It’s still dark outside. The clock says it’s morning, but the sky says it’s still night. I look out at the darkness, sigh, and open the windows to let in some fresh air as I get ready for another day. I’m not a morning person, especially when it’s so early that it’s still dark. But, another workday demands it. I take a deep breath, say a short prayer, try to wake up and function.
I stop and close my eyes, I smile. A gentle wind flows in, carrying cardinal song from the tree outside my window. Voices from distant trees join their song, a chorus of praise ringing out over the morning breeze.
Singing isn’t my first inclination in the dark. Dark times can send me into hiding, covering my head, hiding from whatever is creating the darkness. I prefer the light of ease and predictability. I like being able to see a few steps ahead so that I can plan accordingly. When the dark makes it difficult to see the path ahead, I cringe and complain, begging God for a spotlight. Or, at the very least, a shaft of light through the clouds so that I’m less likely to trip over the next step.
Sometimes God will give a little beam of light, a tiny speck to give me some idea of where I’m going. Other times, He doesn’t.
Sometimes we don’t even know where the path is going. That’s even more terrifying. We have to take those steps despite the dark and trust that He will keep us safe on the path.
And sometimes He tells us to sing along the way. That’s even more difficult, but the Word makes it clear that it’s critical when in a dark place.
Paul and Silas found themselves bound and fastened to stocks in the inner most part of a Roman prison. The stench from waste and mold must’ve been overwhelming. The only source of light would have been torches used by the guards to check on the prisoners. It was likely dark, cold, and miserable. They had been beaten with rods and their wounds had been left untreated.
“But at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” Acts 16:25&26
Their worship broke their chains.
In Old Testament Israel, King Jehoshaphat was a man who loved God. He ruled in the fear of and faithfulness to the Lord. When word came to him that a great multitude from several nations came against him, he cried out to God, reminded God of His promises to His people. Then the spirit of the Lord instructed them “Do not be afraid or dismayed because of the multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s…go down against them…but do not fight. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of God…do not fear.” “…then he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of the holiness, as they went out before the army…and as they sang and to praise, the Lord set an ambush against (the enemy).” II Chronicles 20 (various verses from 1-22)
Their worship touched heaven and heaven responded.
During his time of hiding from Saul and fearing for his life, David sings in Psalm 59:16 “But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my strength, I will sing praises: for God is my defense, my God of mercy.”
David sang and God protected.
And our praise reflects God’s character. “The Lord your God is with you, a Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love, He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
God delights in us, sings over us, and calls us to delight in Him and to sing out to Him
Our worship breaks chains, invites heaven, brings protection, and touches our hearts to God’s. Singing praise to our God fills us with joy and brings us intimacy with God that we cannot begin to understand.
I’m still not a pre-dawn morning person. Waking up in darkness is never easy. The long seasons of night take a toll on our minds and spirits. The birdsong makes my dark mornings a little easier, and like the birds who praise God before the sunrise, let us sing in the dark, praising God for who He is despite the darkness, and watch what He does with our praise. That song will touch heaven and heaven will surely respond.
