Sinclair B. Ferguson

Why?

But it concludes looking forward to the resurrection and to another cry, this time a cry of delight in which our Lord Jesus says, I will tell of your name to my brothers in the midst of the congregation.

I will praise you.

It's really a lovely description of what happens when we meet together in worship.

He preaches His Word, and He stands in the midst of the congregation and leads our praises.

Those words are quoted in Hebrews 2, verse 12.

They're not only a picture of what Jesus was doing with the apostles in the upper room.

They're a statement about what he is doing now when he's present with us in worship and we are with him.

Where two or three are gathered in his name, he says, I will be with them and I will lead their praises.

So think of it this way.

When we lift our voices in praise together and are helped by the Spirit to praise our Lord Jesus Christ, we're brought into the presence of God.

We're actually sharing in the worship of heaven.

And Jesus is with us, or better, we are with Jesus.

He's in the midst of us, or better, we surround Him, and He's leading our praises.

If anything should make you want to sing in worship, it's knowing that He is the real praise leader.

If you were listening to Things Unseen yesterday, you'll maybe remember two things.

First, that our theme for the week is Christians Love to Sing.

And second, I signed off with a question, hardly the most profound soul-searching question you've ever been asked, but nevertheless, I meant it quite seriously.

Do you own a hymn book?

Remember, I was suggesting that next to a good Bible translation, a concordance, and a decent one-volume commentary, a hymn book is perhaps the most important book you could own.