Singing and Music
Discipleship Lesson 7
Ephesians 5:19: Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.
The Right Music
Music is a fundamental aspect to the Christian’s life. Two entire books of the Bible are songbooks (Psalms and Song of Solomon), and there are a variety of songs contained within other Biblical books. Paul, in Ephesians 5:18-19, when enumerating the qualities of a Spirit-filled life, interestingly begins by exhorting believers to sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” God created us with a natural affinity for music, and we should daily use music to praise him. “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments” (Psalm 119:164). Biblical music should indeed be part of our daily lives (see Psalm 42:8; 71:8; 149:5)—“my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long” (Psalm 35:28).
Psalm 34:1: I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
The practice of singing spiritual music was an integral part of ancient Israel’s culture throughout the period of the Old Testament, and there was a continuous employment and full-time service of musicians and singers for God’s house (e.g., I Chronicles 9:33). Solomon, one of the wisest men who ever lived, devoted himself to the composition and recital of “a thousand and five” songs (I Kings 4:32; see also Ecclesiastes 2:8). Jesus and his disciples, it seems, were also wont to sing songs of God (Matthew 26:30), as well as the early churches (I Corinthians 14:15). We should be listening to and singing the music of God throughout each of our days: “Every day will I bless thee…” (Psalm 145:2).
God expects us to confine our musical life to spiritual music. Most music around us is worldly and wicked (e.g., pop, rock, rap, etc.). A Christian should not have affection for or use of worldly songs, either by listening to, playing, or singing them. “It is a good thing,” the psalmist declares, “to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High” (Psalm 92:1). To sing spiritual songs “is pleasant,” and “praise is comely” (Psalm 147:1). By contrast, what could be more vile and execrable in the sight of God than for one of his children to give their ears and mouth to the reprobate songs of the workers of iniquity? We would do well to “put off the old man with his deeds” (Colossians 3:10), which includes (among other things) the participation in worldly music, and instead take up into our lips “a new song” given us by the Lord, “even praise unto our God” (Psalm 40:3). Paul lists three categories of spiritual music which the Christian is enjoined to sing:
- The PSALMS. A psalm is a song which is completely scripture. There are 150 psalms of varying length and style contained within the Old Testament book of Psalms. This book is a collection of prayers, praises, and teachings set to music by various leaders in ancient Israel (e.g., David, a king; Asaph, a musician; Moses, a judge). It was a national songbook which the people of God throughout much of Israel’s history were intimately familiar with, and is the most frequently quoted book by the NT figures/authors. Though we have no definitive idea of how they were originally sung, the psalms can be set to music, either in full or in part, and sung.
- The HYMNS. A hymn is a song which is based on scripture. Though they have a strong basis in scripture, and very often will quote/paraphrase Bible verses, they are not Spirit-inspired songs (like the Bible) in the technical sense. Traditionally, hymns are the great corpus of church songs, as they are the simplest to create, set to music, and learn.
- The SPIRITUAL SONGS. A spiritual song is a song which is (usually) based on events/stories. While a spiritual song in the Bible is usually about an event/story, any song that is Biblically based (based on spiritual things) could be considered a “spiritual song” (see I Corinthians 1:12-14). Most contemporary Christian music (e.g., Hillsong music) does not fall into this or any of the three categories, but is rather patterned after the world in almost every way, and should accordingly be shunned (see II Corinthians 6:17).
The Purpose of Spiritual Music
1) Songs magnify and exalt the Lord
God is called, “thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3). Our praises and singing to God bring glory and honor to him: “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me” (Psalm 50:23). God is worthy of all worship and praise from his creatures (Revelation 5:12-14), and is greatly pleased with songs we sing to him. God delights more in a song than in costly offerings (Psalm 69:30-31). The songs we sing should always honor and reverence God, and should never blaspheme him (Psalm 139:20) or be in any way sacrilegious.
The Bible commands us to “sing unto the Lord” numerous times (see, e.g., I Chronicles 16:23; Psalm 9:11; 30:4; 47:6; 68:4, 32; 135:3; Isaiah 12:5; Jeremiah 20:13). For instance, Psalm 105:2 reads, “Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.” Let the Lord God be your song (see Psalm 118:14). God sings about us (Zephaniah 3:17), so why don’t we sing about him?
Psalm 104:33: I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Isaiah 43:7, 21: Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him…21 This people have I formed for my myself; they shall shew forth my praise.
Church assemblies should be holy and, like the spiritual gatherings of the children of Israel, a “solemn assembly” (Leviticus 23:36; Numbers 29:35; Deuteronomy 16:8; Joel 1:14). God commands us to “reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:30). Jacob said, “How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God…” (Genesis 28:17). David said, “in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple” (Psalm 5:7; see also Psalm 96:9). Church is not a club, a bar, nor a dance-party, and yet many so-called “churches” (like the Pentecostals) are practically identical to such unholy reveling. The worldly mirth and sensuous carnality (dancing, emotional shouting, etc.) which characterizes many an unbiblical church, having nothing of true holiness or real spirituality about them, is most closely akin to the rites, not of New Testament churches, but of the pagans (see Exodus 32:6). The music sung at church should not be a performance to glorify man, but a praise to glorify God.
I Timothy 3:15: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
2) Songs encourage, strengthen, and develop us
There is always a song which will encourage and bless us in whatever situation we are in: “thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7b). “Is any merry? let him sing psalms” (James 5:13b). God will often encourage us, if we simply open our ears to godly music, with “songs in the night” (Job 35:10; see also Psalm 42:8; 77:6) and “songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7). He removes our sorrow and girds us with gladness “to the end,” or, for the purpose, “that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent…” (Psalm 30:11-12). When king Saul was troubled and vexed, the music of David would refresh him and make him well again (I Samuel 16:14-23). Whereas worldly music manipulates someone by affecting their emotions, godly music directly affects the mind first, which then adjusts the emotions. Thus, only godly music has a positive, righteous, and long-lasting effect on the heart. The world is not ashamed to sing their abominable and filthy songs, so we should not be ashamed to sing our songs of righteousness and truth (see II Samuel 22:50/Psalm 18:49 (cf. Romans 15:9); Psalm 57:9; 108:3).
Ecclesiastes 7:5: It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
3) Songs teach us doctrine
The Bible commands us to be “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Colossians 3:16). Often in the Bible, prophets would be moved/helped to prophesy when accompanied by music (I Samuel 18:10; II Kings 3:15; I Chronicles 25:1). Godly music teaches us great and profound truths: “I will open my dark saying upon the harp” (Psalm 49:4). Songs have a powerful way of ingraining ideas into us, and so the songs we sing and listen to should be rich in good Biblical doctrine. Instead of singing about our ungodly lusts, we should melodize the pure words of God—“thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage” (Psalm 119:54).
Worldly music is deceitfully crafted to implant lies and sin into our hearts, and should be completely avoided. In Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar set up a large, golden idol of himself, and compelled the whole Babylonian kingdom to worship it. He commanded that “at what time ye hear” the instruments being played, then “fall down and worship” (Daniel 3:5). From this, we see a connection between songs and sin.
The devil is a musician (see Ezekiel 28:13), and has a strong hand in the music industry. The songs of this world are earthly (of temporal, trivial, non-spiritual things), sensual (of sinful, filthy, carnal things), and devilish (see James 3:15). They are patterned after the fashion of this world, which will all eventually pass away (see I Corinthians 7:31; also I John 2:15-17). We will not be singing hip-hop or rock in heaven; but praises and true worship, we will be (see Psalm 61:8, “for ever”). Sing of God’s power and mercy (Psalm 59:16); sing of God’s faithfulness (Psalm 89:1); sing of God’s judgment (Psalm 101:1); sing of the honor of God’s name (Psalm 66:2); sing of God’s majesty (Isaiah 24:14); sing of God’s great goodness and righteousness (Psalm 145:7). Let everything that has breath praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6), and so let us, with every breath, praise the Lord.
The Practice of Singing Music: How to Sing
Sing joyfully. We should sing the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs heartily, “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16), “with all my heart” (Psalm 86:12). In II Chronicles 29:30, the people “sang praises with gladness” (see also I Chronicles 15:16). The Bible says, “my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips” (Psalm 63:5). Even if you don’t sing very well, sing with joy to God.
Psalm 100:2: Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Sing skillfully. Everything we do should be done in an orderly manner (I Corinthians 14:40), and we should also put all of our effort into what we do (Ecclesiastes 9:10; see also I Chronicles 13:8). You should always sing spiritual songs accurately and beautifully (Psalm 33:3; see also I Chronicles 15:21). The study and performance of music is vast and can be very complicated, but some very basic tips should be learned and kept in mind for the average congregational or choral singer.
- Sing loud (Psalm 66:8; 98:4; Nehemiah 12:42) by opening your mouth wider and raising your voice.
- Sing properly by sitting up/standing up straight as you sing and by breathing properly (from your abdominal cavity/diaphragm, not your upper chest/throat).
- Sing accurately. Although in a professional choir, the different choir members will group into sections singing different melodies within their natural vocal range (soprano, alto, tenor, or baritone/bass), for congregational purposes, the singers need to only learn the major melody, which is usually indicated on the soprano note range of the treble-clef staff (the top note on the top staff). Congregational singers should eye this note range as they sing the lyrics. Also, observe the following advice to sing better:
Sing mindfully. “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding” (Psalm 47:7). When you sing, you should be pensive and thoughtful about what exactly you are singing. Remain focused on the message of the song (especially during congregational singing).
I Corinthians 14:15: 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.