Austin's Blog

The Christian life is one full of singing. Why is this so? Why are our worship services full of singing instead of other ways to worship the Lord? We examined six biblical reasons in the last post. Below are the final six I believe the Bible teaches.

We sing because it helps us remember the works of the Lord. We are truly a forgetful people and the Lord knows it. In His grace, He has ordained singing as a way the recall and therefore appreciate what He has done for us. We need daily, habitual reminders that we belong to Him and He has faithfully covenanted with us until the end.

Deuteronomy 31:21 21 And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give.

We sing because it helps us express the full range of human emotion, feeling, and desire. Sometimes articulating what is going on within us is both difficult and daunting. We are able to truly find the words for those complex emotions as we sing to the Lord. Sometimes the godliest thing we can do is simply sing with everything in us.

Genesis 2:23 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”

Psalm 98:1 1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

Psalm 5:1-2 1 Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning. 2 Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.

We sing because it is a form of spiritual warfare. When God’s people sing, spiritual things in the heavenly places are said to take place. Sometimes the most godly thing we can do is sing of the character and works of our God as the heat is rising. The Enemy and Hell’s host hate it with the fire of a thousand suns. Singing causes them to flee.

2 Chronicles 20:21-22 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.” 22 And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. (See also 1 Sam. 16:14-23; Psa. 7).

We sing because we are called to be a light to the nations. As we sing the Gospel, we are testifying to a watching world of God’s goodness, grace, and glory. What will happen as unbelievers walk into our corporate gatherings and see the people of God singing with joy, passion, and a wholehearted affection for Jesus? Perhaps they will ask, “What makes them different?” or “Why is this good news so good to them?” We witness as we extol the Lord.

Psalm 100:1-5 1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 102:18-22 18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD: 19 that he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD looked at the earth, 20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die, 21 that they may declare in Zion the name of the LORD, and in Jerusalem his praise, 22 when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.

Psalm 105:1-4 1 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! 2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! 3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! 4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

1 Peter 2:9 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

We sing because it deepens our faith during trials. If Jesus or the apostle Paul are a model for us, we ought to be singing when it gets tough. Suffering is to be expected for the man or woman of God who walks nearly and dearly with Jesus. One way to ease the weight of the cross is to sing while you’re picking it up. Jesus died not so that we wouldn’t have to but to show us how to. He was found singing in the garden before that dark night of the soul. May we do the same.

Matthew 26:30 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Acts 16:25 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them

We sing because we will be doing it forever. If you refuse to sing now, you indeed will find your voice later. Heaven is described as a place where God is worshiped in all His glory, singing included. The Christian life is in part a calling to make His will on earth as it is in heaven. God’s will is that He be worshiped and praised for all time.

Revelation 5:9-10 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 7:9-12 9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

May we continue to be a singing people who revere, respect, reverence our great Lord of lords, King of kings, and Treasure or treasures.