Apr 08 – HYMN OF PRAISE !

“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25)

Apostles Paul and Silas went to Philippi to preach the Gospel. There they delivered a slave girl possessed with the spirit of divination. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

The scripture says: “Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.  And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely” (Acts 16: 22,23). They were put into the inner prison, and their feet were fastened in the stocks. In that state, and in the middle of the night, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

The other prisoners there, who were undergoing punishment for their crimes, did not sing nor praise. On the other hand, Paul and Silas, who were going through a harsh punishment, without committing any crime, were singing and praising God and praying. Even today, there are two categories of people in the world: One group, who have received the gifts of the Spirit and perform signs and wonders in the name of the Lord. And the other group, who receive various benefits from the first group of people.

While in prison, Paul and Silas never complained or grumbled. They did not ask God: “What wrong have we done? We were only carrying out the ministry You gave and doing it in Your name. Why should we get into such a situation?” They were actually joyful in their spirit. They firmly believed all things work together for good to those who love the Lord, and kept on praising God even in that situation.

When Paul and Silas praised, not just one door but all the doors of the prison were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. There was a great earth quake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken. It was indeed a divine earthquake, in which no life was lost, none of the prisoners escaped. As a result of that earth quake, the jailer was redeemed. And in the end, all things worked together for good.

Children of God, when you are overwhelmed with your problems, and you are troubled in your heart, not knowing what to do, sing praises to God. Song of praise, is the definite path to have many blessings and wonders in your lives.

Verse for further meditation: “Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)