Is Anyone Cheerful… Let Him Sing!

Aaron Beard

            It can be quite humorous to watch people as they drive down the road.  Some individuals look very focused, some (especially here in Montgomery) look quite angered, and yet others are singing like a bird.  In most cases, if one is singing you can pretty safely assume that they are happy. The Bible acknowledges the fact that human beings, when they are happy, will sing.  James writes, “…Is anyone cheerful, let him sing psalms” (James 5:13).

            Singing Seen Throughout The Bible

                        Throughout the Bible you can read of men and women singing whether it be for worship, thanksgiving, or things of a more secular nature.  Almost immediately after passing through the Red Sea, escaping Egyptian bondage, Moses and the children of Israel sang (Exodus 15).  As David returned from slaughtering the Philistines people paraded out of their homes singing with joy because of the victory (I Sam. 18:6).  Before inquiring of the ark of the Lord we read of David and the children of Israel playing and singing “before God with all their might” (I Chron 13:8).  When Nehemiah completed the construction of the walls around Jerusalem he had a big celebration with many singers (Neh. 12).  After instituting the “Lord’s Supper” Jesus and His disciples “sung a hymn” (Mark 14:26).  While Paul and Silas were in prison they were heard by others singing praises unto God (Acts 16:25).  After Jesus ascended into Heaven and is about to open the scrolls there is great singing and rejoicing (Rev. 5:9).  Singing comes almost as a natural result of something great happening or someone simply being happy. 

 Our Singing In Worship

                        Singing is a big part of our worship to the Lord and it has been this way throughout all time.  Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”  The purpose of our singing is at least two-fold.  Our songs go up as sacrifices of praise to the Lord.  When we think about how awesome God is and all that He has done for it should cause us to burst forth into great praise.  When visitors come into our midst can they sense how grateful we are and how much we love the Lord through our singing?  Granted, the Lord does not expect our singing to be the most beautiful sounding to our ears, but He does expect us to give our best.  Speaking of haphazard sacrifices, Malachi 1:8 says, “And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably? Says the Lord of hosts.”

            At the same time that we are praising the Lord we admonish and teach each other.  If we are going to admonish and teach one another through our singing we must sing loud enough that at least those around us can hear our words.  We should also make sure that we understand the words we are singing.  Paul wrote in I Cor. 14:15 saying, “I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.”  There may be songs in our hymn books that are as a hole or at least in part unscriptural.  When we sing we must think about the messages we are singing enough to catch these errors. 

 Our Singing In Secular Settings

       Secular music and singing is very much a part of our society.  One cannot go to a restaurant, grocery store, retail store, or sporting event without hearing music being played.  Even while traveling to one of these places in most circumstances one has the radio playing listening and even singing along with it.  Have you ever played attention to words of the music that has become so much a part of your life? Sometimes even Christians find themselves singing right along with songs without giving the words they are singing much thought.  Paul wrote to the Colossians saying, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above... Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:1-3).  If we would agree that the ideas promoted through the lyrics of certain songs are not Christ-like, then why would we who are trying to be Christ-like flood our minds with them?  Paul goes on to say, “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth” (Col 3:8).  We must also sing with the understanding when it comes to the songs we sing which are secular in nature. 

            Some would contend that they can sing along with songs that are ungodly, allowing them to flow through their minds, and yet not be phased by them.  Proverbs would ask the question to one of this mindset, “Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be seared?” (Prov. 6:27-28).  Jesus said that the words which we utter, if sinful, will defile the heart.  Matthew 15:18 reads, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.”  We must not corrupt our hearts through the ingestion or regurgitation of sinful lyrics, no matter how fun the beat may be, but we must rather “keep the heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23).