This is why we sing

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19) … “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” Colossians 3:16).

Introduction

Why do we sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in our church services? The answers to this question are found in the above verse and elsewhere in Scripture, but basically we do so as an act of worship towards God and as a vehicle to inform others about His greatness. It is the outpouring of our heart’s affection for the One we love and serve.

We sing because God is worthy of praise

We read in Revelation 5:9-10 of the twenty-four elders who worshipped the Lord in song, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” We too have a new song, “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:3). We sing of the One who saved our souls through His precious blood on the cross. We praise Him as an expression of thanks and as a witness to those who do not know the Saviour.

This praise must never be unseemly or contrary to Scripture, instead we ought to worship Him the way we would if we stood with the elders around the throne in Heaven. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). When we come before Him we must do so with thanksgiving in our hearts. Christians do not praise God in silence. “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King” (Psalm 98:4-6).

We sing of our glorious God

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalm 100).

The Lord Jesus Christ triumphed over Satan, death and the grave. “Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:15). We sing about this as often as we can, but we also remember that He has shared this victory with those who follow Him. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55) … “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

We sing of God our strength

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:4-7). We were helpless and hopeless before we took Christ as our Saviour. “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6) but not we have “joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Romans 5:11).

Throughout life God is our strength. “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (Psalm 18:2). When fear comes upon us we can turn to God in praise. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1) … “Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy” (Psalm 59:17).  He gives us the strength to live for Him no matter what. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

We sing because He is the God of our salvation

“Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (Exodus 14:13). The One who saved us ought to be praised and exalted in song. “The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted” (Psalm 18:46), especially since the only true Saviour reached out to us with His love and mercy. Can we not thank Him that He has forgiven us all our sins (Acts 4:10-12) and is preparing a place for us in Heaven (John 14:1-6)? He has removed sins guilty stain, the wrath that was hanging over us, and the fear of Hell.

Conclusion

© 1/1/2010