"Sing a New Song"

Ps.33 - Funeral of Charles Dakin

July 23, 2004

     Life is filled with song, for those who have ears to hear it. The creatures around us know it -- from the verbose robin at dawn's awakening, to the great whales in the ocean's deep -- song surrounds our existence. Some days life is a canticle of heavenly praise. Other days, when things aren't going so well and we actually hurt, life is a lament or dirge. The Bible redirects us in such times to sing heavenward, assured of God's faithfulness and mercy even when our circumstances are tough.

     Psalm 33 begins: "Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre." Whatever else Charlie may have been, he was a singer. He loved music. I remember seeing him persevere in singing in the church choir, even when the shaking of his hands made it difficult for him to hold the music. He was blessed with a great tenor voice, and loved to harmonize. More recently when we had prayer meetings in Charlie and Verne's home, he enjoyed taking part in the hymns with which we "warmed up". I understand his daughters have fond memories of him singing goodnight to them from the door of their bedroom. Even after the strokes which plagued him near the end, he would rouse himself to join in a tune of "You are My Sunshine." Singing was very much an outlet for Charlie, a way to bring enjoyment and meaning to counter-balance the challenges and difficulties of life. Scripture invites us to discover the tonic of singing to God throughout life, "it is fitting...to praise Him." Even the worst night of Jesus' life, when He knew His disciples were about to desert, deny, and betray Him, He led them in singing a hymn, Mark records (14:26), before going to the Mount of Olives.

     The Psalmist not only calls us to sing, but WHY to sing. V4, "FOR the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love." God's singers see His goodness and righteousness reflected in the beauty and abundance of creation all around us. "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth...For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm." Our song is but an echo responding to His powerful word fashioning order and structure by which we exist. Beholding this beckons our response of awe: "Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him."

     One thing Charlie and Verne loved to do these past years was to load up in the car and go for a drive. Charlie loved to get out and observe nature. He enjoyed all kinds of critters - birds, animals, the flowers in the backyard. These all remind us that life does not revolve around the small world of man's making, but the wonderful and winsomely designed universe that sustains us in such delicate balance - a complex but finely tuned immense instrument playing in perfect harmony.

     The Bible does not call us to utter mournful laments, perpetual somber dirges with long faces. There are indeed seasons in life where grief prevails for a moment and our tunes most naturally sound in a minor key. But Scripture broadens our perspective beyond temporary suffering to rejoice in God's faithful lovingkindness that makes the slightest breath possible. "Sing joyfully to the LORD...play skillfully, and shout for joy...We wait in hope for the LORD." Our expression to God can be predominantly positive, joyful, knowing He cares for us and has our best interests at heart.

     Joy is different from happiness or good humour, but it does help make them possible. Charlie was full of humour and loved a good laugh. He and Verne even enjoyed bantering back and forth in a little language of their own they concocted entirely by themselves on the fly. A couple of days after Charlie died, I was trying to help a homemaker solve the puzzle of an outdoor light that wasn't working. I hunted all over the Dakin residence looking first for a switch, then for the electrical panel. Finally we checked the bulb the previous person had used to replace the burnt-out one. Turns out the replacement bulb itself was burned out too! And here we'd been looking all over the house for the solution. I'm sure Charlie would have had a good laugh about that, he had a real sense of humour. "Shout for joy...wait in hope for the Lord."

     The Bible reminds us that our lives in the final analysis are quite small, tiny by comparison with God's eternity and vast plan. The created order hints at the Creator's power and might - the blast hidden packed in a single atom, the inexorable draw of a black hole sweeping clean light years of space. Surprisingly, the Almighty takes an interest in what we do; our actions are ultimately significant, we matter. V15 says God "forms the hearts of all" and "considers everything they do." Funerals remind us that some day our epitaph too will be written, our life's impact judged in heaven. God is not impressed by the same things that impress us. The king's mighty army, the "great strength" of a warrior or horse neither impress our Maker nor guarantee our success. So what does the Lord value? What's He looking to find in people's lives, over the few short decades we're allowed? V18 tells us what makes an impression on God: "But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine." It's how we respond in our times of weakness and trouble that interests God most. The question is whether our troubles prompt us to hope in Him and yearn for His deliverance, or instead spark us to grumble and complain and harden our hearts against God, thinking we've been dealt with unfairly.

     Charlie's life was far from perfect or trouble-free. He had a very difficult childhood. Then came a fractured family life. His temper flared inappropriately and fearfully at times. He was plagued by a substance addiction for many years which interfered with his functioning and relationships. Yet in later years, with the Lord's help, that bondage was overcome. Charlie didn't want to hurt anyone, and sought to make up after a tiff.

     These later years particularly had physical challenges for Charlie: strokes and shaking hands and weak legs. Along with that was his concern for Verne, and difficulties in communicating. Yet he didn't give up, or become permanently bitter. Even in what was to be my final visit to him in hospital, he appreciated hearing the 23rd Psalm and prayer together. His grip on my hand was surprisingly good; yet in just a few days he'd be entrusting himself to the grip of the Good Shepherd.

     No, deliverance does not depend on our own strength, the size of our army or the horsepower of our vehicles. God's Word records that Jesus Christ is the One who alone can "deliver...from death". Hebrews 2(9,14f) says that Jesus "who was made a little lower than the angels [is] now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone...Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death— that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." By His weakness, in submitting to taking part in our suffering and hardship - even the grave - by being so immersed in trouble, Jesus has become our Deliverer. Death has lost its sting because of the forgiveness He has made possible. Now He tells us (Rev.1:18), "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."

     Because Jesus tasted death for us, our tongues are loosed to sing His praise, with joy that overtakes our mourning. Psalm 33 commands, "Sing to Him a new song." By trusting in Christ, we understand that Charlie may enjoy the overtures of heaven that will make our best 5.1 Dolby surround sound seem like a mere tinkling glass. The last book of the Bible (Rev.15:3) says that those who are victorious over the Beast at the end of time "sang the song of Moses...and the song of the Lamb" - Jesus' own song. A saintly symphony celebrating that the works of the Lord Almighty are "great and marvelous", His ways "righteous and true". The Lord Himself will steady our shaking hands to hold the score, and wipe away every tear from our eyes (Rev.7:17). Amen!