Sing to the Lord

Walking into work this morning I passed a lady that I smiled to and said good morning. She smiled back and although she didn’t say anything she was lowly singing to herself. This got me thinking about singing to the Lord.

There are many Biblical reasons why singing is good for you and others.

When you sing, you obey. Singing isn’t an option in Scripture. It’s a command.

Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Ephesians 5:18-19: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart to the Lord”

God’s people are more than just invited to sing – we are commanded to sing. When we sing, we’re doing what God asks of us!

Singing is one of the two chief ways that the Word of God dwells in us richly.

This comes with a promise: as we sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs together, we are promised that the Word of Christ will dwell in us richly – which is what we should crave as believers!

Our singing is more than a warm-up for the sermon or filler in the service.

When we do what the Bible says and sing together as a church family, we are hearing confessions of faith all around! We are hearing hundreds join with us and sing, “In Christ alone, MY hope is found!”  We are hearing hundreds of testimonies of faith all around us!

Also know that as you sing, you’re helping unbelievers.

Psalm 105:1-2, Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

Think of the impact on someone who doesn’t know Christ to hear those hundreds of testimonies, those hundreds of confessions of faith as we sing together!

Chances are you don’t connect singing and warfare together. But if you think about this, it makes sense: What posture must be more hated by the devil than the posture of a believer who is singing?  I can’t think of a bigger stance that will identify you with Christ and against Satan than a voice lifted to heaven in song! A singing heart is a heart at war with the power of sin.

When you sing, you are spiritually strengthened for trial.

Often times, we think only of singing when we’re happy and times are good, but singing bringing strength for trial comes out in Acts 16. Paul and Silas are unjustly imprisoned for the sake of the Gospel, and what do they do while they’re in prison? Sing!

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

Singing strengthens you and helps you persevere in the face of trial. If it strengthen them in the face of those trials – what can it do for you? Even in suffering, SING!

When you sing, you walk a God-designed pathway to joy.

Here is what Psalms says about singing:

Psalms 5:11: “Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.”

Psalms 9:2: “I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”

Psalms 51:14: “Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.”

Psalms 59:16: “I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.”

Psalms 63:7: “For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”

Finally, hear what Jesus’s brother said.

James 5:13:  “Is anyone cheerful?  Let him sing praise.

If you struggle for joy – SING! If you are joyful – SING! In God’s perfect design and in His perfect understanding of the human condition He has bound joy and singing together for His people.

It’s all summed up with this: When you sing, you glorify God.

Truly obedience, deep roots in the Word, building up others, making war against Satan and sin, persevering, finding joy in God – all of these things bring glory to God – each person’s chief goal and chief purpose in life.

Sing now. Sing forever. Singing matters. And it matters that we do it together.

I firmly believe that the woman I encountered this morning was singing to the Lord, as those that know me know that I do not believe in coincidences, so the singing I heard had to be for the Lord. Thank you ma’am for singing to the Lord and showing others it matters.