Worship Like Soldiers and Surgeons
Introduction
Don’t underestimate the power of beautiful singing. In 1582, Scotland was in religious and political upheaval. One minister, John Durie, preached against the corruption he witnessed and was exiled for it by the authorities. Later that year, he returned to Scotland with a rag-tag group of congregants gathered to meet him. From there they walked back to Edinburgh, with Durie at their head. At some point during this friendly stroll, someone began singing Psalm 124. And since the protestant reformation prioritized beautiful singing, they all began singing the psalm in four parts. Durie’s enemies were startled at this scene while Durie himself was no-doubt encouraged beyond words. How can your enemies win against jolly warriors?
In an earlier article, I compared Sunday worship to a football game. We need a robust liturgy like a coach needs a good play book. And we need gratitude like a running back needs courage. Today, I will compare our worship to medicine and war. Worship is warfare and worship is medicine.
Worship Like a Soldier
In 2 Chronicles 20, the Ammonites declared war against Judah. Upon hearing this news, King Jehoshaphat feared the outcome of the war. In his worry, he turned to God for help praying for God to remember all His promises to His people. The Lord answered Jehoshaphat’s prayer and, through a prophet, told all of Judah that He, their God, will fight for them tomorrow. At this news, the king and all the people rejoiced and sang. The next day, Jehoshaphat sent singers to march to the battleground in faith that God already went out and won the victory. And He did. The army of tenors and baritones approached a battlefield piled with the bodies of the enemy army. Notice, God promises victory and His people follow Him into battle with singing.
Congregational singing is the battle cry of King Jesus’ soldiers. God has promised us, the new covenant church, victory. The gates of hades will not be able to withstand the advance of the church (Matt 16:18). When we sing on Sunday, we should be singing because God has already promised us a victory on Monday. Keep in mind, Jehoshaphat’s singers really marched into battle with nothing more than their clothes and their instruments. The Ammonites had swords, bows, and a calvary while Judah had only the Lord and some psalms to sing. The Ammonites didn’t stand a chance. And neither do the principalities and powers against us have a chance. The Lord is on our side. Because God is on our side, our music serves more functions than just scaring our enemies. It also encourages our friends.
Worship Like a Surgeon
Have you ever walked to church with a burden or pain that wearied you? You didn’t have much, if anything, to “contribute” to the service except your presence. If you have felt that way, no doubt your brothers and sisters have as well. But God doesn’t leave us alone on those days without any help. He provides the singing of His people to alleviate the hearts of His people. Paul says in Ephesians 5:19 that we should speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord. He says similarly in Colossians 3:16 that we should let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Worship is medicine.
As we sing to God, we are also singing to one another. As we sing melodies to God we sing truth to one another. As we sing thanksgivings to God, we also admonish and counsel one another. God’s word is powerful and active (Heb 4:12) wither preached or sang. When you sing scripture on Sundays, you are singing God’s timeless word to broken people. You are a nurse aiding a sick soul back to health.
Conclusion
Worship is warfare and worship is medicine. It is warfare to our enemies and medicine to our friends. When we worship on Sunday, we aren’t doing something trivial or unimportant. We are doing things on which the entire universe depends. Since soldiers take great care in staying sharp in their craft and since surgeons spend significant time ensuring they’re ready for surgery, shouldn’t we, soldiers and surgeons in the new covenant put effort into our craft? We should and we will.
Below is a video of Christ Church in Idaho worshipping like soldiers and surgeons. Be encouraged!