Singing—Shouts of Victory—Weeping

Singing—Shouts of Victory—Weeping

“And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, ‘There is a noise of war in the camp.’ But he said, ‘It is not the voice of those who shout in victory, nor is it the voice of those who cry out in defeat, but the voice of those who sing that I hear.’” Ex. 32:17-18.

Moses and Joshua heard something unusual when they descended from the mountain. Joshua did not have a trained ear so he could hear it. He thought it was the noise of war, but Moses heard what it really was. He said it was the voice of singing. One could believe that it was a good sign, that it was going well when they were singing, but Moses suspected that there was idolatry behind that singing.

Moses said, “It is not the voice of those who shout in victory, nor is it the voice of those who cry out in defeat.” One of these two voices should be heard in the church. To be a servant of Jesus is to be a soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3. We are in a battle against the spiritual hosts of wickedness. Eph. 6:12. The church is at war. There you shall hear either the voice of victory or the voice of weeping over defeat. Singing and dancing is an abomination, as it is written: “And the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” Ex. 32:6.

There it was revealed what actually dwelt in their hearts. Now they were rid of Moses who had a goal with them, who was going to train them to conquer the Promised Land and live in it. Aaron had let them have their way. Now they were no longer under bondage; they were free, and they rejoiced. But what kind of a goal did they have with their singing and dancing? Well, they wanted to be happy.

Generally speaking, people do not have another goal besides this. Those who live in the world and in sin strive to be happy. That is why they party and sing. But their joy lasts only for as long as the event lasts that evening—if it lasts that long. Then they attend Christian meetings. There they see people who appear to be happy. These play instruments, they sing, and they rejoice. They speak about Jesus who died for our sins, who can forgive and save us from perdition. He has done everything, and we shall do nothing. They are apprehended of this atmosphere, and so they go along with it. Now they have wonderful feelings and happy days; but this doesn’t last long. Because they are not being taught to fight the good fight of faith, the desires in their flesh gain the upper hand. They don’t have these good feelings in their daily life, and sin rules. Then they want to go to a service so they can sing and be happy and feel as if they were in heaven. The one preacher is better than the next one in leading this kind of game. There must not be any intimation of commandments or that the people should do anything, or chastisement. There has to be singing and dancing so that everyone gets the impression that here there is liberty and heaven itself.

What is their goal? It is the same as in the world—to be happy and then get to heaven when they die! Moses did not view this type of behavior kindly, and neither did Paul. 1 Cor. 10:7. When Moses came, he made an end of their “liberty” and their dancing. He laid hold of a sword and those who were wholehearted gathered around him. Then there was war!

There has to be war for as long as we are in this body. There has to be the shout of victory in the church. There songs of praise shall be sung to God who has given them the victory—victory over sin in their daily life, or weeping over defeat just as James writes: “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.” Jas. 4:8-9.

We can read how the servants of the Lord have a goal with the ones they are working with by exhorting every man and teaching every man in all wisdom to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Col. 1:28-29.

The goal is not to make them happy, but perfect; for only then will they experience true joy. Then there will be shouts of victory. Living for the purpose of having a good time and to be happy is idolatry. This is what the harlot does in the natural and in the spiritual. It is an abomination to the Lord. All such idol worshipers feel they are free and happy when they are free from the sound doctrine according to godliness.

There is no greater joy than the joy of victory, and all those who seek God in truth and weep over their sin will also be able to give this shout of victory. They will become truly happy for time and eternity. They will become qualified to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. Col. 1:12.