# 22 Songs, Ps 98:1.

Following these comments are a handful of songs from the old song book.

Ps 98;1, "Sing to Jehovah a new song, for wonderful are the things that he has done".

The lyrics of which have rung out in my heart during the years of isolation.

During the night, when I cant sleep, I can imagine the sound of thousands of voices singing the words along with me, just as when I used to attend conventions and assemblies. 10s of thousands would sing out joyfully, accompanied by the sea of deaf, rhythmically, singing along in sign language, a beautiful sight.

My heart would soar as it road a wave of emotion and thanksgiving to my God, in unison, with the many brothers and sisters, from the little ones to the elderly. I'm sure the sight impaired would have felt it even more, the unity and oneness of purpose, even just for a moment in time.

On more than one occasion at the close of such events I witnessed grown men with tears rolling down their cheeks. With appreciation for the spiritual food and the opportunity to spend time with brothers and sisters from all over our region but during international conventions, from all around the globe. I once asked, why do you cry? "not only because I love this, (when we get together) but I have to go back home to the world". Such occasions were an escape from daily pressures of life in this system and when these occasions came to a close, painful to leave behind.

On one occasion I was out of my seat during a convention, in a large stadium filled with worshipers, I was walking through the corridors and to myself, singing with joy in my heart, and look!, a woman, a sister of mine, coming in the opposite direction doing exactly the same. She looked up, saw I was also in the same frame of mind, full of love for our God and appreciation, we both giggled without a word. I do not know who she was, I have never seen her before, but, it was a special moment to me.

One of my favourite things to do was to, at times, not sing, to just listen, to feel, to ride the wave of love, imagining how Jehovah and Jesus and the Angels would feel hearing these songs.

I'm sure they loved it too, and miss it now, seeing the congregation must surely be rejected and as Jehovah has done in the past, "not listening", to those who stray.

These, and songs like them, I also used as a tool, to divert my mind from drifting onto inappropriate things, teaching myself to focus my thoughts. Often I would walk about singing out loud, even in private. Today however, due to the mourning in my heart, I have not sung a word out loud for quite some years now. I imagine the Israelites must have felt the same way while in captivity in Babylon, or awaiting deliverance from Egypt, etc. I simply can't do it while true worship is gone and Jehovah's name is being assaulted.

That is why I only sing along with, the many, in my mind, in moments of silence.

Maybe Jehovah is joining me, listening. Today, all this has been stolen from me by Satan, by The Man of lawlessness, by The Apostasy.

I no longer attend meetings or such large conventions. The truth is though, I didn't leave the truth, the truth left me. By abandoning pure worship, turning away from Jehovah and his Spirit they made it impossible for me to continue. May Jehovah, through Christ Jesus and Holy Spirit, show the way forward.

Notice the words of these songs? They are some major differences to songs of praise in other faiths. They direct glory and praise Jehovah by name. They magnify the exalted position of my Lord the King, Jesus Christ, My Big brother. And cement the hope in my heart for the future and strengthen my faith in My God and his promises for a paradise Earth.

May you be likewise find confidence that you too are a vital cog in Jehovah's purpose.

Great love to you, man in expectation :)

The mash-up! "You must love Jehovah your God, with your whole Heart, Mind, Soul and Strength and keep His Commandments. If you do, you will be wise enough to bypass any trial with ease, and have an indefinitely lasting name with The Living One. Those who fail to take these things to heart, will suffer shame and fall short in a large way, all that is his, will be destroyed and cease to exist.

You who love Him, however, will flourish with joy, under the tent cloths of Jehovah, always." Ecc 12:13, Mark 12:30 and Ps 37:18-20.