Why Sing? | Page 3 of 11
Sing to him, sing praise to him…
(1 Chronicles 16:9)
A song to God is appropriate on any occasion. Psalm 32:7 refers to being surrounded by songs of deliverance. Consider the song by Twila Paris…
Oh Lord, You have been good; You have been faithful to all generations
Oh Lord, Your steadfast love and tender mercy have been our salvation
For by Your hand we have been fed;
And by Your Spirit we have been led
Oh Lord
We see songs of deliverance from Genesis to Revelation. Whenever God comes through and a prayer is answered, a melody is not far away. The Spirit seems to form the words from the grateful worshipper, God is praised, and his truth reaffirmed.
Remember the Red Sea? The Egyptian army on one side, the Red Sea on the other, and seemingly no way out? But Israel was told, “stand firm and see the deliverance of the Lord. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
And then a strong east wind drove back the sea all night long, and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. When the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned. The entire army of Pharaoh was drowned. Not one of them survived. (Exodus 14:13-28)
What happened next? A song, that’s what!! Singing became the natural expression of praise to God from a redeemed people.
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD :
"I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.
The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.
The LORD is a warrior;
the LORD is his name.
Pharaoh's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
The deep waters have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.
"Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power.
Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy.
In the greatness of your majesty
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
it consumed them like stubble.
By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood firm like a wall;
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
"The enemy boasted, I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.'
But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
"Who among the gods is like you, O LORD?
Who is like you— majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory, working wonders?
You stretched out your right hand
and the earth swallowed them.
"In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
The nations will hear and tremble;
anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people of Canaan will melt away;
terror and dread will fall upon them.
By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, O LORD,
until the people you bought pass by.
You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, O LORD, you made for your dwelling,
the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established.
The LORD will reign for ever and ever."
(Exodus 15:1-18)
The giving of thanks was so important in Nehemiah’s day that a guy named Mattaniah had a job that was just to promote songs of thanksgiving! (Nehemiah 12:8)
You have shown me favor unending; You have given Your life for me
And my heart knows of Your goodness: Your blood has covered me
I will arise and give thanks to You Lord my God
And Your name I will bless With my whole heart
You have shown mercy, You have shown mercy to me
And I give thanks to You, Lord
You have poured out Your healing upon us: You have set the captives free
And we know it is not what we’ve done;But by Your hand alone
-- Brian Thiessen.
