The Ministry of Singing
1. What is one of the most acceptable ways in which we can worship God?
“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with Psalms.” Psalm 95:1,2.
The purpose of singing in church is to release emotions; emotions of faith, contrition, confession, gratitude, love, and devotion. Practically every great spiritual awakening in every country has been prefaced or accompanied by the singing of hymns and spiritual songs.
2. When do, we first hear of God’s being praised in sacred song?
“Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:4-7.
3. What other notable event evoked songs of praise from the angels of God?
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host Praising God, and
saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Luke 2: 13, 14.
4. What joy did the psalmist find in singing the praises of God?
“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing Praises unto Thy name, 0 Most High.” Psalm 92: 1.
"The psalm began with David. Its lyric beauty and tender grace; its rhythmic measure. Its
exuberant hallelujahs and plaintive lamentations. Its inimitable expression of the changeful play of light and shade over the soul. Its blending of nature and godliness. Its references to the life of men and the world, as regarded from the standpoint of God-these elements in the Psalter which have endeared it to holy souls in every age owe their origin to the poetic, heaven-touched soul of the sweet singer of Israel.” - F B Meyer in “David,” page 24.
5. How long did he declare he would continue to sing unto the Lord?
“I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.” Psalm 104:33.
6. How extensively did David make use of singing in the temple worship?
“So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.” 1 Chronicles 25:7.
7. By what were the temple singers accompanied?
“And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with
instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.” 1 Chronicles 15: 16. (Read also verses 17-2l.)
8. What did the captivity destroy in the hearts of the Israelites?
“They that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” Psalm 137: 3, 4. (See also verses 1, 2.)
9. What came back to Israel, however, with the return from captivity?
“When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing.” Psalm 126: 1, 2.
10. What duty have believers today to make use of the gift of song?
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” Colossians 3: 16.
11. What may we also do in our hearts all the day?
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5: 19.
12. What should new experiences of God’s love and mercy evoke from us?
“0 sing unto the Lord a new song; for He has done marvelous things.” Psalm 98: 1.
When the poet Carpani asked his friend Haydn why his music was so cheerful, the great composer answered: ‘I cannot make it otherwise. I write according to the thoughts I feel. When I think upon God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap, as it were, from my pen; and since God has given me a cheerful heart, it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit.
13. How will the redeemed express their praise to God when the long reign of sin ends?
“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10. (See also Isaiah 51:3.)
“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with Psalms.” Psalm 95:1,2.
The purpose of singing in church is to release emotions; emotions of faith, contrition, confession, gratitude, love, and devotion. Practically every great spiritual awakening in every country has been prefaced or accompanied by the singing of hymns and spiritual songs.
2. When do, we first hear of God’s being praised in sacred song?
“Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” Job 38:4-7.
3. What other notable event evoked songs of praise from the angels of God?
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host Praising God, and
saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Luke 2: 13, 14.
4. What joy did the psalmist find in singing the praises of God?
“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing Praises unto Thy name, 0 Most High.” Psalm 92: 1.
"The psalm began with David. Its lyric beauty and tender grace; its rhythmic measure. Its
exuberant hallelujahs and plaintive lamentations. Its inimitable expression of the changeful play of light and shade over the soul. Its blending of nature and godliness. Its references to the life of men and the world, as regarded from the standpoint of God-these elements in the Psalter which have endeared it to holy souls in every age owe their origin to the poetic, heaven-touched soul of the sweet singer of Israel.” - F B Meyer in “David,” page 24.
5. How long did he declare he would continue to sing unto the Lord?
“I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.” Psalm 104:33.
6. How extensively did David make use of singing in the temple worship?
“So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.” 1 Chronicles 25:7.
7. By what were the temple singers accompanied?
“And David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with
instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.” 1 Chronicles 15: 16. (Read also verses 17-2l.)
8. What did the captivity destroy in the hearts of the Israelites?
“They that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” Psalm 137: 3, 4. (See also verses 1, 2.)
9. What came back to Israel, however, with the return from captivity?
“When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing.” Psalm 126: 1, 2.
10. What duty have believers today to make use of the gift of song?
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” Colossians 3: 16.
11. What may we also do in our hearts all the day?
“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5: 19.
12. What should new experiences of God’s love and mercy evoke from us?
“0 sing unto the Lord a new song; for He has done marvelous things.” Psalm 98: 1.
When the poet Carpani asked his friend Haydn why his music was so cheerful, the great composer answered: ‘I cannot make it otherwise. I write according to the thoughts I feel. When I think upon God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap, as it were, from my pen; and since God has given me a cheerful heart, it will be pardoned me that I serve Him with a cheerful spirit.
13. How will the redeemed express their praise to God when the long reign of sin ends?
“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10. (See also Isaiah 51:3.)
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Saturday, June 18, 2005
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