When life is unimaginably hard, we cry, we pray, and we talk to our friends. But, do you ever sing on the way to agony?
All my life I’ve read the story, but I never noticed this one thing. While preparing for Holy Week, I read a timeline of events my church handed out on Palm Sunday. Picking up the stapled papers, I looked at “What happened on Thursday.” There in black and white ink I read that Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn together before they went to the Mount of Olives. Wait, what? In all my years of going to church on Easter Sunday and reading the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, I never saw this verse. In fact, I had to look it up and ask myself, “Do you sing on the way to agony?”
“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” Matthew 26:30 (ESV)
The place of agony
When they arrived in Gethsemane, Jesus agonized in prayer. Depending on which translation you read, His soul was:
- Sorrowful
- Crushed with grief
- Overwhelmed
- Swallowed up in sorrow
- Exceedingly sorrowful
Though I’ve never faced that kind of agony, I’ve felt a kind of heaviness described in those words, but I don’t remember singing.
“Shout for Joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.” Psalm 66:1-2 (NIV)
What to sing on the way to agony
Both the notes on my handout and the study notes in my Bible indicate they may have sang Psalm 113-118. Look it up and you’ll know why. Better yet, if your soul is in agony, look it up and sing along.
“Praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord now and forever. Everywhere – from east to west – praise the name of the Lord… Who can be compared with the Lord our God….?” Psalm 113
“Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord…” Psalm 114
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115
“I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” Psalm 116
“For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 117
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 118
Do you sing on the way to agony?
Don’t miss that one overlooked verse in Matthew 26, packed with transforming power. After singing, Jesus went to the garden and prayed alone for a way out. Then, He prayed the most important prayer any of us can pray:
“Your will be done.” Matthew 26:42b (HCSB)
The place of complete peace is the place of complete surrender. Surrender only comes through trusting God. When your soul is in agony, singing may be the last thing on your mind. Crushing grief and sorrow consume us and cripple our ability to do the very things we know bring relief. That’s why they sang. Singing keeps your mind from wandering.
Strengthened through worship
Preparing His heart through worship strengthened Jesus in his hour of need, which was his time of decision. Will you decide to trust God with your sorrow and need? Even when faced with heavy and hard, will you lift your voice and sing, “Blessed be the name of the Lord”?
Singing has the power to transform your heart, your outlook and your focus. Music inspires us to trust God, even in agony.
The Resurrection story is full of invitations. Jesus often says, “Come.” Come and eat, come and surrender, come and live eternally. Have you accepted His invitation?
