Singing Praises

Music seemed to pour from Charles Wesley’s heart after he committed his life to Christ. He went on to write more than 6,000 hymns. He carefully chose the exact words he felt were appropriate, and insisted that his hymns be reprinted “just as they are.” He could become irritated when any words were altered. He did not want to be blamed “for the nonsense or for the doggerel of other men.”

Perhaps this helps to explain why he became so angry at his friend, and fellow evangelist, George Whitefield. In 1739, Wesley had written a Christmas hymn, called, “Hark! How all the Welkin Rings.” But, when Whitefield published this song, he changed the title to “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” He also altered some lyrics.

Wesley was furious. He felt that Whitefield changed the meaning of his hymn. Wesley, a stickler for scriptural detail, knew the Bible never said that angels sang. With Whitefield’s changes, the hymn soon became widely popular. But Wesley never sang the altered version.

We may not know that whether or not the angels actually sang to the shepherds, but we do know that this “multitude of the heavenly host” was “praising God!” And we know that singing is an important way to express praise. As the Bible says, we are to “sing unto the Lord a new song … Sing praises unto Him with the timbrel and harp … Sing aloud” (Psalm 149:1-5).

This season, remember that God deserves your praise and worship. In the words you speak, the things you do, and the songs you sing! Today, join the angels. Praise God! Declare His praises, in word and song! Give “glory to the newborn King!”