"Why We Sing" - by Peter Wade (Jun-2009)
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why do we sing”? There’s an old gospel spiritual song from 1905 titled, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”. The chorus goes: “I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, for His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me”.
It’s true. We sing because of the happiness God has given us. As Christian’s we’ve been set free and we know that God is watching over us! We have a lot to sing about!
Let’s look deeper into some of the reasons we Christians sing. We’ll start with an Old Testament story about Jehoshaphat, King of Judah:
“After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites [a] came to make war on Jehoshaphat. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. (2 Chr. 20:1-4)
You can just picture the scenario. Jehoshaphat receives news about this army coming. And it’s not just an army, but a VAST army. I’m sure that would be alarming news and we see that Jehoshaphat is in fact quite alarmed! But he does the right thing; he decides to inquire of the Lord. He even proclaims a fast. The scripture says that the people came together to seek help from the Lord
So, because Jehoshaphat was humble and cried out to God, God heard him and sent a message to him through the prophet Jahaziel:
“He said: ‘Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’
Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.
Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.’ After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his [d] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.’
As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. (2 Chr. 20:15-23)
So, why do we sing? Because God is with us! Have you noticed that great movements have always been accompanied by GREAT singing? For example, look at the Civil Rights Movement (“We shall overcome…”). Even more, God’s Kingdom is filled with great singing and worship.
It’s exciting to think that God put the singers at the head of the Army. God used singing to overthrow an empire. To me, it shows the importance God has given to the purpose of our singing. 1 Cor. 1:27 says that “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” This says to me that singing should be something done through humble submission to God. We should be vulnerable when we sing. God loves it when we’re vulnerable. And God can work through our humility and vulnerability!
2 Chr. 20:21 says that the people were “singing to the Lord and praising Him for the splendor of His holiness”. There wasn’t much focus on individual talent or a person’s abilities, but rather on praising God.
When those of us as song leaders and musicians come up to sing or play our instruments, we’re not up on stage performing; we’re up there to help the congregation sing in worship to God. The scripture above says they were singing to the Lord and Praising Him for the splendor of His holiness. They were praising God. This was a very humble act.
Seeing that our singing is an outward expression of reverence to God, how does that make you feel? Do you allow yourself to be “foolish” while singing to God? Are you more concerned with how you look, or sound? Or are you one that says, “I’m not a singer? Does that even matter? The focus cannot be on us, but completely on God, on His greatness and holiness. We should be singing the songs, “Holy, Holy, Holy” or “Oh Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary” with this kind of reverence and humility in our hearts.
Isn’t it wonderful when we have worship services that move us to tears? Songs that humble us; not just pretty music that soothes our ears. Not entertainment, but music that becomes worship that causes us to meditate on our relationship with God. Music that causes us to reflect on our lives and allows our hearts to be softened. It makes us grateful and appreciative of God our Father. It provides us with a glimpse of heaven and gives us a taste of God’s holiness, and helps us to want to draw nearer to God.
Martin Luther in the early 1500’s said: “I am not ashamed to confess publicly that next to theology there is no art which is the equal of music, for she alone, after theology, can do what otherwise only theology can accomplish, namely, quiet and cheer up the soul of man.”
We sing to worship God. We sing and make music to honor God; to revere God. Spiritual singing helps our hearts to connect with our Father. It helps our hearts stay soft and humble. It’s hard to sing when we’re angry, feeling prideful, etc. Singing humbles us.
God told Moses to write down a song as a reminder to the Israelites (Deut 31:19). Moses wrote down the song and then gave the song to the Israelites:
“Moses came with Joshua [h] son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. 45 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, ‘Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.’” (Deut. 32:44-47)
Like the Israelites, we must take to heart the songs we sing when we worship together. Songs remind us! We should reflect on the words we are singing. We see when Moses teaches the Israelites he says: “They are not just idle words, they are your life”. Spiritual songs help us to reflect on our life – They should NOT be idle words.
Have you ever heard a song on the radio that instantly takes you back in time? Maybe back to childhood, or back to high school? Or maybe that first date? Songs can have a very strong tie to our memory. I always think of a song back in1986 called “Something About You” by Level 42. I’m instantly transported back to 1986 every time I hear that song. I’m suddenly driving to school in my first car, with my new driver’s license in pocket. I can remember all the details, the friends, the scenery, etc.
Songs have a powerful way of helping us remember. More importantly, spiritual songs can help us remember God in our lives. Helping us to remember and connect with the important things in our life. “Lest I forget Gethsemane, lest I forget Thine agony; Lest I forget Thy love for me, lead me to Calvary”
God loves it when we sing to Him. When we worship him with music and song, it fires God up! In the book of Job, the Bible describes how God taught the morning stars to sing at creation (Job 38:7). It says the stars sang together. Singing is God’s creation. Isn’t it a blessing that we have music? Think of our lives without music? Think of our lives without a song. Think of the movie “Titanic” without a soundtrack; or even Star Wars. It just doesn’t work. The intense or emotional parts of the movie would have no effect. Music is by God’s design.
God also loves it when we sing together, not only to Him, but to one another
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (Col 3:16)
God wants gratitude in our hearts. Singing softens our hearts and helps us to be grateful. Paul of course talks about Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. Psalms are of course from scripture (most of the Psalms are actual songs). Hymns are songs based on scripture, and spiritual songs are songs from our hearts. Our singing should be a very spiritual thing.
“So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.” (I Cor. 14:15)
Sing and Pray Continually!
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire”. (1 Thes. 5:16-19)
God’s will for us is to be joyful, praying continually and giving thanks. One of the ways we can do this is through music. Songs can be a useful tool to helping get our hearts in a right place.
“Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Eph. 5:19-20)
We can speak to one another in song. We can encourage one another.
Let’s remember that God sings too!
“The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)
Let’s sing because we know how much God loves us and is with us, watching over us. And let’s bring Glory to God through our music and singing! --
