SING!

Singing. Have you ever thought about it in reference to spiritual things? My understanding was instantly taken to a whole new level when I read this verse.
“And these are the singers, heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites, who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties; for they were employed in that work day and night.” 1 Chronicles 9:33

Wow! You mean there were special men whose service in the temple was solely to sing!? Somehow I had not grasped how important to God songs of praise are, but looking closer we can find much more in the Bible that speaks to singing than just this verse. Think about it, what is the longest book in the Bible? It’s psalms! A whole book of nothing but songs written to God. In other books of the Bible we find many references to singing as well, here are just a few



“Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him: talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name… 1Chronicles 16:9-10

“Sing to the Lord, for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth. Isaiah 12:5

“Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For He has delivered the life of the poor from the hand of evildoers Jeremiah 20: 13

“’Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,’ says the Lord” Zechariah 2:10

　
So I wonder are we as the church faithful in this? Do you suppose that now, at every moment, of every day, God always has a song of praise being lifted up to Him just like in the days of the temple? If not don’t you think there is something wrong?!

What would keep us from this amazing work God has called us too? It’s not hard. There are many excuses however I think the main reason we sometimes fail in this is simply because we do not meditate on God and His greatness and therefore our minds are empty of praise. Look back to the verses I listed above. When God’s word tells us to sing it nearly always gives us a good reason; His wondrous works, His deliverance of the poor, His soon return, and we could each make our own list. Our Salvation, God’s constant faithfulness to us, His unconditional love toward us, the forgiveness he gives us again and again, this beautiful creation, His daily care for us manifest in so many ways,… Your list will look different from mine but no matter what trials we are going through we ALL have a very real, very long list of things to praise God for. We simply do not always recognize these things or turn them into joyful song.

And you know what else? I believe God moves when His people praise Him! Listen to this piece of an incredible story from the Old Testament

‘And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.” Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.’
2 Chronicles 20:21-22

Are you getting excited? I am! I am definitely beginning to think there is much more to singing to the Lord than I ever realized. We may never know the significance of this service to God but is it not thrilling that we get to enter into it! So my sisters will you take part in this mission with me? When we are cheerful let us sing! When we are discouraged let us sing! When we are facing a battle let us sing! Will you join your voice with believers everywhere and the angels in heaven praising our great God? for He truly is praiseworthy!