Practice Makes Perfect

We have so many good resources for singing Psalms well today that, by the grace of God, and with the help of the Blessed Spirit, we should devote ourselves with zeal to joyfully singing Christ's New Song.

In my formative years, I remember being constantly told by all my teachers, both in academics and sports: "Practice makes perfect"! The following quotation might make us blush a little as it reveals Genevan passion for the Praise Book they had in those days:

The Lord's Day was a special time of psalm singing. Before each service, the church would post on their doors what psalms would be sung. Devoted families would send a family member to check the numbers posted and the entire family would practice singing these psalms before each service. Also, between the Lord's Day services, people were encouraged to sing psalms - Joel Beeke, in Sing a New Song, page 23.

We can make far better use of all the resources we have - social media, e-mails and texts can be resourced to post Songs of Zion well in advance . Elders can employ means at their disposal, including online Psalters, to stir up souls of sheep and lambs to this God-glorifying task. Pastors may want to post praise early so that participation increases, tunefulness improves, enthusiasm waxes and lyric-singing might be blessed.

Ask the Triune God to pardon our neglect, and shake off our sloth - as we post, pray and praise from the Song Book Jesus owned, may we enter God's House at the start of the week with an increasingly spirit-filled, prayerful, musical heart, even if we happen to be tone deaf.