They Sang An Hymn
Notes
Transcript
Read Mark 14:26
Read Mark 14:26
26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
Introduction:
Introduction:
It was Thursday afternoon, Nisan 14, the day all leaven was put away and the Passover Lamb was sacrificially slaughtered at the Temple.
Jesus’ disciples asked Him where He wished them to make ready for them to eat the Passover meal together. He sent two of them—Peter and John—... They were to enter the city of Jerusalem, where Passover must be eaten according to the rules of Judaism.
There they would encounter a servant bearing a pitcher of water and were to accompany him to his master’s house. They should inquire from the head of house as to the location of the guest-room where “the Teacher” could eat Passover together with His disciples.
The owner would then—perhaps by prior arrangement with Jesus—show them to a large, upstairs room already laid out with carpet and couches for the purpose. There they should make ready, obtaining and preparing the required elements.
The Passover could not be eaten until after sundown, so evening found Jesus and the Twelve entering the room that had been readied to observe the customary Passover ritual.
But Jesus introduced two entirely unexpected things into the observance, speaking first of His betrayal and second of the new supper He was instituting.
As to the first, Jesus spoke forth-rightly: “One of you eating with me is going to hand me over into the hands of those who seek my life.” They were surprised and grieved.
One after another said, tentatively denying: “Not I?” “Not I?” “Not I?” Jesus responded as if to say, “Yes, one of you: one of you twelve, one dipping bread and bitter herbs with me into the bowl of stewed fruit.”
Then Jesus added words of explanation and evaluation: He, the Son of Man, would go to His death, as indeed the Scriptures had foretold. But that would not excuse the one who would deliver Him over. He could but lament the awful price that betrayer would pay: it would be better had he never come into existence!
The second new thing that Jesus introduced into the Passover celebration was what we call the “Lord’s Supper.” He took a loaf of bread, said the customary blessing of thanksgiving over it, and broke it, giving to each of the disciples a piece. “Take this,” He said, “eat it; it betokens to you my body.” This prophesied His coming death.
Then He took also the cup of wine and again pronounced the customary blessing of thanksgiving. He urged it on each of them, and each drank. Then Jesus said that the cup stood for His own blood, inaugurating a new covenant between God and His people, blood shed—a life given—as a sacrifice to atone for the sins of people.
Finally Jesus hinted at the severe events about to come: He would not again drink such a cup of wine with them until the day of His return to inaugurate the Messianic Kingdom of God. There would be no more table fellowship with them until the great banquet table of celebration of the new eschatological order. For now, He had an entirely different cup to drink.
The Passover meal complete, and the new Supper instituted, Jesus and His disciples concluded by singing the last part of the traditional Hallel (either Ps. 114 or 115 to 118) and went out to the Mount of Olives to spend the rest of the night.1
1 Robert E. Picirilli, The Gospel of Mark, ed. Robert E. Picirilli, First Edition., The Randall House Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Randall House Publications, 2003), 385–386.
Just think about this for a moment....
…The last thing they did before leaving the upper room, and going to Mt of Olives to pray and later be arrested tried and crucified - they sang a hymn.
Music has a profound impact on our world today. The amount of music available to people today if overwhelming.
Spotify - an online music streaming service hosts 35 million songs
Apple Music boasts of hosting 50 million songs
While Amazon Music Unlimited has 60 million
Now while a large percentage of those songs are probably not worth listening to - it speaks of humanities love and appreciation for music.
According to different sources online -
https://www.macrumors.com/guide/apple-music-vs-spotify/#:~:text=%E2%80%8CApple%20Music%E2%80%8C%20boasts%2050%20million,a%20large%20collection%20of%20music.
https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=15730321011#:~:text=Amazon%20Music%20Unlimited%20has%20a,about%20any%20song%20or%20artist.
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53647486#:~:text=As%20well%20as%20offering%20more,video%2Dsharing%20side%20of%20YouTube.
But Christian and Jewish songs and hymns were a little bit different. They weren’t created to entertain, they weren’t just preformed. they were meant to aid in worship and praise.
While is was customary to sing the Hallel (Sometimes called the Egyptian Hallel due to it speaking of God’s activity in the history of Israel beginning with the Exodus) during the passover which was Psalms 113-118
It was sang or recited on 18 days in the Jewish year but only once at night, on the Passover.
It was sung or recited in parts
Psalm 113-114 preceded the meal, prior to drinking the second cup
Psalm 113 focuses on God’s power as creator
Psalm 114 evokes the historical experiences of the Exodus and it’s world altering power
Psalm 115-118 were recited after the last cup was filled.
Psalm 115 focues on the debt we owe God for saving us
Psalm 116 - talks about our motivation not out of subservience but joy and love
Psalm 117-118 weave together gratitude and request for further help.
While we don’t know for sure when Mark 14:26 says they sang an hymn it was probably Psalm 118.
Psalm 118 was sang
Would you turn with me to Psalm 118 and I would like to read this in a responsively before I comment on it.
Now normally responsive readings are split by verse, but I think you will see as we read these verses are split in half. I will read the first part and I would like you to read in unison the next part through this Psalm.
1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good:
Because his mercy endureth for ever.
2 Let Israel now say,
That his mercy endureth for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say,
That his mercy endureth for ever.
4 Let them now that fear the Lord say,
That his mercy endureth for ever.
5 I called upon the Lord in distress:
The Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear:
What can man do unto me?
7 The Lord taketh my part with them that help me:
Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations compassed me about:
But in the name of the Lord will I destroy them.
11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about:
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12 They compassed me about like bees;
They are quenched as the fire of thorns:
For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall:
But the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and song,
And is become my salvation.
15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous:
The right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
16 The right hand of the Lord is exalted:
The right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.
17 I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord hath chastened me sore:
But he hath not given me over unto death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness:
I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord:
20 This gate of the Lord,
Into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me,
And art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused
Is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
It is marvellous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the Lord hath made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord:
O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light:
Bind the sacrifice with cords,
Even unto the horns of the altar.
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee:
Thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
29 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good:
For his mercy endureth for ever.
1. Timeless Love Psalm 118:1-4
1. Timeless Love Psalm 118:1-4
His mercy or steadfast love - endureth forever - unending timeless steadfast love.
Notice the progression-
General
Israel
Priests
Those that Fear the LORD (YAHWEH- the personal name for God)
Timely Help: Psalm 118:5-9
Timely Help: Psalm 118:5-9
5 I called upon the Lord in distress: The Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. 6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me? 7 The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: Therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. 8 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes.
I called - He Answered
Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man
Surrounding Foes Psalm 118:10-14
Surrounding Foes Psalm 118:10-14
Compassed by enemies, nations, like bees,
But God delivered.
14 The Lord is my strength and song, And is become my salvation.
A Time of Victory Psalm 118:15-18
A Time of Victory Psalm 118:15-18
Singing about victory rejoicing in God’s deliverance and salvation.
Welcoming the Victor Psalm 118:19-27
Welcoming the Victor Psalm 118:19-27
The returning victor and champ because God has wrought the victory
23 This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.
This is powerful just a few days ago people on their way to Jerusalem were singing this about Jesus as he rode on the colt
26 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.
Now Jesus and His disciples are singing this on their way to Mt. of Olives
It’s almost eerie how true the next verse is:
27 God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: Bind the sacrifice with cords, Even unto the horns of the altar.
The Doxology Psalm 118:28-29
The Doxology Psalm 118:28-29
Listen to the praise in these last two verses a beautiful Doxology
28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: Thou art my God, I will exalt thee. 29 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever.
Now why is all of this important - Because the last thing the disciples did together with Jesus wasn’t the last supper, it wasn’t even praying, it was singing -
And their singing was praise -
Praising God isn’t always about the heart warming sensation that accompanies it although I appreciate it
Praising God isn’t just about lifting up and exalting God although that is necessary
Praising God also prepares us for spiritual warfare.
I want you to think about that - praising God in the storm yes
Praising God in the hard places yes
But also praising God prior to the storm - helps to prepare us for the coming storm.
Think about these two quotes by Blackaby.
Praise is rooted not in circumstances of the moment but in the nature and trustworthiness of God.
If you have trouble praising God with a song in your heart as you serve Him, it may be that your focus is not on God, but on your circumstances.