Singing

The Lord has made everything—in His wisdom. Cod’s wisdom appears especially in the creation of man. One of the beautiful gifts which the Lord has given to man is his voice. The Lord has given us our voice so that we are able to communicate with each other. Above all, He had given us a voice to pray, to give thanks and to speak with the Lord. That is not the only reason the Lord has given us a voice, however. He has given us the ability to modulate our voices, high and low, fast and slow. In short, the Lord has given us the ability to sing.

It is not my intention in this article to go into all the foolish and godless music which we hear all around us. It is evident that each person has been given the ability to sing. Many songs are sung, and much music is played. That is not the purpose of this article. The title of this article is: Practical Christianity. We are concerned with the practice of the Christian — in his or her life, with the function of singing in the life of the Christian family, and in the lives of God’s children individually.

What is meant by singing in this context? Singing is an exercise of faith whereby one prays, gives thanks, and praises Cod by means of one’s voice. Singing is a means whereby the inclinations of the heart can be aroused. We read in Colossians 3:16: “Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” In music and song, the various conditions of the heart are expressed. In God’s Word we find that most Psalms were given to the chief musician of the temple for personal and congregational use.

These Psalms also express many different frames of mind. There are songs of praise, songs of thanks, songs of penitence, songs in which others are cursed, songs of prayer, songs of war, and songs of peace.

Singing was exercised by Cod’s creatures from the beginning of the world. In Job 38:7 we read, “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” In Job 35:10 we read that the Lord giveth songs in the night. The Lord in His goodness has given us many Psalms. David himself did not only sing, but he also continually exhorted others to sing. The prophets also urged others to sing. Isaiah 12:5 says, “Sing unto the Lord,” and in many other places in Scripture the same thing is found.

The New Testament also exhorts us to sing. Ephesians 5:19 says, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” And in James 5:13 we read, “Is any merry: let him sing psalms.” In 1 Corinthians 14:15 we read, “I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding.” The Lord Jesus, after having partaken of the Passover with His disciples, sang the songs of praise, namely, Psalms 113-118.

Luther said, “Next to theology, I give the highest place and the greatest honor to music.”

After Israel had gone through the Red Sea, Moses and Israel sang songs of praise to Cod’s honor. When King Jehoshaphat and the two kings with him were sorely in need of water, Elisha said, “Bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him” (2 Ki. 3:15). Through the minstrel’s playing, his spirit came to life and he was given to believe that the Lord would provide them with water.

When David played for King Saul, the evil spirit departed from Saul. We should also take note of what happened at the consecration of the temple in 2 Chronicles 5:13,14, “It came even to pass as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; so that the priest could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of Cod.” In Psalm 22:3 we read that the Lord inhabitest the praises of Israel. In Psalm 89:1, Ethan says, “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever.”

All of these scriptural examples show us how these godly people sang—both personally and congregationally — and how they also exhorted others to sing. Luther said, “Next to theology, I give the highest place and the greatest honor to music. A school teacher,” he added, “ought to know how to sing; without this qualification I would have nothing to do with him.”

It is clear that singing with or without accompaniment, enables us to express our frame of mind. With the blessing of the Lord, singing can also give relief to a barren and burdened heart. How often doesn’t it happen that the heart breaks while’singing a Psalm or psalter in church? It is possible that the singing of a psalter may bear more fruit than the whole sermon.

Some years ago, I had to lead a sing-along on a Saturday night. My soul was in bands and I couldn’t believe that the Lord would help me preach His Word the following Sunday. No one besides the Lord knew that, but during the singing of a Psalm my bands were broken.

I can remember from my youth that when we walked through the village at night, we could hear Psalm-singing in various houses — families were singing together. I have often noticed also that passersby would stop and listen while we were singing.

The world also sings. You can hear music and songs in stores, factories, offices, and cars. The places of vanity are filled with the songs of the prince of darkness. Radio, television, tapes and records are filled with rock and roll music. Naturally, we don’t go along with that and this trash certainly doesn’t belong in our homes.

Especially in families with growing children, it is commendable to sing together.

But this doesn’t mean that we should abstain from Christian songs and music. If we only refuse the evil, we are doing only half the job. We must hold fast that which is good. Thus, by the very act of joining in with the evil, we can cast away the good. I am afraid that this is being done.

In the public service, when the congregation is singing, we sometimes see that only a portion of the congregation sings along. Some people do not open their mouths at all during this time. Sometimes they look in the Psalter but they don’t sing along. Why is this? I don’t know.

Sometimes I receive the impression that the organist doesn’t know how to lead the congregation in singing. The organist will play a note or two ahead of the congregation. This causes confusion and annoyance among the singers and does not edify the congregation. Instead, it disturbs the unity of singing.

There can also be other reasons why one doesn’t sing along. A person can be uninterested in, or unconcerned with, what is taking place in God’s house. It is possible that when the song has to do with the Lord’s dealings with His children, a person may be too timid to sing along. His fearful heart says that the song is for God’s people and he doesn’t dare to sing along. I once said to a grieved woman who did not dare to sing along, “Come, sing along, who knows whether the Lord will break your heart through singing!”

Zachariah did not speak (or sing) for nine months because he did not believe the angel Gabriel’s message. The time came, however, that his mouth was opened and, filled with the Holy Ghost, he praised His God. It is the work of the Church triumphant to sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. John saw and heard the singers standing on the sea of glass. They sang a new song—the Song of Moses and the Lamb. The multitude of angels in Ephratah’s field sang “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

It is God’s command to sing. We ought to exhort one another to listen to and obey God’s commandment. We are not free to cast God’s commandment aside and to resist it. The Lord wants to be served by us in this manner. Especially in families with growing children, it is commendable to sing together. The family life becomes so wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of life, but the home should be more than just a place to eat and to sleep.

Many older people recall with fondness the time when they learned and sang songs with their fathers and mothers. The Lord has often blessed this form of devotion.

Sing to the Lord, sing His praise all ye peoples,
New be your song as new honors ye pay;
Sing of His majesty, bless Him forever,
Show his salvation from day to day.

— Psalter 259

The King

“Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty.” (Isaiah 33:17a)

We must not fail to mention, in the first place, that beholding with natural eyes was first promised, because this is presupposed as the foundation of the promise mentioned in this text: beholding the King in His beauty here upon earth in His human nature.

To a certain extent it is true that He had no form nor comeliness in His state of humiliation for the natural eye. However, as seen here, He was truly the King of Israel. In Himself He had the worthiness of the Son of the Father. John gave witness to this in John 1:14, “And we beheld His glory.”

He never seemed less, yet never was He more a King in His glory than when He hung on the cross with the inscription written above His head, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews,” while surrounded by so many divine tokens to glorify Him. He was busy as the High Priest to do the work of atonement, being the King triumphant over death and hell.

— Rev. A. Hellenbroek

Rev. H. Hofman is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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