A LOST SONG |
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast
Commentary by Dennis L. Finnan
Once a year we have set aside a side a special day
called Thanksgiving Day. Amazingly, although secularists in our
nation continually try to tell us that America is a pluralistic
nation with no Christian heritage, here stands a solid testimony
to our Christian heritage and past. For Thanksgiving Day, as a
celebration, is particularly an American institution - older than
the Constitution, and older than the Declaration of Independence.
Yes, it was on a cold but sunny day in December 1621,
that the true forefathers of this nation sat down at a table,
to celebrate their new life and living in a land that God had
led them to, and given them for their heritage and care. How far,
in many ways, we have come since that handful of Pilgrims gathered
for that special day of thanks. Today with the hundred of millions
of people that populate the same land and have experienced the
manifold blessings that came from the struggles of these people,
this day of thanksgiving has become a lost song. Yes, friend a
"lost song" - for you see it is in song that we truly
praise God for His blessings and goodness. This Thursday coming,
we still as a nation officially pause to say thanks to the great
God of providence and care, that made us and our nation great.
But, will we like believers in the past sing our song of thanks?
Well, after we pause right now for our second moment of music,
I'll return to tell you about that LOST SONG…
… Many thousands of years ago, long before our
Thanksgiving occasion ever arose, there were other believers in
God, who experienced a similar occasion to give thanks. We find
the mention of these people in the Old Testament Bible in the
Book of Numbers. There we see the Israelites traveling away from
the bondage of their past in Egypt, and marching on through the
desert wilderness to their Promised Land God was going to give
them. Many of us who study the Scriptures have countlessly heard
the different stories that surround the wilderness march of these
early pilgrims. But for the sake of the wide variance of our audience,
permit me to briefly recount it for you.
In the early books of the Old Testament, we learn
that God freed His "chosen ones," the Jewish people,
from slavery in Egypt and was bringing this band of followers,
some 2 ½ million of them, through the burning desert over
to the Promised Land of Palestine. In the Book of Numbers we have
an account of what happened along the way. Of course, it's a sad
story, for the people who followed God had failed to claim their
promise and many became faithless. In turn, this turned to thanklessness,
and ended in the terrible judgment, God decreed, of having to
aimlessly wander in the wilderness until they died.
However, along the way these pilgrims learned some
valuable lessons that gave them personal joy and fulfillment even
though their life was tough and filled with trials. Particularly,
in Numbers chapter twenty-one we read:
Numbers 21:17 (NIV) "Then
Israel sang this song: "Spring up, O well! Sing about it,"
This was an unusual song and apparently a very strange
well. You see, Israel had been traveling for some time over the
hot dry and dusty desert sands. Water was none existent, and their
tongues became parched and dry. God's children were gasping for
some cool water to revive their bodies and hearts. However, we
know that God was with them and would never abandon them. At times,
God seemed distant, but only because of sin or the need for some
valuable lessons on spiritual growth. The people began to cry
out, and Moses their leader sought an answer from God. We read
in,
Numbers 21:16 (NIV) "From
there they continued on to Beer, the well where the LORD said
to Moses, "Gather the people together and I will give them
water.""
So Moses called the people together and the Tribal
leaders formed a circle in the barren desert sands. God indicated
to Moses that they were to dig within that circle. So the princes
of the people took their staves and began digging for water. There
was no indication that water existed there at all, but by faith
they obeyed and by faith the people supported them by singing
a song. Israel, all 2 ½ million of them in joyous song cried
out, "…"Spring up, O well! Sing about it."
As they dug and dug, and the people sang this song
of faith and thankfulness, all of a sudden there came the sound
of rushing water which filled the well and overflowed as a stream
in the desert. How the people rejoiced in song and heart! Yet
we find that numerous times as they marched through the desert,
this miraculous stream followed them and appeared when they had
need. David ,Israel's great king, spoke of this miracle manifestation
of God's care when he said in the Psalms,
Psalms 105:41 (NIV) "He
opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed
in the desert."
How was it, a river of water flowed in the desert?
Our answer comes from the New Testament as Paul the apostle by
divine revelation speaks out and says,
1 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV) "and
drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual
rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ."
Here we see that God's provision of water actually
sprang from the original fountain, the rock at Horeb, which had
been struck by Moses in obedience to God, to bring forth the first
divine miracle of provision. Doubtless, the stream followed the
Israelites wherever they went. At times, it was on the surface
as they found an oasis, other times it was beneath the sands to
be revealed as God chose. But in all the days of their lives in
the wilderness, God had a stream in the desert for them to be
refreshed and kept. Yet, it was their faith evidenced in their
song that always seemed to bring God's answer to their needs.
They sung time and time again
Numbers 21:17 (NIV) " "Spring
up, O well! Sing about it,"
Once a year, we set aside a special day for Thanksgiving.
A day to remember the goodness of God that began for us as a nation
in December 1621, and runs unbroken to this day. Like the Israelites
the were given that very first fountain at the Rock of Horeb,
that followed them wherever they went, so likewise our "rock
of Horeb," is our Pilgrims forefathers first thanksgiving
day. There they too sang songs of praise and thanksgiving to the
great God their King the Lord Jesus Christ.
By song and praise, the Israelites reached the life-giving
waters, and likewise our nation of Christians who founded this
country, reached their greatness by their song of praise to the
God of eternity who has given us all things to enjoy. Truly this
Thursday, everyone of us who enjoys the bounty of goodness, richness
and blessings we still enjoy in this nation-we should give thanks
to God for it, by songs of praise in our hearts. In the Old Testament
Psalms, perhaps the 100th is most instructive as to
how to sing praise and give thanks. We read in this short Psalm
these words,
Psalms 100 (NIV) "A psalm.
For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are
his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his
gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks
to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love
endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."
Notice how this song of Israel began. It begins with
VOLUNTARY PRAISE. "Shout for joy to the LORD," This
is something only grateful hearts can do spontaneously when we
know that all we have is a gift from a loving, caring God. This
week, we will have formal opportunity to do just that. But will
we? Sadly, I think not, for the great majority of today's Americans
no longer believe in the God who created them In His place they
have substituted their own gods of self, science and sentiment;
gods that are worthless as many young people are coming to know.
The joy, the song in the heart of our forefathers is missing among
those who have thrown off the one true God of Christianity. Oh
,their lives are filled with expensive toys, and trinkets, but
the real substance and meat of life that gave meaning to the generations
of the past, during good and bad times, is gone. The answer? Voluntary
and universal praise must again be struck on the chords of our
hearts.
So friend, if you want to have the joy and inner
contentment that the ancient pilgrims in the desert had and those
who forged our nation, we had better return to what the Psalmist
declares,
Psalms 100:1-3 (NIV) "A
psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful
songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and
we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture."
We note in verse two, that we are told to "worship
the Lord with gladness." Our faithful King James version
says "serve the Lord with gladness." Which version
is right? The answer-both! We learn from Paul the apostle's words
in Romans, how to reconcile these two acts.
Romans 12:1 (NIV) "Therefore,
I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies
as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual
act of worship."
Here we're told that by offering our bodies, we are
performing an act of worship. Now, here is no literal offering
of our bodies as a sacrifice on altar, this refers to giving of
ourselves in serving the Lord and His kingdom. You see serving
and singing go together. When we come before God's presence with
songs of praise and thanksgiving, we find no problem in serving
the Lord. What best give impetus is the fact that we can dwell
upon God's goodness and mercy that has abundantly flowed into
our lives.
Just look around my friend at what you have. America
is still the richest nation on the earth and every American is
a rich citizen compared with many nations around the world. Truly
we should sing a song of praise that in picture says, "SPRING
UP O WELL." The well of abundance, resource, peace, freedom,
and health should cause us all to sing praise. Say, are you praising
God? Are you thanking Him for your numberless blessings? Are you
also daring to praise Him for those trials you at times go through
too? In the desert the ancient pilgrims,even when they did not
see water, and all around them was bleak, dry burning desert sand,
they could sing by faith of water to come that would eventually
assuage their thirst. Maybe someone listening is going through
a severe trial this Thanksgiving season, and you wonder what you
can be thankful for? Well, sing that ancient song in your heart
- "Spring up O Well," and God will bring streams in
your desert too.
Our Pilgrim forefathers went through tough times.
More than half of those 320 who came over on the Mayflower died
the previous winter, but the small band of settlers left were
Christians who knew, God was in control. That first Thanksgiving
day they dared to praise God for those trials which one day would
become "blessings in disguise." The disguise was that
years later, God would give to their children's children a land
of great blessing and goodness. Yes, the Psalmist could say in
song and we should sing it in our hearts,
Psalms 100 (NIV) "…
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with
gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD
is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people,
the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his
name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his
faithfulness continues through all generations."
Yes, it's Thanksgiving time again, and although each
year more and more people are appearing who have thrown off God
and become thankless people. Let it not be said of you. Truly
in this nation of ours, Thanksgiving has become a "lost song."
Let it not be lost to your grateful heart. Make this Thursday
more than just a social holiday and family reunion. Let it be
a time to sing praises to God and may you truly see with spiritual
eyes, that "stream in the desert" that follows you wherever
you go. Yes, with a spiritual ear, I can hear the faint and distant
song of those ancient pilgrims singing in the desert still crying
out for joy- "Spring up O Well." And, along with them
let us all join in, in praise and thanksgiving to our Lord Jesus
Christ who was "that spiritual rock which followed them."
Although our nation is moving dangerously toward
a nation of thankless people, you can make a difference this Thursday,
by being one who truly will sing a song of praise in your heart.
Our pilgrim fathers, when they celebrated their first Thanksgiving
Day, issued a proclamation which history records. "They
agreed among themselves, notwithstanding are their hardships,
that God had wonderfully blessed." These brave founders
of a great and glorious nation had so much to be thankful for,
and in spite of temporal circumstances and their consequences,
God had proven His love to them in sending Christ to die for their
sins. God's love was undoubtedly evidenced and as such they could
trust Him through thick and thin. Oh, may the same God that guarded
and guided these many ancient pilgrim believers, giving them joy
bells in their hearts, so accompany us as we prepare to enter
the 21st century. God help us to be, truly thankful,
worshipful, praiseful and most of all, filled with songs of faith
and thanksgiving to the wonderful God who has given us all things.
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures.A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request.These weekly radio commentaries can be heard in selected areas around the nation. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 16 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of all messages is available upon request also.
For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please
write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan(dennis@wwy.org),
or visit our webpage at http://www.wwy.org/