Singing What God Requires

This new hymnal offers both songs of lament and of
praise, of both personal blessing and of God's
compassion for the poor and oppressed.

Michael Rhodes, Old Testament lecturer at Carey Baptist College, in a recent article in Christianity Today's website, asks the question, "Why Don't We Sing Justice Songs In Worship?" 

He notes that in the list of top 25 worship songs sung by Christian congregations there is only one passing mention of the word justice, whereas in the ancient hymnal we call the Psalms, the Hebrew word for justice (Mishpat) is used 65 times in 36 different psalms, and that many of the praise psalms are about shouting for joy to the "Mighty King, lover of justice," who has "established equity" and enacted "justice and righteousness" (Ps. 99:4). 

Rhodes also laments the fact that none of the top 25 hymns we sing make any reference to the poor, or to widows, refugees or the oppressed. whereas the psalms makes mention of them on virtually every page.

I'm reminded, too, of the insistent and clear words of the ancient prophets and of Jesus himself, all of whom make justice a central part of their message, and how Miriam, sister of Moses, led the Israelites in a song about God's deliverance from their oppressors. Likewise Hannah, mother of the prophet Samuel,  praises the God who "raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap, and seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor," Then there is Mary, the mother of Jesus," who glorifies the One who "has brought down rulers from their thrones and has lifted up the humble, has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty." 

Why aren't we following their example? Why are so many of our hymns and gospel songs in praise of a God portrayed as being all about 'just us' rather than a God of justice for all?

I am heartened to note that our newest Mennonite hymnal not only contains a wealth of hymns that have long been a part of our worship tradition, but includes far more hymns and worship resources rooted in justice themes in the Psalms, the Prophets and in the life and teachings of Jesus. For the first time there is a 'Telling God's Story' section that includes a series of five songs related to the Prophets, and in the 'Living God's Story' section a series of Peace and Justice songs, along with others on Mission, Service and Expanding Our Circle (Evangelism). Of course there are many others that make reference to these themes in other parts of the hymnal.

There may always be a danger in over emphasizing certain Biblical truths and neglecting other equally important ones, but as Michael Rhodes points out, our failure to pay attention to, and sing about, a theme so pervasive in scripture as that of God's compassion for the poor--and God's judgment against those who neglect and oppress them--is glaring.

So let's sing, fortissimo, that which God requires of us all, "to do justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God," and let's all turn to hymn #208 in Voices Together, and sing together Jeanette Lindholm's "With Mary Sing Magnificat" this Advent.