We brainstormed on several ideas that came to our minds to get us started. I have also been searching God's Word for His direct guidance on singing. Another resource in this study has been some great discussions from a highly respected worship leader, Bob Kauflin. I have heard him speak several times and am greatly encouraged by what he has to say. His blog is at www.worshipmatters.com and he's got a lot better stuff to say than I do!
But in compiling notes and thoughts from the Bible, Bob's studies, and our choir-brainstorming session, we have found MANY reasons to sing. We're going to be looking at these reasons one at a time over the next two months of choir rehearsals. Here is the one we started with last night.
We should sing because...God commands us to sing!
The longest book of the Bible is not primarily a book of history, teaching, or prophecy, but a book of poems set to music.
If you study the word “sing” and all its variations, you would find over 500 references in the Bible. And around 50 of them are direct commands to sing to God.
Here are ten of those commands…
Psalm 30:4 – Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name.
Psalm 33:3 – Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.
Psalm 47:6-7 – Sing praise to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with a skillful psalm.
Psalm 67:4 – Let the nations be glad and sing for joy.
Psalm 81:1 – Sing for joy to God our strength; Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob.
Psalm 149:1 – Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.
Isaiah 12:5 – Praise the Lord in song, for He has done excellent things.
Jeremiah 20:13 – Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord! For He has delivered the soul of the needy one from the hand of evildoers.
Zechariah 2:10 – Sing for joy and be glad, for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst.
James 5:13 – Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
Obviously, God not only wants us to praise Him. He wants us to SING our praises to Him.
Another great passage that challenges us regarding singing is Colossians 3:12–17.
So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
As God’s followers, we are commanded to put on a heart of love and compassion toward one another. We are also commanded to teach and admonish one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. If we are going to be obedient to God’s commands, we must sing!
This is easy for choir members who enjoy singing, but what about people who just don’t like to sing?
A person who doesn’t know the Lord quite frankly doesn’t have a reason to sing. BUT, as soon as that person receives Jesus Christ and is saved from their sins, they now have the greatest reason ever to sing! God has given us a song and He wants us to share it. It's not about whether or not you can sing, it's about whether or not you have a song.
Even if we already liked singing, now that we’re Christians, we have a better reason to keep singing. And we should have a desire to fully understand God’s purpose for singing.
Just that fact that God has commanded us to sing is enough of a reason right there. We want to be obedient. But over the next several weeks we’re going to be looking at some of the reasons why we believe He wants us to sing.
Check back in next week as the discussion continues.
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