Why do we sing? “Because God commanded it!” someone somewhere exclaims. That is true enough. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God,” the Apostle Paul wrote (Col. 3:16). “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise,” the Lord’s servant and brother James wisely prescribed (Jam. 5:13). But why?
To simply say we sing “because God says to” makes Him little more than a “do-as-I-say, not-as-I-do” kind of Father – and we know that is not right. God isn’t seeking marginally engaged box-checkers to occupy some pews. He is seeking “true worshipers” who will worship Him “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). To worship like that requires knowing what kind of Father He really is.
The prophet Zephaniah said, “With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (Zeph. 3:17 NLT). God looks at us and sees people He loves so much that He wants to sing to us. If He loves us that much, shouldn’t we love Him back that way – especially in light of how He gave His only Son Jesus for us? “Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name” (Hebrews 13:15). We sing to God because He sings to us. We sing to God because His steadfast love and mercy toward us is worthy of our praise.
Then God is so good that He turns our singing to Him into a blessing for us! As Psalm 119:54-56 extols, “Your statutes have been my songs…I remember Your name in the night, O LORD, and keep Your law. This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept Your precepts.” That blessing is no less than the presence of God Himself. “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery,” Paul instructed, “but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart…” (Eph. 5:18-19). Singing – expressing back to God the love He has for us – allows us to experience His presence as we are filled with His Spirit. Singing enables our whole being to be absolutely permeated with God’s goodness.
And that is why we sing.
All throughout the Bible, people experience God's presence, power, and joy when they sing together. It's time for us to join the song!