Why Sing? | Page 5 of 11

We are complicated and emotional people.  Our songs should reflect all of our emotions in some manner.  The rule of thumb that I use is that of the Psalms.  Doubt, fear, joy, sorrow, regret, contrition, thanksgiving, resolve – these are all covered in some way in the Psalms.  Maybe that’s why Paul instructs us to relate to each other in the Body of Christ with singing.  And if you notice, it is all kinds of song.

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
(Ephesians 5:19-20)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom,
and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
(Colossians 3:16)

Why singing?  And why are we commanded to sing?  P. T. Forsythe says that “the song in music provides the soul with a spiritual vehicle; it gives, as it were, a fiery chariot to the sun; and, borne invisible upon invisible sound, spirit passes into spirit, heart melts into heart, the soul of man meets and embraces the soul of man in delight, and, speeding on the wings of the audible Word, the spirit of God enters and communes with the spirit of man.  Music is, as it were, the ray of divine light which makes the soul vocal as it falls on it.” (CHRIST ON PARNASSUS page 228)

Here’s how C. H. Spurgeon on singing from a sermon on the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

It is the nature of song to spread itself.  From heaven the sacred joy began when angels sang, and then the fire blazed down to earth in the words, “Peace on earth!”  But now the song began on earth, and so it blazed up to heaven with the words, “Peace in heaven: glory in the highest!”  Is it not a wonderful thing that a company of poor beings, like us here below, can really affect the highest heavens?

Every throb of gratitude which heaves our heart glows through heaven.  God can receive no actual increase of glory from his creature, for he has infinite glory and majesty, but yet the creature manifests that glory.  A grateful man here below, when his heart is all on fire with sacred love, warms heaven itself.

The multitude sang of peace in heaven, as though the angels were established in their peaceful seats by the Savior, as though the war which God had waged with sin was over now, because the conquering King was come.

Oh let us seek after music which shall be fitted for other spheres!  I would begin the music here, and so my soul should rise.  Of for some heavenly notes to bear my passions to the skies!  It was appropriate to the occasion, because the universe was its sphere. 
(12 SPURGEON SERMONS ON PRAISE page 33)

Joy To The World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing, And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.
-- Isaac Watts