I wonder if it would be too bold to say that Christians are commanded to sing? I know for a fact that King David often exhorted his citizens to sing and praise the Lord. And the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah did the same. “Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.” “Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.” “Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.”
We know that David was musically inclined, writing, composing, singing and playing instruments. When he established his government, he ordained musicians – probably supporting them financially. Music was a part of the Hebrew worship. The Bible identifies about a dozen different instruments which were used in that worship – from percussion instruments to strings and horns. And there were trained musical leaders, among whom were: Jeduthun, Benaiah, Chenaniah, Asaph, Ethan. It can be said that music was important to God’s Old Testament saints.
And I think it should be to us as well. There are at least three New Testament scriptures which tell us to take godly music seriously. Coupling those with some Old Testament instruction, we can see some of the essential ingredients to Biblical music and worship.
Worship music should flow out of our regenerated spirits and renewed understandings.
Please turn to I Corinthians 14:12. Addressing the Corinthians’ abuse of speaking in unknown languages, the apostle says, “Forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will SING with the SPIRIT, and I will sing with the UNDERSTANDING also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.” In the midst of the larger context, Paul says that he endeavored to sing with the spirit and with understanding.
I agree with our translators when they didn’t capitalize the word “spirit” in verse 15. In this case, Paul isn’t saying he was singing under the direction of the Holy Spirit, which I am sure he did. In this case, he was saying that he sang from the spiritual part of his being – rather than from his flesh. As people who have been born again – born from above – we have a heavenly perspective which didn’t exist when we lived in the flesh alone. For example, we often find ourselves motivated by spiritual impulses which didn’t happen before. We are more vertically inclined than horizontal – more spiritual than fleshly. And here, Paul simply says, “I will sing with my spirit – not with my flesh.”
BUT… at the same time – “I will sing with the understanding also.” With the eye of faith, looking at the Saviour, he intends to engage his mind with the hymns. He doesn’t sing the words on the page, he tries to sing the thoughts which the poet must have thought. In the context of singing in foreign tongues, Paul wanted to sing with words which he understood, and which he wished to convey to other worshippers.
Biblically-based singing comes from the spirit, passing through the mind, and then coming out of the lips.
Ephesians 5:19 reminds us that Biblical worship music should first speak to the musician himself.
Please turn to Ephesians 5:17 – “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
If I am reading this correctly, Paul assumes that the Christian who is filled with the Spirit – that is, the one who is surrendered to the Lord – is from time to time going to want to sing. Perhaps it will be very often. That singing, may echo only inside that Christian’s heart, not proceeding out his mouth. Once in a while, he or she may be alone, carrying out the daily chores, and that song will come out with words or humming. And then periodically, that saint will find himself among other believers, singing words of praise or thanksgiving to God. Sometimes in a church context the hymn which is sung is filled with doctrine or worship.
Whether alone or among many, we are exhorted – we are commanded – to “speak to OURSELVES in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord.” When the song leader announces a hymn, asking us to turn to a certain page, we are urged to turn down the flesh, turn up the spirit and to engage our understanding – “Singing and making melody in our hearts.” We are to sing to ourselves, and we are to sing to our neighbors, the message of the hymn. Don’t mumble the words to that song. You are commanded to make your neighbor hear, even if he is singing the same words and tune. Singing with the spirit suggests enthusiasm, even holy excitement.
Colossians 3:16 takes our hymn-singing up another notch.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” While we are singing and making melody in our spirits with grace in our hearts… We should view our singing as a ministry to others – teaching and admonishing one another. Sing those gospel songs as if you are preaching that gospel to people needing it.
I suppose that it doesn’t have to be true with every hymn, but certainly the majority of our songs should have substance to them. Very few should be merely about how good we feel – how happy we are – how much sinful weight we have lost. They should involve “giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” They should, whenever possible, glorify God for who He is. They should praise the Saviour for what He has done for us through the sacrifice He made on Calvary. Whenever possible our hymns should reflect the message of God’s word – the gospel of Christ.
Sometimes these things will offend people. There may be nothing we can do about that. On one occasion David’s music and worship offended even his own wife. But she was the one in error, not the worshipful king.
Along with Isaiah and others, David used a word which sheds some additional light on our worship music.
Seven times in the Old Testament and twice in the Book of Revelation, we have reference to “NEW songs.” “O sing unto the Lord a NEW song.” John saw the future saints standing before the throne of God’s lamb, and they “sung a NEW song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”
“New” usually refers to something which didn’t exist before; it has been lately made, recently invented. I know I am taking this word “new” in a new direction, but I think my application is appropriate and justified. Personally, I wish that we knew every scriptural hymn in our song books, and that we sang them regularly. And I wish that we knew so many hymns that we would be forced to learn new songs regularly. Have you ever noticed in singing that Fanny Crosby song for the ten thousandth time, you are no longer paying much attention to the words? Having a new song forces us – forces me – to pay attention to the message it contains. New songs are good and helpful for that reason and for others. “O sing unto the Lord a NEW song.”
But let me abuse the word “new” to say, our Christian hymns should not sound like the songs of the world. Just as the vocabulary of the Bible usually sets it apart from all the human literature around us, I believe that Christian music should do the same.
There are businesses that I visit from time to time which have Christian owners or managers. And in some of them there is religious music playing in the background. Since most of the time modern Christian music (CCM) is new to me, it means I don’t know the words. And to be honest sometimes I don’t even know that a religious message is being aired. The beat of the music, or the riff of the guitars and the volume of the drums, makes my subconscious mind think that it is secular music, until I force myself through the noise to consider the words.
I’m not trying to be mean or judgmental; I’m just telling you what happens to me. To put religious words, even Biblical words, to the music genres of the world, does not uplift my soul. In other words, when Isaiah says “Let’s sing a NEW song unto the Lord, our Saviour,” I think he could be saying, “Let’s sing a new KIND of music.” ‘Let’s sing music which is unique – special to the Lord – and different from the world.” One of the ingredients to music through which to worship Jehovah, should be its heavenly nature.
In Exodus 15, Moses introduced a new song to the people of Israel. For several generations their “radios” at work had been tuned to the Egyptian rock and country stations. But by this chapter, they had passed under the blood of the Passover and passed through the Red Sea. Moses said to Israel, “Let’s sing a new song,” and let’s sing it in a new direction. “I will sing UNTO the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song; he is become my salvation; he is my God…” To whom, and for whom, are we singing these hymns? Are we showing off or trying to glorify God? And notice Moses’ words: “the Lord is my strength and song.” Just as the Lord was more than the giver of strength – He WAS their strength… The Lord was not just the subject of Moses’ song – He was that song – the Lord was the source, the soul, the subject and the object or solution of that song.
I’ll conclude these few thoughts with Psalm 92:1 which says, “It is a GOOD THING to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High.” It is a good thing to praise and to sing. But it only sounds good to the ears of the Lord, when it compliments His holy nature.