When Singing Is At Its Best
WORSHIP ARTICLE | B. Colton McDaniel | Springfield, Illinois
“I love to sing.” This phrase was a warmup in my high school choir, but it is also the way I really feel about singing. My earliest memories are of singing Doo-wop songs. Yet as much as I loved performing with choirs growing up and no matter how fulfilling it was to earn good ratings at state competitions, no music is as pleasing as singing praises with the people of God. This is how God designed it. He created music to be naturally enjoyable to the human ear. But on top of that, He prescribed a combination of that naturally enjoyable activity with words of edification and praise to create psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Unfortunately, I have heard some brethren who say they really do not enjoy song worship. There are perhaps two reasons for this kind of thinking. First, they may not like the sound of their own voice. Second, sometimes the church has developed a somewhat stoic approach to worship – we come, sit, listen, and leave. In so doing, they have forgotten that God wants us to enjoy worship, not just to go through the motions. Both are common concerns, but it is the latter we will address in this article.
The Beauty of Song Worship
When is singing at its best? When is song worship beautiful? True worshippers will ask such questions if they wish to worship God in a way that pleases Him.
When it comes from the heart. When we sing to God and to one another, our hearts sing. The heart we present before Him must be filled with faith (Psalm 31:1). When such a heart is cultivated within us, it is nearly impossible to stop it from speaking (Psalm 9:1-2). A heart that breaks forth in song must also be a heart enraptured by the glory and majesty of God. When we consider the wonders of His creation and work, our singing will praise him in honor (Psalm 8, 47).
In considering the work and glory of God, our hearts will also bubble over with gratitude. Singing out of thankfulness is personal; instead of simply “Look what God has accomplished in us,” this kind of singing says, “Praise the Lord for what He had done for even me!” (Psalm 13:6; 30:4; see Colossians 3:16). And, of course, our hearts are most prepared for singing when we sing to God out of an abundance of love (Psalm 116:1; 31:23). From early on, love has driven people to song, whether because of romance, patriotism, or some other affection, but how much more should our love for the God of our deliverance and strength inspire singing (Psalm 18:1-2).
When it teaches and edifies. Each song we sing should be rooted in the teachings of the Bible. Consider Psalm 49:1-4. Here, the sons of Korah are not just referring to general know-how or secular proverbs but to the understanding that comes from meditating on God’s will. Likewise, Christians are commanded by God to take His word, consider it deeply, and then teach it to one another in song (Colossians 3:16).
Each song should relate a message that can be easily understood because God is deserving and is honored when our minds are engaged (Psalm 47:7; 1 Corinthians 14:15). If we truly love the Lord with all of our mind, then that must include applying our minds in song. Songs are useless if they are confusing or so archaic that we cannot understand the language; again, God is King and thus is worthy.
When it is done to the best of our ability. God deserves our best. If we are unwilling to give that to Him, we might as well nix the singing portion of our worship. One way we give our best is by focusing on what is taking place. Our hearts and our minds cannot be truly devoted when we sing if we are distracted (Psalm 104:33-34). Singing is a method by which we meditate on God’s word. We are commanded to “let the word of Christ dwell in us richly” (Colossians 3:16). Thus, we must focus in order to glean the most from the song worship.
While giving the best from our hearts and minds is vital to our growth as song worshippers, we cannot minimize the importance and even necessity of improving our voices. Psalm 33:1-3 is powerful here. Though we do not use harps or stringed instruments in our song worship today, we must remember the Israelites were specifically commanded to use them, which means they had to take time to learn and practice. It was not enough to them that they could somewhat play; the praise of God was so important that they perfected their music until it could be said they “skillfully played.” We too must prepare our voices and practice blending them together in harmony. It is not enough to say, “Well, God knows my heart.” God deserves our best, both in heart and voice.
The Joy of Song Worship
What happens when we give our best to God in song? Many answers could be given, but the primary outcome which comes to my mind is indescribable joy. Certainly, we can see throughout the book of Psalms, as well as in the rest of the Scriptures, that singing is a sign of joy for those participating in it (Psalm 98:1-4; James 5:13). The time we spend together in song is a time of rejoicing.
Individual Joy. When we bring to God our songs of praise and thanksgiving, it stirs something within us and we are moved. In James 5:13, singing hymns can certainly be a reaction to joy, but when we sing it continues to generate gladness within us. Remember when Paul and Silas found themselves in prison, their reaction to persecution was to pray and to sing hymns to God (Acts 16:25). Hymns bring us joy even in the midst of troubles and trials. Consequently, singing to God ought to be a regular practice in our day. In James 5, the language implies not “If anyone is cheerful, go ahead and let him sing psalms” but bears more the emphatic idea of “he must sing psalms.”
Though we certainly can find joy when we conduct personal song worship, we also experience great joy when we sing with one another. When we come together, we are there for the purpose of stirring up one another; “one another” meaning there is benefit for the individual and the group. When we sing together, we must understand that not every song will have the same impact on everyone. One who sings “It Is Well with My Soul” may be seeking peace in the midst of trials, while another across the room sings, praising God because he is already experiencing peace.
Collective Joy. When we sing together, we grow together. As we join voices, we become bonded in a way that cannot be expressed. This growth is, of course, a primary function of meeting together in general, as well as when joining in song (Hebrews 10:24-25).
God has made it clear that He desires His people to sing together. Collective singing is God’s will because of what it stirs within us (Ephesians 5:17, 19). Notice the phrase “making melody in your heart.” We often get distracted by discussions of what this does not mean to the neglect of interpreting what it really says. As said above, when we sing together, our hearts sing. This mode of worship unites because we are pouring our hearts to one another. It is not just our voices, but also our souls that are speaking.
External Joy. When we glorify God within the assembly, others who join us and see the joy we share will (hopefully) desire to know more about it. I have recently heard it said that we must not allow visitors to dictate what we preach on or what we do in worship. Now assuming that we are not changing the will of God to please those outsiders, I must disagree with this kind of thinking. Certainly, edifying one another is why we assemble, but I also think of Christ’s earliest teachings in the Sermon on the Mount: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16; emphasis added).
When we are together praising God in song and someone walks in, we should want to show them what true, spiritual music is all about. As we teach one another, we are teaching them as well. Our growth results in the growth of others. This is a scenario God anticipated in 1 Corinthians 14:23-26. Understanding this is in a context of spiritual gifts, a similar situation ought to be what we desire today. When people come into our assemblies and hear us speaking to one another in psalms, I have often heard them say, “The singing is beautiful.” Quite often, those visitors return. Our singing is not just about bringing joy to ourselves but also to edify those who hear.
Divine Joy. But what we sometimes forget to acknowledge is the joy experienced by our God in all of this. Our song worship is first and foremost about praising Him. We receive joy from it – and praise God for that! – but our songs are all about His glory (“to the Lord,” Ephesians 5:19). If we are honoring God in our songs, why should He not take pleasure in it? This is what sacrifice is all about – praising God and Him being pleased with our offering. Though not speaking about singing specifically, Hebrews 13:15 says that when we give “the fruit of our lips,” it is a “sacrifice of praise.” In it, He is well pleased.
Song worship greatly pleases our Lord and God. In Hebrews 2:10-12, even Jesus loves to sing praises to God. The implication of these verses is that when we sing, Jesus sings with us. God is therefore an active participant in worship. In fact, worship would be nothing if Jesus were not here joining with us. Singing brings God praise and joy! Though Psalm 147:1 is certainly the sentiment of the psalmist himself, he by inspiration is also proclaiming the feelings of God: “Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful” (emphasis added).
To worship God in song is a blessing to all. How beautiful is the sound! How glorifying the praise! Singing is at its best when we give our hearts, minds, and voices entirely to Him; and when singing is at its best, true joy is found. “I love to sing.”
19.01.01 | GROW magazine
