What Prompts The Singing?

Why do people sing? Singing seems to be a part of just about every culture. And why do those who don’t necessarily have a voice for singing, sing anyway? Is it perhaps because they simply can’t help it; the song just naturally wells up from within?

A few days ago as I was serving through the night as a volunteer monitor at our local community winter shelter for homeless individuals, the other monitor asked me if I was singing a particular song. We were in the process of getting things around for breakfast and I didn’t even realize I was softly singing. Though I wasn’t really sure what song I had actually been singing to myself, the song the other night monitor suggested then became stuck in my head and they began singing as our morning tasks continued.

Singing is something that can be planned and prepared for, but also frequently occurs quite spontaneously. It can also be contagious. Singing is often prompted by a particular disposition of mind or HEART FOCUS of some kind. Is it not the HEART in which God appears to be most interested? (i.e. Joel 2:12-13)

Paul urged those at Ephesus toward…
“(19) addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING AND MAKING MELODY TO THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,” ( Ephesians 5:19 ESV)

See where the emphasis rests? We need to recognize that it’s very possible for the melody or four part harmony to sound wonderful to our ears, while being nothing but noise to God. (note Amos 5:23) On the other hand, even if the pitch is not quite right, the voice has a bit of a crackle, and one may not know much about music -- when the right HEART FOCUS is behind the song -- it can still be most beautiful to God.

In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth he stressed the concept of singing with the spirit and mind (or understanding). ( 1 Corinthians 14:15) What goes on within the HEART and the MIND as we sing is where the ear of God is tuned. May that reality prompt the welling up of proper praise not only in song, but in daily actions as well. In this way our whole life may become beautiful music to the God Who is the audience of every action of our being.

Have a great day SEEKING TO DELIGHT THE EYES AND EARS OF GOD!
Carl

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