Worship is an offering we bring to God. As Israel’s King David sang: “And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD” (Ps. 27:6). Realizing who God is and recognizing all He has done, we praise Him. We joyfully sing, not for our entertainment but to God, not because our musical ability is worthy but because He is. We worship God alone – but we aren’t alone.
As Paul taught the Ephesians how to be filled with the Spirit, his instructions included “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” (cf. Eph. 5:18-21). See how he quoted what David wrote 1,000 years earlier? The same Spirit inspired them both! Also appreciate how through Paul’s pen the Spirit made explicit what David assumed: we sing to the Lord – but our singing also addresses one another. Much of the power God unleashes in worship comes through praising Him together. Think about it: maybe you feel like you don’t have a good voice (even though God created and loves it). When everyone is singing, our voices blend together in a truly joyful noise.
Singing together gives us practice in some very important skills for followers of Jesus – like listening. Some of the best worship happens when we focus more on hearing than being heard. Hearing the words we’re singing. Hearing the love in each other’s voices. Hearing the room fill up with God’s praise when we all participate. If we address one another and sing to the Lord on Sunday, our ears and hearts will be primed to listen for the rest of the week.
Singing also lets us practice harmonizing. We all have different voices – and some of the most impactful songs use that to great effect. Have you ever been deeply moved singing “It Is Well with My Soul”? Just singing those words is meaningful – but then you feel it when the ladies’ sweet “It is well” is echoed by the boom of the men’s voices. Our unity in Jesus allows us to experience beauty through our differences when we sing.
Doesn’t that make the massive number of quarrels churches have over worship styles absolutely tragic – not to mention ridiculous? Gripes about service length? We don’t want to get too filled with the Spirit, we have places to be. Fighting over which songs to use? We must not be listening. There’s no room for any of that when we bring our praise back to what it is meant to be: addressing one another and singing to the Lord with our hearts.
Experience passion in your worship as Keith Lancaster presents a Praise & Harmony Songfest weekend with the Georgetown church of Christ on Saturday 3/19 and Sunday 3/20/22. Learn more at https://www.georgetownchurchofchrist.com/songfest.