Sing

Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.
– Psalm 149:1

Singing. Many enjoy it; some are even good at it. Some sing in the shower; some sing in the car. When I sing, I think I sound like George Straight. When I hear a recording of myself singing, it sounds more like George of the Jungle. My mind and my ear are obviously receiving mixed signals. But that’s okay. No matter what my ear hears, my heart enjoys the singing, and I suspect the heart may be the more important than the ear.

Scripture frequently encourages us to sing. It’s like God knows that singing is good for the soul. The Hebrew people sang the song of victory after God brought them safely through the Red Sea (Exodus 15). Paul and Silas sang hymns while in prison (Acts 16). There is no particular account of Jesus singing, but I have no doubt that he joined in the melodious recitation of his songs of faith (i.e. the psalms). Scripture even tells us that heaven is a place of singing:

When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
(Revelation 5:8-10)

Singing is part of how the people of God worship. It is an orchestrated, beautiful expression of our praise that seeps into the core of our memories and helps to enliven our faith. John Wesley even gave instructions on how singing ought to be done while in worship:

• “Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you.” In other words, don’t just sing when you feel like singing. Determine to sing so you may be strengthened and blessed by it.
• “Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength.” If our singing is to reflect what we think about God, we probably shouldn’t sound like Eeyore the donkey from Winnie the Pooh.
• “Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony.” Worship is not the place for our inner Diva to stand out. The only one to be glorified in our singing is God.
• “Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing.” Let the words minister. If the lyrics are directed to God, let your spirit be in agreement with the words of praise. If the lyrics are directed toward you, receive them as if God were speaking to you.

Many years ago I attended a Promise Keepers conference at the old Texas Stadium in Irving. The place was filled with men. As we were lustily singing a familiar hymn, I noticed the voice of someone behind me who was singing with particular strength. It was obvious that pitch was not among his skills. Yet even as I made that observation, the Holy Spirit quickly reminded me of how beautiful this man’s singing must have been to the heart of God. Remember, the heart is more important than the ear. Sing in such a way that God’s heart is made glad.

Shout to the Lord! All the earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King!
– Don Moen