.
Way (way!) back in high school, I was in chorus. It is interesting to me that, even though it was about 35 years ago, I can still remember well some of the songs we performed (probably a result of lots and lots and lots of repetitive practice). What I remember even more than the practice—and even more than a few of the tunes—is the individual “competition” in which we participated. I distinctly recall sitting in a room alone with a judge. The song I had (unfortunately) chosen was “The Sound of Silence,” by Simon and Garfunkel. As a 15-year-old sitting in a small room singing a popular song—and a cappella, no less—with an adult present was a terrifying experience. Also, it was a horrible performance. Trust me, it was memorable for all the wrong reasons.
We have come together today to enjoy the presence of God. As a part of this beautiful fellowship of worship, we lift our voices in various ways. In part, we lift our voices in prayer. In part, we lift our voices in communion. In part, we lift our voices in the reading of the Word. In part, we express our love for God and his greatness through singing. We are not all blessed with what humanity would describe as “good singing voices.” Yet that is beside the point. God wants to hear from us. He longs to experience the praise that we come together to present to him. Let us never forget that our great and perfect and holy God desires to hear from us. Our voices lifted to him are a fragrant offering.
–Ricky