Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful to him, and bless his name. God's praises must be sung — I. WITH THE ATTENTION OF THE MIND. The words must be considered, as well as heard or read. A person can never be rationally or piously affected with what he sings, except he understands it. Without this, there is no more devotion in him, than there is in an organ or other musical instrument which utters the like sounds. Or if there be anything like devotion excited by mere sounds, it is probably enthusiasm, or something purely animal; a sort of pleasing mechanical sensation, which perhaps some brutes may as strongly feel. by sounds suited to the state of their frame. II. WITH THE MELODY OF THE VOICE. Poetry enlivens praise; and music heightens the powers of poetry, and gives it more force to engage and affect the mind. It puts spirit into every word, and their united influences elevate, compose, and melt the soul. From hence it will follow that the better the poetry is, provided it be intelligible, and the greater harmony there is in uttering it, the greater effect it will have upon the mind, and make the impression of what we sing more deep and lasting. As God hath formed us with voices capable of uttering harmonious sounds, He expects that they be employed in His service. III. WITH THE DEVOTION OF THE HEART. It is not sufficient to understand what is sung, to attend to it, and join our voices with those of our fellow-worshippers; but our intentions should be upright and good. And they should be these; to glorify God, and to edify ourselves and others. 1. Our intention should be to glorify God; that is, not to make Him more glorious, for neither the praises of men nor angels can do that; but to do Him apparent and public honour; to acknowledge His glory; to proclaim our high veneration and affection for Him, and celebrate and recommend Him as an object worthy the esteem and praises of the whole world (Psalm 62:2; Psalms 1:23; Psalms 69:30). 2. It should be our desire also to edify ourselves and one another (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). (Job Orton, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. |
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