What The Church Needs Today
There is a fairly new worship chorus that has become popular in contemporary worship circles in recent months. It is quite popular at our church & for good reason. It contains in it the basics for the true joy of every Christian. It comes from a passage in Ps.46:4 which holds the 1st line of the chorus, "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of our God." There is more to the verse and the chorus but as we sang this song last Sunday, I felt the need to rise and explain briefly what we were singing. I have always felt (as a pastor) that the people of God need to know what they are singing in order to express the truth as well as heart felt emotions to the Lord. As I have thought about it, I felt I should go into this in more detail. Therefore, what I explained very briefly on that Sunday morning of July 3rd, I will attempt to do so in greater detail in this article.
The phrase in the 1st half of Ps.46:4 is quite unique. It expresses several truths but in a illustrative way rather than a direct 'frontal' approach. The metaphors used must be understood or the meaning will slide by the casual reader. Yet, when understood, a clear foundation for congregational worship of our Lord will be made plainly beautiful.
That gives me a chance to say something imperative about congregational worship. What we experience as Christians in a corporate way is quite profound. As Americans, we are constantly aware of our individual freedoms, blessings, opportunities, rights, privileges, etc. And these make our country truly great. But at least one negative related to the gushing freedom talk of our day is that Christianity can strike a different tone. What we believe, do, appreciate, & enjoy together is often as critical to God as our individual faith is. Things like resisting the devil, doing God's will, speaking with the same heart & mind, enjoying His Presence, & worshipping & praising our Lord, is just as critical when done TOGETHER as it is individually. And this phrase we are studying has this corporate sense so needed in our thinking. Make no mistake about it, God sees our individual hearts but also has a special place in His heart for His people when they are gathered together. Our unity is so important to Him that He sees it far beyond just 'being on the same page'. God wants a relational closeness that a family feels.
That being said, let's have a look at this little phrase & attempt to decipher the metaphors & illustrations on piece at a time. "There is a river" = speaking of God's manifested Presence. Note:
1. "If any one thirsts, let him come to ME & drink. He that believes in ME, as the scripture has said, out of His heart will flow rivers of living water. But this HE spoke concerning the Spirit...". This great promise from Jn.7:37-38 assures believers of an ongoing move of God's Presence deep within us - reproducing His life in us.
2. "Whoever drinks this water shall thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." Fountain here speaks of flowing water & it is obvious that Jesus is speaking of the life that moves in and through believers who come to Him.
3. The idea of a river has its own imagery. Rivers by their nature flow and have life in them. Dry river beds mean death. Flowing full river beds mean life.
4. 'There is a river' means there is a source of life from the Presence of God that is ever available & ever wanting to fill us. And this Presence, this life giving stream, is a provision by the Redeemer on behalf of the children HE loves, His church = that means you and me together!
Next, "whose streams" = whose actions, whose flowing tendencies & purposes. This is the intent of the Holy Spirit, to move in & through His people.
1. God moves in them because HE does not want them to ever be alone again. We are not to be orphans or forlorn but to enjoy the Presence of Almighty God, our Redeemer, & best friend. This is One who will never leave or forsake us.
2. God moves through them into others that HE wants to claim and love. Either God is reaching for those outside the Kingdom or HE is reaching for those inside who have a need of Him.
This is why we worship in a corporate way and not just individually. We are not to be separated again for any reason. This togetherness is deeper & more powerful than any blood relation or even the best of earthly friendships. This relationship is deeper because it begins and ends based on the grand sacrifice - the worthy Jesus for the unworthy but needy people - us! Truly our God loves us "with an everlasting love." Those streams of love & life are moving in & through believers at all times. Yet is is never so true as when they stand together to declare His praises & bring Him worship!
Next, "Make glad" = cause or produce a joy from deep within. This joy the Bible describes as "unspeakable" (1Pet.1:8). That means words can hardly define it or do it justice. This joy is so profound, so wonderful, so monumental that it defies human description or dwarfs human limits. And isn't it true? When has anyone known more joy than when they are truly forgiven & adopted into God's family - we who could have never known the love of God, who were outside His Kingdom, covenant, His protection, & His mercy; have been included by sheer grace through NO MERIT OF OUR OWN! For the new believer & veteran alike, there can be no joy which matches being under the love & smile of Jesus who says, "Come to me all that are heavy laden and I will give you rest." OR "These things I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have much trouble, but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world." OR "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." OR "Therefore, you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you."
Next, "The city of our God" = the place where God lives or dwells or takes up habitation, or makes His home. That last phrase lies closest to the meaning I feel. God wants to lives with us. That amazes me! Always has! Why would HE (or anyone for that matter) want to live with me? But HE does! God finds it His greatest desire to be where I am or better put, to us to be where HE is! And so HE came where we were in our misery & dreadful state to rescue us and bring us to where HE is - an atmosphere of love & life with the living GOD as its power, source, momentum, condition, nature, etc.
To sum up our phrase, 'There is a river whose streams make glad the city of our God." There is a thriving Presence of the Almighty, ever flowing in and through us to give us the experience of the very joy Jesus has with His Father. This joy is the deepest joy of redemption, forgiveness, adoption, & abiding peace & safety. This is what God has planned for His children who dwell with Him - a city where believers & their Savior and God are ONE! And God is bringing us to where HE is. This is the very direction & purpose of God ALL OF OUR LIVES.
No wonder this song has power! It springs form the heart of who God is, what HE wants for us, what HE has accomplished in us, and what HE is bringing to pass in our present day reality. This is why we sing - because His life directed towards me has made me so glad that I MUST SING - I MUST THANK HIM! There is really no other life for me.
Be of good cheer my Christian friends. Our God, JESUS, is in our midst. He has come with a mighty shout of a conquering hero and we have received the joy of a prisoner set free, we have been invited & adopted into this glorious family. Fear must depart along with boredom, selfishness, sense of loss, and anything that makes a lie. We have a place this side of heaven to taste & see that the Lord is good. That place is the city of God - the gathering of believers - collection of His children - the church! God gave us a heaven to go to heaven in! And the streams are flowing and so is the gladness. ALLOW YOURSELF TO REJOICE AGAIN MY FRIENDS. JESUS IS IN THE HOUSE & HE IS QUITE HAPPY ABOUT IT!
