As a choral educator, I know the power of singing rounds. All learn a simple melody, repeat it over and over, and when the round begins, groups of people sing the same song at staggered times. I remember singing this round as a teenager, memorizing Scripture with song:
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all these things shall be added unto you, allelu, alleluia! (Mt. 6:33 KJV).
Although we simultaneously sing the same song, we experience instant harmony by singing our song at different times. We experience beauty and connection with one another.
The Lord gives us a metaphor of a race in Scripture. Singing a round is much like we are all runners in a race. Except we aren’t competing, but running the same track with different timing. We wave to one another, help one another up, singing the same song throughout our run. Most importantly, we all aim for the finish line and its reward.
A Kingdom-Focused Race of Endurance
Could our widespread suffering be His invitation to run a kingdom-focused race of endurance… by sharing Scriptures and songs of praise to encourage one another to the finish line?
Let’s enter a praise interruption with Scripture and a hymn, singing praise to our King and harmonizing with others as we run a hard race together this week! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2045eleMDg (Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven, from Psalm 103, Lyte, H. F., 1834)
King of heaven, I praise You for all Your benefits in the gospel
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits (Ps. 103:2 ESV).
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!
I praise You for Your love, mercy, forgiveness, and faithfulness
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Ps. 103:8 ESV).
Praise him, still the same as ever,
slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Glorious in his faithfulness!
I praise You for Your care
Fatherlike he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Widely yet his mercy flows!
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed (Ps. 103:6 ESV).
Praise him for his grace and favor
to his people in distress.
In his hand he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Help us to praise You, righteous King of Kings, as we run the race of endurance
Sun and moon, bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space.
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all (Ps. 103:19 ESV).
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace!
We praise You for Your kingdom plan that will be fulfilled
Do you also yearn for His kingdom and the visible reign of Jesus Christ in the new heaven and earth? So many days, I long for the victorious end of the race now. We know that Jesus crushed the head of the enemy by His work on the cross.
He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him (Col. 2:15 ESV).
Jesus is returning! His kingdom will be completed! Alleluia!
So, we pray, watch, and run. We:
- seek first the kingdom of God;
- praise our King of Kings and Lord of Lords;
- cling to the righteousness He gave us in place of our sin;
- praise Him for His redemption and coming restoration;
- run the race of endurance in the act of our praise;
- encourage one another to believe and trust Him, daily and continually.
Beloved in Christ, let’s together be encouraged as we run, encouraged by His Word and responding in praise! Let’s sing unceasing Scriptural rounds to one another, in harmony, and keep the song going as we run together, to the finish of His kingdom!
What songs and Scriptures will you share with someone this week?
If you think this praise interruption will help someone run our kingdom-focused race of endurance, please pass it on! Dear friend in Christ, I am writing to encourage you as you run a hard race right now.
If you would like my professionally curated YouTube playlist to help you sing Scriptural truth in personal worship to the Lord, to help you run our race of endurance by praising our King of Kings, sign up below and you will receive my gift in your email on Tuesday’s!
