Why We Sing (Part 2)

Previously, we've talked about the benefit of our singing for the fellowship of believers - bringing the love and truth of the gospel to the church through the songs we sing. But what happens to us personally when we lift our songs to Christ - even if there is no apparently immediate benefit? 

We do not worship God only because of what he can do for us, but also as a result of what he has done for us. Indeed, David proclaims in Psalm 22:3 that the Lord inhabits the praises of his people. When hurt and darkness are at our doorstep, God is still enthroned on our praise, and the inherent benefit to us in this truth is undeniable. 

Here are several different ways we find ourselves helped by singing praise to God.

Peace for the Hurting

In our world, there is no shortage of pain and hurt: poverty in distant nations, unexpected deaths, children shot in their schools, the IRS at your doorstep, broken relationships and families - there seems to be no end to the devastation that we endure. In times of chaos, we often crave peace, but are too weak to find it on our own. The Bible is honest about this reality, especially in the Psalms.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging" (Psalm 46:1-3).

I don’t know if you felt it, but that Psalmist wrote this song in a very difficult stage of life. “We will not fear though the earth gives way.” But the Holy Spirit loves to work in our emotions through songs to bring peace when we are hurting. In fact, even in the darkest part of our situation, when we don’t feel like we can even pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us to God (Romans 8:26) and gives us the strength to sing, “Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well with my soul.” Our song can tell of the depths of our hearts, and the Holy Spirit can help us find rest and peace in our Father through the song we sing. 
 
Christian, through Christ, your song matters. Through Christ, your praises ease the troubled spirit. Our God hears the cry of his people, even when that cry is in our song.

Prayer When We Can’t Seem to Pray

The Holy Spirit works in the broken through the songs of the broken.

Sometimes, there is no strength to pray. Sometimes, there is no clear next step to take. But more often than not, we can muster the heart to sing, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” and a song can become a prayer all its own.

The mystery of singing and spirit is one that we may never come to fully understand, but there is a reason that the Bible tells us to do it (Ephesians 5:18-20). There is a reason that the largest book in the Bible is a book full of poetry and song. There is comfort, there is healing, joy, understanding, love, power, hope, strength, and much more that comes from singing to God. When spoken words seem to fail, a song may provide exactly what we need.

Thankfulness and Joy

"Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy" (Psalm 33:1-3).

Giving thanks to God through song is nothing new. It’s all over Scripture. 

Here is our beautiful reality: Jesus’ final words on the cross were, “it is finished” (John 19:30). Jesus’ work has been done. There is no Savior on the cross and no corpse in the grave! He is alive and the struggle we are facing has been dealt a death-blow! So we sing about it! We give expression to our joy through song, through singing of the truth that we know and hold dear.

Hope in Our Laments

But what about our sorrow? We know the battle is ultimately won, but we don’t always feel like it. But even in our sorrow, our songs of lament can help us feel at peace, can help us come with a thankful and hopeful heart to the throne of God. There is a good chunk of the Psalms that are full of lament. 

David expresses some of his sorrow in Psalm 142, part of which reads, "I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me.” Even in his lament, sorrow, and fear, he remembers the promises of his God and concludes with, “The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.” 

David had sorrow and turmoil in his heart. But his song aided him in laying it before God - and helped him remember that God would surround him with the righteous and deal bountifully with him. In and through his song, David remembered the goodness of God even when his sorrow was very, very real. There is a hope that comes with remembering God’s goodness.

Hearing the Gospel

Our song to God is no doubt an integral part of our faith. In a world where darkness is constantly inching towards our doorstep, an onlooker might find it strange that we sit around and sing. But the reality is far from foolishness. We sing because we know the truth of the promises of our God. We sing because our spirits find rest and encouragement in God through our song. And we sing because we cannot imagine withholding our praise and thankfulness to God. Whether in the darkness of night or the light of a new day, there is always a reason to sing. 

Perhaps it is in the song of the broken that the rest of the world can best hear the gospel of Christ. When our song rises to God, it can rattle the logic of the listening world. 

So we sing. We sing like we were just saved from death. Because, after all, Christ did save us all from death. We give him our praise and our worship. For his glory and for our faith, we will sing.