Our Duty to Sing

We aren’t silent about the fact that singing is a significant part of what we do together as the church on Sundays. We sing a lot, we sing loud, we sing again and again. Even if singing isn’t your favorite, could you imagine a Sunday meeting with no singing?

What we do is always informed by why we do it. If we sing only when we feel like it or the moment is right, then our singing will be as frequent as windless days in South Dakota—very rare. But the God who Himself sings is not quiet about what He desires and requires of His people.

Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!

—Psalm 47:6–7

Singing is not something we merely just do as Emmaus Road Church, nor is it something unique to our church. Singing is right and appropriate for us first because God commands it. Though we have only a few verses here in Psalm 47, the command to sing is found many, many more times throughout Scripture. It’s evident from God Himself that He wants His people to sing often and passionately and He has given very compelling reasons for us to do so.

We’ve been given a song to sing

It would be quite the task—even for someone musically gifted—to come up with and sing a song right on the spot. Thankfully, we have already been given a song to sing. It did not originate from us, nor do we earn the right to sing it. It is not a superficial or vague song. It is a song from God, for God, and to God.

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.

—Psalm 40:2–3

Something has happened to make us sing; namely, salvation has come. God has graciously and dynamically acted in such a way so that sinners might freely, whole-heartedly, and humbly sing His praise. It’s a miracle of grace that we should never cease to be amazed at. God has done a decisive act in raising our hearts from the dead to now do what He created us for—singing His praises (Ps 147:1).

We’ve been united to a people that sings this song together

Singing solo is only for the few and the brave. But God has called the saints into a congregational choir—the singing God has assembled an ensemble.

I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.

—Psalm 22:22

In Scripture, many of the references that speak of singing are in a corporate setting. Singing is commanded when Christians come together (1 Cor. 14:26), and what Israelite voices united for immediately after waves closed in on their enemies (Ex. 15:1–2), and what Jesus Himself did with His disciples (Matt. 26:30). God’s Word proves that it is right to sing with the people who have been given the same song to sing (1 Peter 2:9).

We will be singing this song forever

Not only has God gathered us together to sing his praise, but God also saves us into an eternal family with whom we will be gathered with forever to sing His praises. This is the picture that we get in Revelation when John speaks of the anthem that is being sung to the One who is on His throne.

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

—Revelation 5:11–13

Because of the incredible kindness of God in Christ to us, we have the privilege of joining in the anthem that angels have been singing to the King of Ages. He has given us a song to sing with the church forever.

So SING!

Is your singing out of tune? No worries. Thankfully, God doesn’t give conditions for who should lip sync. Sunday is coming and every person who has received the bountiful mercy upon their souls has a duty to sing (Psalm 13:6). This unique gift of singing is given to both the vocally skilled and sonically inept alike for the sake of our unhindered worship and strengthened unity.

Sing To Remember

Singing is a means of grace God has given us to recall the realities we can be so quick to forget. In the midst of a leadership transition, God has Moses write a song so that the truths it contains will “live unforgotten” in the mouths of the people (Deut. 31:19–22). In Psalm 103, the Psalmist preaches to his soul through singing in order to be revived by the wonder of God’s lavish benefits.

We are shaped by what we sing! We sing in order to instruct and inspire (Col. 3:16). Every time we sing to God, we are recounting who we belong to and how we got here and why it all matters. Do you suffer from spiritual amnesia? Then sing!

Sing to Encounter

Though we don’t worship God in order to earn His favor, singing is one way we can be made more aware of the nearness of God. In verses like Psalm 73:28 and Psalm 105:2–4, there is a clear connection between singing and God’s presence. Singing can express our desires to be near God, to want God more than anything, and to be assured of His forgiveness.

It is never in the excellence or tune of our offering that makes our worship acceptable, but the excellence of Christ. He is the only mediator between God and man, and the perfect man who sings God’s praise in our midst. And yet when we sing, because of Christ, we can be assured there is no condemnation but only undeserved fellowship of His satisfying presence now and forever (Romans 5:10-11.

Sing to Edify

And God’s presence is manifest in a more profound way when we are together than when we are alone. Something incredible is happening when the church gathers together. We are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19–22). This is happening even when we sing. Singing helps express the unity we have in the gospel. When we are in “the dearest place on earth” with the people we love, we are rehearsing with our voices the wonder of what God has done not just for me, but for us.

That’s why we do not neglect to meet together, nor should we neglect to acknowledge that when we do, there are other voices around us. When the psalmist writes, “Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!”, he knows that when we sing God’s praises together, He is more highly honored than if we were to do it alone. Have you ever been foggy on a Sunday and then been suddenly struck by God’s greatness through the faith-filled singing of someone around you? When we gather to sing, it is a family activity through which God means to bolster our worship and unity together.

It is not just our duty to sing but it is our joy. Aren’t you glad Sunday is coming? Let us sing with faith and for faith (Ps. 9:10). Sing when you are brought low (Psalm 43:5) and when your joy is full (Psalm 43:4). Sing in a way that reveals God and God alone is the prize of your heart (Ps. 73:25).

Because if there is one sound, one tone, one instrument that should be heard above anything else within Emmaus Road Church, it is the sound of faithful and passionate voices singing praises to God. That is the sound God delights in, the song He’s given us to sing forever for His glory and our good.