Yesterday, as I drove to church in Edwardsville, where I am serving as an intern this fall, this song came up on my “Worship Girls Playlist.” This is one of my playlists that I often put on shuffle to see what God might have to say to me through music that I love.
I was singing along. Loudly. Joyfully. Passionately.
And on the way home, I had to listen to it again.
It reminds me of this verse that I love for the picture of God that it offers:
The Lord your God is with you,
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”
With the turmoil, division, disasters, marginalization, and so many other hurts and dashed hopes that we are seeing in our world today, it is easy to think that God is far away and doesn’t care, or just won’t act. But that is so not true! God created this world and all that is in it, and called it GOOD! Yes, people have marred that good creation, but never has God stopped loving and caring for us. He loves us. He rejoices over us with singing. And we have the opportunity, and dare I say responsibility, to sing along and participate in God’s work in the world.
There is no song greater, no purpose higher, than God’s. I think I will sing along. Will you join me?
Sing Along
Songwriters: Christa Joy Black / Christy Nockels / Jason Ingram / Jesse Reeves / Nathan Nockels
Sing Along lyrics © Essential Music Publishing, Bethel Music Publishing, Capitol Christian Music Group
From babies hidden in the shadows
To the cities shining bright
There are captives weeping
Far from sight
For every doorway has a story
And some are holding back the cries
But there is one who hears us in the night
Great God
Wrap your arms around this world tonight
Around the world tonight
And when you hear our cries
Sing through the night
So we can join in your song
And sing along yeah,
We’ll sing along
From the farthest corners of the earth
Still his mercy reaches
Even to the pain we cannot see
And even through the darkness
There’s a promise that will keep us
There is one who came to set us free
Great God
Wrap Your arms around this world tonight
Around the world tonight
And when you hear our cries
Sing through the night
So we can join in your song
And sing along, yeah
We’ll sing along
So let your song rise
And fill up the earth
Let your hope ring out
Let your heart be heard
So let your song rise
And fill up the earth
Let your hope ring out
Let your heart be heard
Oh, great God
Wrap Your arms around this world tonight
Around the world tonight
And when you hear our cries
Sing through the night
And we will join in your song
And sing along, yeah
We’ll sing along
We’ll sing along
We’ll sing along
We’ll sing along
We’ll sing along
We’ll sing along
We’ll sing along
Great God
Wrap your arms around this world tonight
Around the world tonight
And when you hear our cries
Sing through the night
And we will join in your song
And sing along
We’ll sing along
Great God
Wrap your arms around this world tonight
Around the world tonight
And when you hear our cries
Sing through the night
And we will join in your song
And sing along
We’ll sing along
Yeah
We’ll sing along
We’ll sing along
We’ll sing along
We’ll sing along