Praise in Song

Part 2

In continuing with this theme of praise in song,

I have been doing some research into

how many times certain words appear in the Bible.

Here's a list of some of them:

Sing – 119

Sung – 10

Sang – 15

Song – 88

Singers – 37

Singing – 25

Then there is the word “play”.

In the musical context it is found 5 times

and the word “playing” is found 3 times.

Okay, so what is all this in aid of you ask?

Well, it was mainly to satisfy my own curiosity

but I also wanted to do a bit of digging into

what the Greek or Hebrew words were for

each word and in what context they were used,

to gain a better understanding of praise and worship and song

and when it was used in the Bible and how much importance

God puts on these things. (I might go into the meanings

of these words in a later post)

I found that there are so many verses on the

subject of praise in song that it would take quite a while

to list them all and even longer to read them all.

(that's not to say that you shouldn't, I have found

them all very interesting and eye opening to see just

how often people in the Bible used their voice

or musical instruments in praise of God).

We know that music often has a greater effect

than the spoken word in expressing moods

and feelings of the soul, but there is definitely a need

for discernment as not all music is worshipful and

glorifying to God.

And nothing should ever take the place of

the Word of God being boldly preached

and Bible doctrines being taught through teaching

and preaching and the spoken word.

Too often, we're seeing in our churches a shift

from the emphasis being on the Word of God

being preached, to the Word of God being sung.

There needs to be a balance.

As a musician, I love the time of worship in song

and I love to sing and play about the Saviour

and glorify Him through music. When I am singing

the words to a good, sound and worshipful hymn or

chorus, I am able to focus on the words of the song

and sing them as a prayer to God and sometimes

it does my soul more good then a dead sermon that has

not come about through hours of study and prayer.

We know that Saul used the power of music to

calm his troubled soul.

1 Samuel 16:23

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God

was upon Saul, that David took an harp,

and played with his hand:

so Saul was refreshed, and was well,

and the evil spirit departed from him.

Yes, music can lift one's spirit and give courage

and it can be used to teach the gospel.

How many children's choruses do you know that

teach Bible doctrines and stick in your head

long after you sing them?

Colossians 3:16

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.

This verse in Colossians reminds us

that we can teach and admonish through

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

But notice that it also says to sing with grace

in your hearts to the Lord.

Grace in your heart. To the Lord!

Also a reminder of who we are to sing to.

To the Lord. Not for praise of man.

Not for entertainment. Not for self, but for Christ.

The songbook of the Bible,

the book with the largest collection of songs,

is the book of Psalms. The majority of these

psalms are attributed to King David.

In reading through the Psalms, we are given

a glimpse into David's life and the trials he went through.

But through it all, we see him giving praise to God

continually. Despite what he was going through,

he was able to see God's hand working and was

able to sing God's praises and worship Him.

Now, we don't praise God just to stroke His ego.

No! Our praise of Him is commanded, yes,

but that is not the only reason to praise. God

knows that praise of Him, also benefits us.

In praising the all-powerful creator, it puts

things into perspective and helps us to see

how big God is and how little our trials really

are in comparison to His greatness.

It also helps us to focus on the reality of

something permanent in our all too temporary

world. God is not shaken, He is our rock, the God

of our Salvation. It gives us something to hold onto you.

In praising God, we get to know His characteristics

and build a stronger relationship with Him.

When we learn more of His character it only

makes us love Him more and want to be more like Him.

And this drives us to praise Him.

Now I know I said that I'd try and divide

this subject into little bite size pieces,

but it's so hard! Every time I take a bite,

it's like the widow's pot of oil, it just keeps

increasing! There just seems to be more of it.

So for now, I'll leave you with a few verses from

the Psalms to chew over in the meantime.

Psalms 40:3

And he hath put a new song in my mouth,

even praise unto our God:

many shall see it, and fear,

and shall trust in the LORD.

Psalms 98:1

O sing unto the LORD a new song;

for he hath done marvellous things:

his right hand, and his holy arm,

hath gotten him the victory.

Psalms 96:1

O sing unto the LORD a new song:

sing unto the LORD, all the earth.