God’s heart for setting words to melodies is evident from even a casual reading of the Psalms.
Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. (Psalm. 96:1–2)
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises! (Psalm. 47:6)
In just four verses we’re commanded to sing seven times.
All told, the Bible contains over four hundred references to singing
and fifty direct commands to sing. The longest book of the Bible, the Psalms, is a book of songs. And in the New Testament we’re commanded not once, but twice, to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to one another when we meet (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).
Why does God so often tell us not simply to praise him but to sing his praises when we meet? Why not just pray and preach? Why sing? Why are God’s people throughout history always singing? Why words and music and not just words alone? Why does God want us to sing? One reason is that God himself sings. In Zephaniah 3:17 God exalts over his people “with loud singing.” On the eve of his crucifixion, Jesus sang hymns with his disciples (e.g., Matt. 26:30). Hebrews 2:12 applies Psalm 22:22 to Jesus when it says, “In the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And Ephesians 5 tells us that one effect of being “filled with the Spirit” is “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” (Ephesians 5:18–19).
No comments:
Post a Comment