Words Matter
by Hank Dmochowski
But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
- Matthew 12:36-37
There are 26 letters in the alphabet.
Put in the right combination, they can produce a bestselling novel read by millions, create an award-winning screenplay, make someone fall in love, crush someone’s hopes, curse, or bless.
Words are powerful. After all, the most significant human commitment you can make on this earth is only three letters long: “I do.”
Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.
- Ecclesiastes 5:2
It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. Do not let your speech cause you to sin…
- Ecclesiastes 5:5-6
Worship
I say all of this as a general caution but specifically so that we can discuss what happens during musical worship. The words that we sing matter. They can begin to form our mindset, our picture of God, and they are sung in the presence of the Lord, so they ought to be true and heartfelt.
After all, how many songs say things like, “I give you everything, God!” or “I lay down my life for You,” and many people sing them in church, then go right back to a life of willful sin? Needless to say, this is not pleasing to the Lord. If you aren’t sure if you give your everything to God, it’s ok to be quiet and think about it. It’s better not to vow than to make a rash vow. Then, when you’ve considered and you mean it, it will be a good time to sing those words.
A lot of worship songs out there are not completely true to what God has revealed in the Bible. That’s why we at Foothills take the lyrical content of the songs we sing very seriously. We want them to be as accurate as possible. We want them to reflect who Jesus truly is, not how our culture has defined Him.
A Wonderful Example
There is a British singer/songwriter named Matt Redman who has written a number of great worship songs over the years, and we’ve sung many at our church: Let Your Glory Fall, Blessed Be Your Name, Heart of Worship, Holy, etc. It was once said that when you sing a Matt Redman song, you get a sermon, and I think that’s true. The lyrics are not trite but are deep, rich, and full of biblical truth.
I think it’s fruitful for us to take a close look at one of my favorite songs, which Matt Redman wrote, and examine what it means and what we’re saying when we sing it out during church:
10,000 Reasons
Chorus
Bless the Lord, Oh my soul, Oh my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before, Oh my soul
I will worship Your holy name
This chorus that we keep coming back to is a reminder to our innermost selves that we ought to praise the Lord. It's a declaration to God that we will worship Him and that He is worthy. As we then sing the verses to this song, we declare reasons to praise God and how we will praise Him.
Verse 1
The sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
This verse reminds me of Psalm 113:3, which says, “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” Malachi 1:11 says something similar.
This scripture – and this verse of the song – reminds us that every moment from sunup to sunrise is an opportunity to praise the Lord. God expects it, deserves it, and we’d do well to follow through on what we’ve sung. We ought to live our lives as a song of worship to God, no matter what the day brings.
Verse 2
You’re rich in love and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
God’s characteristics should be the most motivating factor in our worship because He is good. In every circumstance, in every way, God is good and holy. We could look for a new reason to praise Him every day and find it.
Verse 3
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
This reminds us that worship is eternal. When our time on earth is over, we will still praise Him in heaven. From the rising to the setting sun, whether we are young or old, free or oppressed, rich or poor, God is worthy of our worship. When we sing this song, we declare that we will worship Him that way.
Don’t sing just anything. Don’t make promises lightly. Our words matter, and we ought to use them to bring honor and glory to our Father in heaven.
Let the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight.
- Psalm 19:14
