The Christian’s Duty of Prayer and Praise

Introduction

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.” James 5:13 consists of only eight words in the Greek: Kakopathei tis en humin? Proseuchesthô. Euthumei tis? Psalletô. This brief verse speaks about our duty of prayer and praise in all occasions of our Christian life. As we examine it, think carefully and see whether it is true of you.

In this fallen world, true believers in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution. If we are not persecuted, we are not Christians, because those who live Christian lives will be persecuted. The whole world lies under the control of the evil one (1 John 5:19). All unbelievers are children of the devil. As Cain murdered his brother Abel because he was righteous, so also the world will persecute the true people of God. Right now in the Middle East and Africa, thousands of Christians are being murdered, their properties confiscated, and they are being ejected from countries where they and their families have lived since the first century. Yet there is little if any public outcry against such persecution.

James already spoke in his epistle about the suffering Christians undergo. He writes, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (Jas. 1:2–4). To the rich he says, “Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. . . . You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you” (Jas. 5:4, 6).

But, thank God, this life is not just suffering. In God’s mercy, we have times of suffering, but we also have times of prosperity. We have times of troubles and times of joy. So Paul writes, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:8–9). Then he said about what he experienced: “glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Cor. 6:8–10).

In this life, we will have both laughter and tears. Only in heaven will we experience the pure joy without sorrow that John describes: “I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’” (Rev. 21:3–4).

When we undergo trials, we must always remember who we are. We are born of the Spirit and born of God’s word. The life of God is in our souls. God himself is in us and with us. So we read in Isaiah’s prophecy, “But now, this is what the LORD says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior’” (Isa. 43:1–3a).

Moreover, we must acknowledge that we are not alone. We are members of Christ’s one holy catholic apostolic church. Therefore, we love one another and care for one another deeply with the love of Christ. Peter exhorts, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22). He also says, “Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers” (1 Pet. 2:17). Love never fails. So we want to look at four points in this short verse: problems, prayer, joy, singing.

Problems?

Our text speaks first about the problems, pain, troubles, and sufferings we experience in life, especially because we are God’s people. James is saying, “If anyone of you suffers evil, let him pray; if anyone feels happy in his spirit, let him sing praise to God.”

James spoke of the sufferings of the prophets in James 5:10, where he uses the same word (kakopatheias). Not only did the prophets and apostles of old suffer, but also all true children of God of all ages will experience suffering, whether physical, mental, spiritual, and financial suffering. Suffering also includes troubles in your own family if either the parents or children hate Jesus Christ. In other words, we don’t even have to go outside of our home to suffer persecution.

In this verse, however, James is not speaking about the suffering of sickness. He will refer to sickness in verses 14–16. And, notice, he says, “If any one of you suffers.” This means some, not all, are suffering. Thank God, everyone in the church does not suffer at the same time! So when you suffer, I can come and help you. And when I suffer, you can come and help me. We are dependent on God and on one another.

“If any one of you” means any in the church. The verb “suffers” is in the present tense, meaning a continuous suffering. No believer in Jesus Christ is exempt from suffering for Christ’s name. Peter writes, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Pet. 1:6–7). Genuine people will persevere to the end. False, fake, plastic Christians—their feet shall slip in due time. Oh, they will smile as they receive benefits from you. Then they will go somewhere else to take from other people.

Jesus calls us to follow him to death. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’” (Matt. 16:24). We follow him to death, if needs be. Peter writes, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). And his steps may lead us to suffering.

In what ways might we suffer as we follow Christ? Consider this: Jesus Christ himself was crucified. Stephen was stoned to death. James was beheaded, as was Paul. James the brother of Jesus was murdered. Peter was crucified, as Jesus predicted.

So we do not know what sufferings await us. But no matter how we are persecuted, remember the words of Jesus: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:10–12). He also declared, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.” But we don’t belong to the world; we belong to God. “As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:18–19). He told his disciples, “They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God” (John 16:2).

This is true Christianity. Let us not evangelize by speaking of cheap grace and an easy Christianity of health, wealth, and power. Tell the truth! Jesus gives us eternal life, so we will follow him to death. Be convinced that death cannot separate us from the love of God. By saving faith we are united to the risen Christ forevermore. By his death, Jesus Christ defeated our death, together with all of his and our enemies. If God is for us, who can be against us?

Peter writes, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.” It is normal that the world is against us, if we are followers of Christ. Peter continues, “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed,” when Christ comes (1 Pet. 4:12–13). He also says, “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. . . . So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good” (1 Pet. 4:16, 19).

Paul also teaches about this. He uses the same word (kakopathô, “suffer evil”). So we read, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:3). We should tell the person who wants to receive Jesus Christ as Lord to endure hardship; be faithful till death; take up the cross and follow Jesus Christ. Paul also writes, “[This is my gospel], for which I am suffering, even to the point of being chained like a criminal” (2 Tim. 2:9). Again, he says, “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship” (2 Tim. 4:5). Here he is using the same word (kakopathêson) as an imperative.

What were some of the sufferings Paul experienced? He writes,

Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? (2 Cor. 11:23–29)

Don’t ever follow Jesus Christ to get healthy, wealthy, and powerful. Rather, consider what the writer to the Hebrews says about those who lived by faith in God. Their sufferings mirror what those in many parts of the world are experiencing even now:

Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two [maybe speaking about Isaiah]; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. (Heb. 11:35b–38)

Pray

Does any one have problems? James gives the solution: “He should pray.” Peter writes similarly: “Cast all your anxiety on [the Lord] because he cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). Prayer is the best medicine for our sorrows. When we suffer affliction, we are not to murmur or complain; we are to pray to God. We are to pray continually. James uses the present tense; it is our constant duty to pray.

We are God’s children by adoption. We call him “Abba, Father” by the Holy Spirit. And as children of the heavenly Father, we are given the right to approach our Father in heaven in the name of Jesus Christ. So Paul writes, “For through him we . . . have access to the Father by one Spirit” (Eph. 2:18). What a blessing it is that even now we have a right to pray, and God will hear our prayers.

The Hebrews writer exhorts, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Heb. 4:16). As we pray, God will give us mercy and grace. The writer continues, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19). We do not come to him in our own name, but in the name of Jesus Christ. He is our atonement. By his blood, our sins have been forgiven, and we have been made fit and competent to come into God’s presence. We can pray to the heavenly Father to deliver us from evil, as Jesus taught us to pray.

God does not hear the prayer of a sinner. But he hears and answers the prayers of his children. Jesus taught us that everyone who asks receives (Matt. 7:8). The psalmist says our God is a prayer-hearing God: “O you who hear prayer, to you all men will come” (Ps. 65:2). This prayer-hearing, infinite, personal, compassionate, all-holy God is waiting to hear our prayers!

Elsewhere, Paul tells us to pray without ceasing (2 Thess. 5:17). And the psalmist says we can pray, if we love God, and God will respond: “‘Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him’” (Ps. 91:14–15). The psalmist also says, “This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. . . . The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry” (Ps. 34:6, 15).

First John 5:14-15 instructs us we must pray in God’s will, that is, according to the Bible: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” If we do not read the Bible, we will not know how to pray.

Moreover, we must pray in the name of Jesus Christ. We do not pray in the name of Allah or any other god; false gods cannot save us. Of Christ it is said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It is the name of Jesus that matters. Our salvation is based on his person and on what he did in making atonement for our sins. Jesus himself said, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13–14).

When we pray, we must pray in faith: “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). Pray in faith in God and in his word. God said it, I believe it, and that settles it for me. God is not a man, that he should change his mind. Let God be true and every man a liar.

We are to pray daily, and even multiple times a day. The psalmist tells us, “Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He ransoms me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me” (Ps. 55:17–18). Daniel, the busy man, prayed three times a day, and God heard his prayer. Some people say they do not pray because they are too busy. None of us are as busy as Daniel. If a person claims to be a Christian but does not read the Bible and pray daily, his claim may be false. If that is true of you, I pray that you will pray to God that you may be saved.

God hears our prayers because we obey him. John writes, “Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:21–22).

When we pray, we should pray fervently, earnestly, and intensely. We should not pray in a take-it-or-leave-it way. Rather, we should say, “O Lord, there is no one but you who can help us.” Pray like the Syro-Phoenician woman prayed. When Jesus tried to dissuade her from seeking help from him, she told Jesus, “Yes, you are right. I am a dog. I am nothing. But even dogs must eat from the table of their master. Please help me!” And Jesus told her, “Great is your faith. Your request is granted” (see Matt. 15:21–28). We should pray as Jesus himself prayed. (PGM) The Hebrews writer says, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission” (Heb. 5:7). We also read, “And being in anguish, [Jesus] prayed more earnestly [the Greek word is ektenesteron, meaning “more earnestly,” “more intensely,” “more fervently,” “more insistently”] and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44).

We should pray in the Holy Spirit. Paul exhorts, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Eph. 6:18). In other words, we should pray in the power of the Spirit, by the direction of the Spirit, in the enlightenment of the Spirit. Ours should be a Spirit-controlled prayer.

We should pray in agreement with other believers. Jesus said, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matt. 18:19–20).

We should pray knowing that God’s grace will be sufficient for us, no matter what happens. Paul wrote, “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:7–10).

At times, we should fast when we pray. We read, “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts. 13:2–3). When we fast, we are showing intensity and earnestness. We need God to help us. No one else is able to help.

Finally, when we pray, we should then wait for God’s answer. The psalmist entreats, “Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” (Ps. 5: 1–3).

Why do we not pray? One reason is that we have too much money, which tends to make us independent and godless. But I do not put my trust in money. I trust in Jesus Christ, who said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish” (John 10:28).

We should consider the example of Jesus: “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.” The Son of God became sorrowful and troubled. “Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will’” (Matt. 26:36–39).

Paul also prayed. In Philippi, “the crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully” (Acts 16:22–23). Then we read, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). Money will not help us in our prayers. In fact, it can give us a false sense of security.

James apparently heeded his own advice. The historian Eusebius speaks of the habit of prayer of the Lord’s brother James: “His knees grew hard like a camel’s because of his constant worship of God, kneeling and asking forgiveness for his people.”¹

Let me ask you: Do you have problems? Here is the solution: Pray.

Prosperity?

The third point James makes is in the form of another question: “Prosperity?” In other words, “Are you happy?” Thank God, that life in this sinful world does not consist only in troubles, in miseries, in pain, in hardship. We also enjoy happy times. As children born of God, we are already in the kingdom of God, which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17).

When we pray, God hears and delivers us from our troubles. We have a sympathizing high priest. He helps Abraham’s descendants. “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18).

So James asks, “If anyone is happy, prosperous?” This does not mean our troubles will go away. But we can be happy in the midst of troubles. “Are you happy?” The Greek word euthemei speaks of the state of our emotions, of our spirits, rather than our outward circumstances. Whether, after praying, we are relieved of our troubles, or we remain in them, God is able to make us rejoice. Paul says that we rejoice in tribulations also (Rom. 5:3). In fact, while he himself was in prison in Rome, Paul exhorted the Philippians to rejoice: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:4–7).

The word euthumeô is used two times in Acts 27. Paul and his companions were undergoing huge troubles. Their ship was adrift. They had not eaten for days. Finally, Paul spoke to those on the ship: “But now I urge you to keep up your courage [euthumein].” That is the word: “Be happy.” What is the reason Paul gives? “because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.” Why did Paul say that? He continued, “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you’” (Acts 27:22–24). God was telling these people to rejoice for a reason: he would save them and take care of them. Then Paul said, “So keep up your courage, men, [euthumeite] for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me” (Acts 27:25).

When we have faith in God, we can rejoice, whether our external circumstances change or stay the same. We can be in good spirits even if our external circumstances look bleak. Why? We are united with Christ, and his Holy Spirit dwells in us forever—the Spirit of love, peace, and joy.

So trust God in all situations and rejoice in the Lord always. The psalmist exhorts, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5). Life has both weeping and joy. We also read, “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame” (Ps. 34:5). If you are a Christian, don’t go around looking miserable: Rejoice in the Lord always! Moses was with God forty days and forty nights, and we are told that when he came back to the people, his face was radiant (Exod. 34:29). We cannot go to God in prayer and come out miserable, because in prayer we are seeing God. And when we see God, we will be encouraged and built up. Our sins are forgiven, and we come out from God’s presence singing, with our faces radiant.

Our temporal conditions are always changing. At times, we will be afflicted; at other times, we will be happy. But in any situation, we should worship God in prayer and praise him. Psalm 107 says several times: “Then they cried out to the Lord in their troubles and he delivered them from their distress,” and, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men.” In our troubles, we should cry out to the Lord. God will deliver us, and we must thank God in praise.

So Paul wrote from his prison cell, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Then he concluded, “I can do all things through him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:12–13).

Praise to God

James makes a fourth point: Praise to God. “If anyone is happy, let him sing songs of praise to God.” The unbeliever curses God when he is in trouble, and praises himself when he is happy. He says, “I did it my way.” Not so a true believer. He knows that in all things God is working for the good of those who love him (Rom. 8:28). In all situations, therefore, he worships God in prayer and then sings songs of praise.

When Jesus knew he was soon going to die, he said, “My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover.” And after he celebrated Passover with his disciples, they sang a hymn to God and went to the Mount of Olives (Matt. 26:30). Jesus praised God in song even as he was facing the cruel death of the cross.

So James exhorts, “When happy, sing!” Sing to God! It is a present imperative (psalletô), meaning we should sing continuously. Why are we happy? Jesus died for our sins, and was raised from the dead for our justification. We are saved forever from the wrath of God. In our place, Christ went to hell, and now we are in Christ. He brought us to paradise, and we are seated with him and all the saints in heavenly places. Now we can join with all the saints to sing in a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Rev. 5:12).

True believers in Christ are Spirit-born, Spirit-indwelt people. They are Spirit-filled people, and I say they are singing people. Yes, Paul and Silas were stripped and beaten. Their feet were fastened in stocks and they were placed in innermost cell for security. But we read, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing” (Acts 16:25). And elsewhere Paul writes that Christ came “so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: ‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name’” (Rom. 15:9). I pray we will stop complaining, murmuring, and finding fault. Rather, let us pray and praise God!

Paul also says, “So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind.” Then he says, “I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind” (1 Cor. 14:15). He goes on to say in the same chapter, “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn” (1 Cor. 14:26). We are a singing people.

In the midst of all problems, we can sing because we are Spirit-filled people. Paul exhorts, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). Then he gives five participles connected to this imperative (plêrousthe, “be being filled”): speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another in the fear of Christ (Eph. 5:19–21). When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, we will do all these things. The infinite personal God is within us, making us competent to do all that God wants us to do.

What do we sing? The word of God. We are not just singing any song the crowd sings. We are to sing to the praise of God’s grace, not for our own entertainment or fun. Thus, we reject outright much of the singing of the modern church because their songs are designed for entertainment. We are to sing for God’s glory.

The Spirit-filled Christian is an obedient, happy, singing Christian. We sing because God defeated Pharaoh, our enemy; God defeated the devil; and God defeated death by Christ’s death. God in Christ has set us free from all our fears. He has given us eternal life and eternal joy! So we sing, as Moses did: “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: ‘I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name’” (Exod. 15:1–3).

Isaiah 36 speaks of a serious problem godly king Hezekiah faced. The Assyrian king Sennacherib was threatening Judah with utter defeat and extinction. Isaiah 37 speaks about Hezekiah’s prayer, God’s deliverance, and Hezekiah’s praise. The king went to the temple and prayed, and requested that the prophet Isaiah also pray. God heard their prayers, and sent one angel to kill 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. The Assyrian king returned to his land, only to be murdered by his sons. And I say that the people of God began to sing. The Lord prospered his people and they praised God. “This God is our God. Let us pray to him and praise him at all times.”

What reason do we have to sing? Consider John’s words: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God. And what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:1–3). God lavished his love upon us by sending his own Son to die for our salvation. That is reason enough to sing forever.

A praying church will be a singing church if it preaches the word of God, the gospel of our glorious salvation in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, our Lord. May God grant us all mercy and grace to repent and believe in this only Savior, that we may pray and sing on all occasions, to God’s glory and our everlasting comfort!

¹ R. Kent Hughes, James: Faith That Works (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1991), 254.