Why do we Sing?

Why worship through singing? Maybe you aren’t into music, you have trouble finding the right notes, or music just doesn’t feel like worship to you. So, why should you sing? Why can’t we just say our praise to God?

Sing praise to God, sing praise! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! (Ps 47:6)
Not only does Scripture command us to sing, but singing is mentioned alongside God the Father, the Son (Matt 26:29-30), and the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18-19). So even if you sound like a dying cat, God still wants to hear you sing his praise.

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zeph 3:17)
Now that we know why we should sing, what should we sing? Bob Kauflin in his book, True Worshipers, writes:

The critical question is not Do I have a voice? But Do I have a song? And if you’re a true worshiper, forgiven and reconciled to God through the atoning work of Christ, the answer is a resounding yes. It’s not a song we originated or created. We can’t add to it, change it, or improve upon it. It’s the song of the redeemed for their great Redeemer.

Sing the Gospel! We need to be reminded of the Gospel every day and singing of our salvation is one way to keep it continually on our hearts and minds. Christ has put a “joyful song in our hearts,” so how can we keep from singing?

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. (Col 3:16)

Make a joyful noise the Lord, all the Earth; break fourth in joyous song and sing praises! (Ps 98:4)

~~ Leslie Hoyle