Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: song

armed with a song — February 11, 2026

armed with a song

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One of my Biblical heroes is a king named Jehoshaphat.  In fact, I kinda wish I had named one of my sons Jehoshaphat.  Can I do that retroactively?

The king had a serious problem, and yet isn’t every problem serious?  Some of them really are while others just feel like it.  We would like to trust the Lord to work out our problems.  But is there any evidence that we really and truly trust Him to do that? 

Well let’s consider Jehoshaphat’s problem as written in 2 Chronicles 20. A terrible trio of hostile nations were perched and ready to invade his Kingdom of Judah and things were looking grim. 

But the king had recently discovered that he mattered to God, and that God could be trusted to provide the security that he and his people needed.

So instead of seeking an ally, he called his people together to seek the Lord for help.  God’s spokesman answered saying, “You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!” (20:17).

They were told to meet the enemy, then passively watch as the Lord fought their battle.  They went to meet their foes and did what God told them to do.  They waited and waited but nothing happened.  It was as if God was waiting to see evidence of their faith.

So, Jehoshaphat, “appointed musicians to play before the Lord and praise his majestic splendor.  He instructed them to march ahead of the warriors and sing a song, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures” (21).

Unbelievable!  The king gathered the temple worship team and said, “I want you guys to stand at the front of the column and when you meet the enemy, start singing that song I really like – the one that goes, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.”

This song was used in the worship services of Israel.  This line was repeated at least 12 different times in the Old Testament in various Psalms   They knew it so well that they didn’t need a video projector for the words.

The singers were speechless, but they thought, “Are you nuts?  What about the archers and swordsmen?  Shouldn’t they go out first?  We left our camo at home.  King these hands were made for plucking a harp not a bow.”  But the King insisted.

So, the trembling tenors took their places at the front of the army, and the sergeant cried, “a one and a two and a…” and by faith they sang.

And then, “When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated” (22). 

When they began to sing, the three hostile armies were confounded and then destroyed each other.  They were befuddled and disturbed by Judah’s confidence.

I love this story. Standing and watching was God’s idea. Using the Levitical singers – that was all Jehoshaphat.  And it appears that God was extremely pleased with his decision.

When a problem comes to visit us, I am pretty sure the last thing we want to do is to sing about how good God is.  Our lips are locked; our hearts are numb and there is nothing within us that wants to sing to the Lord

But Jehoshaphat teaches us to meet trouble with a tune.  This is something I have learned to do when trouble comes. 

My heart looks to heaven, and I sing to Him a simple hymn or chorus.  What I find is that my attitude is quickly turned around; and once that has happened, my circumstances are not always but often turned around as well.

When a problem sticks to us, we need to sing to Him!  Solid evidence that we truly trust Him with the problems we face.

A PRAYER: Lord, please give us that kind of courage

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ®

why do you sing? — March 12, 2025

why do you sing?

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I met a guy who had moved from Nevada to East Texas.  I thought to myself, “Oh boy!”  Nevada isn’t part of the Bible belt, maybe I have finally met someone here who needs to hear about Jesus.”

I was right.  He was in his early forties, but he had never been to church and didn’t know enough about it to fill a thimble.

He began to attend our Sunday services and placed himself into what seemed to him to be the wacky world of the church. 

He approached me one day and asked, “So what is all the singing about?  Why do you sing?” 

“Why do we sing?  Well because we sing – that’s what we do.  The audacity that you should ask!   You do know that I am a worship leader, don’t you?”

“Why do we sing?”  I was truly shocked by his question and frankly very embarrassed that I didn’t have a ready answer.

But I have thought about since then, and this is why I think we should sing…

– Jesus worshipped in song.   He and His disciples left the upper room and “After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” – Matthew 26:30.  Good for Jesus; – must be good for us too.

– The Scripture directs us to sing.   Scripturecontains nearly fifty commands to sing. Consider Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.”

– It is one of the few things that we can give to the Lord.  The author of Hebrews wrote, “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name (13:15).

– Singing etches the truth on our hearts.  When a song is built on the Scripture, it articulates the truth in a way that is memorable, impressive and repetitive.   In fact, it was the primary way to assimilate the truth until the Reformation when Scripture was finally translated into common languages and the printing press made Scripture more broadly available.

– Singing sets heaven to work.  When God’s people sing to Him in worship, good things happen.  The amassed enemies of Israel were defeated by a song (2 Chronicles 20).  The jail that held Paul and Silas was opened by an earthquake as they sang praises and prayed (Acts 16:25-26).  Most of us have also experienced a God-given peace that comforts us when we sing.

There are lots of reasons I could have given my friend.  But honestly, if I were in his shoes, I don’t think any of these would have carried much weight.  But this last one might.

When a person experiences joy, they very often will make music.  She said yes to his marriage proposal.  He drove home singing at the top of his lungs.  She was declared valedictorian and went humming along the rest of the day. 

That’s what we do when joy fills us.  There is a song in our hearts, that is often voiced with words.

The Psalmist wrote, “O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation” – Psalm 95:1 (NASU)

When I think of what the Lord has done for me and my family – the way He has been with me and worked with me and through me – it overwhelms me with joy, and that joy escapes me in song.

Chris Tomlin understands.  He said as much in his song…

“How can I keep from singing Your praise?   How can I ever say enough? How amazing is Your love?  How can I keep from shouting Your name? I know I am loved by the King and it makes my heart want to sing.”

That’s why I sing? Why do you sing?  – Or do you?

A PRAYER: Lord it’s not much but I gladly offer you my joyful song.

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord be with you always.

Scripture passages are from the NETBible ® unless otherwise noted.

is God a bass or a tenor? — June 29, 2022

is God a bass or a tenor?

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We were not expecting to be expecting, but God had other ideas.  I was still working on my husband skills having been married only 7 months.  But we were still very excited about being parents.

I could not wait to meet my little girl.  During the pregnancy, I would put my head close to my wife’s tummy and softly sing to my baby so that she could hear and even feel the vibrations.  I sang to her – I sang for her – I sang over her – because I loved her.

Ironically, long before she could talk, she would stand up in her crib in the morning and return the song – singing her baby syllables with all her heart.

________

I have learned that God is just as excited about His children.  He too sings over them.  (I know! Isn’t that a crazy thought?) 

The evidence is in Zephaniah 3:17. Now since you have probably never read the book of Zephaniah, let me give you a thumbnail sketch. 

God used Zephaniah as a messenger to the nation of Judah.  He prophesied that the nation would be judged because of their idolatry, immorality, and spiritual apathy.  

But, in the third and final chapter of the book, Zephaniah predicted that God would send His Messiah in the last days and all Israel would turn their hearts toward Him.  The distance between God and His people will be bridged. 

This is where we find Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” – KJV

On that day God will joyfully celebrate by singing love songs over His children.

It is not a misprint.  Most other translations of the Bible render it this way as well.

God joyfully sings over His people much as I sang over my little girl. 

I have so many questions?  Is God a tenor or a bass?   Would a female hear Him as an alto or a soprano?   Does this mean He has perfect pitch?  Do the angels snicker when He sings? Isn’t He embarrassed?

No way!  He is not ashamed to sing of His love for His children.  He is a Father who is hopelessly devoted to His little ones. 

I have a friend who feels the need to return the song.   When Steve Bradley sings during a church service, he is louder than my grandpa’s Sunday tie.

He out-sings us all including the crew on the platform with the microphones.  He belts out the hymns with gusto and the contemporary worship songs with just as much energy.  He loves to sing to his Redeemer, and the rest of us are inspired to hear him.   

It seems that a heart full of love just spills out in song. 

So, may I put us on the spot?  If our love for the Lord were gauged by the way we sing on Sunday morning, would we move the needle at all? 

Hey if we ain’t feelin’ it, I don’t think we ought to fake it.  But maybe we should be alarmed that we ain’t feelin’ it!

This next Sunday morning, grab a cup of coffee and your Bible, and mull over Romans 8:28-39 where Paul provides a thrilling description of God’s love for you.   

Then, with your heart warmed, head for church and stun the worship leader by enthusiastically singing of your love for the Lord.

A PRAYER: Lord singing is easy for me – but please help those who don’t find it as easy?

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.