Winning Ways: Sing to the King

If you're a believer, you're a singer. It doesn't matter if you're skilled or trained at it. As Bernice Johnson Reagon once put it, “You pass the audition when you walk in the door.”

The Bible mentions singing over 400 times; 50 of those references are direct commands to sing God's praise. All God's expectations are for our benefit, so what do we gain by singing? Specifically, what do we gain by singing together in Sunday worship? In a recent article for Boundless webzine, Bob Kauflin suggested three reasons to sing.

First, singing helps us remember God's Word. Scientists have confirmed in recent years that music reinforces memory, but it's been known for millennia. In Colossians 3:16 we are told to "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." How? By singing "psalms, hymns and spiritual songs" to one another. Even further back than that, God told Moses to teach the Israelites a song about God's faithfulness so that they would remember it even in times of rebellion: "And when many disasters and difficulties come upon them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants." (Deuteronomy 31:21)

Second, singing helps us respond to God's grace. Kauflin writes, "Singing allows us to combine intellect with emotion, objective truth with our emotional response to it." In music, we celebrate the profoundest concepts with both our mind and our heart.

Third, singing helps us reflect God's glory. Kauflin writes, "As we sing the same biblical truths together, express our gratefulness for the Gospel, and declare our commitment to follow our King, we're bringing glory to the One who made it all possible." In fact, as we sing, we become little reflections of a God who loves to sing, too! The Bible says of the Father, "He will quiet you with his love. He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)

Music isn't the "warm-up act" for the sermon; it's part of our obedience to Christ. The one who has redeemed us calls on us to sing, and it's a simple thing to obey him in this matter. So, join your congregation @ 10 this Sunday, and sing to the King!

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Each Wednesday I post my article from "Winning Ways," an e-newsletter that goes out to 1200 subscribers. If you want to subscribe to "Winning Ways," sign up here.