Why Do We Sing as Christians?

Dear children,

Have you ever wondered why we sing when we come for worship services or Sunday School?

We tend to mumble the words or refuse to sing when it comes to singing praises to God. We commit this dishonourable act against God because we do not understand the reasons why we sing. The reasons why we sing during worship services and Sunday School are:

1. We are commanded to sing by God

In Zephaniah 3:14, Ephesians 5:18-20 and Colossians 3:16, we see the Lord’s command to us to sing. There are 50 direct commands from God to sing to Him out of the 368 references in the OT and NT (343 and 25 respectively).

When the world was created, the angels sang. We know of this fact in Job 38:6-7 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Moreover, at Jesus birth, the angels sang: Luke 2:12-14 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

When we return to heaven, the angels and us will be singing: Rev 19:1-2 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

Singing is an important part of our worship to God.

2. It is a Response to God’s Love

Every Sunday, we have been so familiar with the order of worship so much so that we have taken no thought of what we are doing. Singing is part of the integral part of worship. It is an outward response of our inward praise and gratitude to His love for us. In Hebrews 13:15 we are reminded that our lips are a sacrifice to God: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

3. It is because God is the audience.

When we sing, the audience is neither us nor the one sitting next to us. We sing solely to God not to entertain Him but to exalt Him. Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 admonish us to sing to the Lord and with thanksgiving in our hearts to Him (Eph 5; Col 3).

4. It is because God delivered us from sin

We sing because we are saved and made righteous before God. God Himself puts a song in our mouths, "a song of praise to our God" (Ps 40:3). Because we have salvation we sing songs of salvation. "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day" (Ps 96:1-2; cf. 149:1).

5. It is because God Himself sings.

In Zephaniah 3:17, it is said that God Himself sings: The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Conclusion

The reasons above for why we sing as Christians are certainly not exhaustive. Nevertheless we must know that God commands and desires His children to sing to Him.

Thus, are we singing as we should from our hearts to God with thanksgiving? Are they just empty words? Are they sacrifices of praise from our lips? Or do we just honor the Lord with our lips but our hearts are far away from Him? Matthew 15:7-9 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me.