Why do we have song services in God’s Church every Sabbath? That question may never have occurred to you, but over the years I have heard people wonder about this—and some have even said that the song service was the greatest waste of time they could imagine! Yet it is very interesting that, if you read the history of the Church of God going all the way back to the time of the early apostles, there was consistently an element of musical content to Sabbath services—and, if you go back further than that, you find there was even in Old Testament times a major emphasis on music among God’s people.
I heard one man tell me, one time: “I don’t come to Sabbath services to learn to be a Caruso.” He was right. It is not that there is anything wrong with musical training; God designed some voices to be trained. But He intended all voices to praise Him. What is important to God—and should be important to us—is the heart of the person who is singing. So, I have always enjoyed the singing of God’s people more than the more professionalized singing of so-called “musical experts” who are in the world.
Three Kinds of Music
You will find as you go to the Scriptures that there are three kinds of music. The strongest emphasis in the Scriptures is on sacred, worshipful music. A second kind of music is mentioned from time to time—music that is entertaining in nature, to lift your mood, perhaps to work by. And there is a third kind of music mentioned from time to time—degenerate music. Certainly, if you notice what is around you in the world, there seems today to be more degenerate music in our culture by far than there ever has been. Then again, there have always been “bar songs” and other entertainments that were sarcastic and derogatory toward other people, values and ideas.
Why is this important? Whether we know it or not, the music we listen to affects the way we think. It affects our attitude. It affects our view of life. It affects how we relate to other people. Music has a power that goes far beyond noise. It is not just noise with a tune—it is a lot more than that.
Consider that there are always people who resent being told what to do. Perhaps in today’s society they would rather not work, and they might not have been taught to do their share at home and to be responsible toward their families and communities. When such people are told what to do, they may often give a sassy, sarcastic answer and refuse to do what they are told. And, sure enough, there is music that supports, encourages and bolsters this attitude!
Some of you reading this may think of today’s music and its coarse lyrics, disrespectful to all sorts of values that our society used to take for granted. But I can remember even 40 years ago there was one very popular song in which the singer made light of a woman’s infidelities. People loved that song. It was a top hit on the radio. But what does that attitude, that lyric, tell you about that singer’s view of sexuality? And, since then, it has only grown worse—today, it is almost commonplace to hear songs that advocate rape and violence toward women. You cannot escape the fact that this kind of attitude in music shapes people, and changes them.
It is interesting that the U.S. Army blames the conduct of its soldiers, including the increasing incidents of rape and sexual assault, on the music the recruits are growing up with. And right in the middle of Genesis 4, the chapter showing the condition of the earth before the great flood, there is a verse or two about music. You see, when people want to reject God’s values and embrace sin, one of the tools that is very handy to promote that way of thinking, that way of living, is music. We can infer from the account in Genesis that, before the flood, music had become so perverted that it helped to lull the sense of alarm in most people’s minds as they saw the world around them separating itself from God and His way. Yes, this is not something new—throughout the history of mankind, people have used music to encourage and support evil.
Ezekiel 28 reminds us of just how musical Satan the devil is. God created Lucifer with tremendous musical skill, but it became perverted. And, interestingly, many of the top rock music performers have acknowledged that they are influenced by spiritual powers as they compose their lyrics and their music. Yes, evil spirits know the power of music, and we should, too. Music can have a wonderful power, but however it is used it is a tool of power.
Make Melody in Your Heart
We read the Apostle Paul’s words to the Ephesian brethren: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18–19). Yes, sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord! Make music in your hearts!
At times, the sacred music that comes from the Scriptures—such worshipful music—can stick with us so that it goes through our mind and heart over and over and over again. When it does so, it has the maximum power to change us. We read in Colossians 3:15–16: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 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.” Today, so many people fill their minds with all sorts of wrong attitudes through music. But we can use this principle to improve ourselves, and to become more thankful instead of more sarcastic and resentful! Paul mentioned this idea a number of times in his writing. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (v. 17). Yes, singing is a way to give thanks!
Our music comes before the throne of God. The New Testament should not be ignored in a person’s study of music. Even in heaven God is surrounded by music. We see this in chapter 5 of the book of Revelation. Revelation is a rich source of understanding of music. We read: “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’ Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (vv. 9–11).
If you multiply that out, that is a choir of a hundred million angels. Amazing! In the human realm, we have four-part harmony or eight-part harmony, but when you consider the male side of the chorus and the female side with 100,000,000 angels, how many parts are there to be sung? It is easy to imagine that it will be far, far more complex and wonderful than what we see from human singers. We have as human four-part harmony the soprano, alto, tenor and bass parts. But how many parts will the angels sing? What a special treat that will be!
Will You Sing?
Paul says, “I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding” (1 Corinthians 14:15). Singing was obviously very important to him. So why do we sometimes hear people say, “I can’t sing”? Really, that usually means “I won’t sing.” It can be vanity, or even a form of rebellion. To say, “I won’t sing because I have a poor singing voice; I can’t carry a tune,” is a bit like saying, “I care more about what people think than what God thinks.” Do not be embarrassed. Sing! If you make an effort, you will improve—but even if you do not improve, God appreciates the effort.
There was a time, before radio, television and the Internet, when singing was an element of almost every family’s entertainment. Singing, not just listening. Many family gatherings routinely included singing. For much of mankind’s history, it was that way. Music is important. Even at Sabbath services, music in its own way is just as important as what is spoken. Just as a sermonette man will pray about his sermonette, pray about your singing. Make sure God is involved, so it does not become a matter of vanity and self. And encourage whatever talent you have, or that you see in others. Remember that musical contributions come in various forms. Song leading is a major one at Sabbath services. Playing the piano to accompany the hymns is another. Pray for those who serve in these important ways. Encourage them when you can, and let them know you appreciate their efforts.
And remember the words of Colossians 3:16. Paul told us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns.” Teaching? Is music like a sermon? We may not normally think of it that way, but God tells us here that music has a power that goes beyond the spoken word. It is not that music may impart a point or teach a lesson the way you can in a sermon, but music does have a special impact. It should inspire us. It should stir us to action. Music has power. Find the music that stirs you in a godly way.
There are many songs in the Bible. A very quick review finds quite a range. Look in Exodus 15 and Numbers 21. Also Deuteronomy 32, Judges 5, 1 Samuel 2 and 2 Samuel 22. The book of Revelation includes several. And, besides these, the whole book of Psalms consists of songs, as does the entirety of Song of Solomon. When I counted the number of songs in the Scriptures, I listed 171 songs filling 166 chapters.
Did you know that 4,000 out of the 38,000 adult male Levites mentioned in 1 Chronicles 23 actually devoted their lives to making music? Some sang solo, some sang in a choir. Some performed on instruments, and some taught music. Some composed music, and some led singing. Each served according to his gift and according to the need. We find that there was music in the temple every day (1 Chronicles 23:30).
Israel’s sacred music became world-renowned, and even the heathen asked to hear the nation’s beautiful music (Psalm 137). Music creates a mood or atmosphere that opens a way for people to commune with God (2 Kings 3:15). Interestingly, music was also taught at the college of the prophets (1 Samuel 10:5).
People sometimes say, “I don’t have any part at Sabbath services. I don’t have anything to do. You know, there are some who open and close with prayer. Others give sermons and sermonettes. Others lead songs. So what is there for me to do?” I think we miss something when we view it that way. Consider Psalm 138, “I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You” (v. 1). That phrase is repeated a number of times in the Psalms. And it is an important part of the way that we approach God in music—to sing with no reservation, no compromise. That is no small part of what God values in each Sabbath service when we all come before Him!
A Priceless Treasure!
Certainly, music that comes from the Scriptures has a great value. It is a treasure—something priceless. We need to appreciate the benefit of the spiritual tool of meditation, and music is a form of meditation, as we speak to ourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe it is not natural for some of us to be musical, but God has designed all of us so that music has a potential to touch our minds and hearts. One of the interesting discoveries researchers have made about music in recent years is that when babies in the womb have a mother who sings, the newborn infants recognize those tunes and even the words they heard before they were born. And when those babies are colicky or cranky, they calm right down when they hear again a familiar song they had been hearing for their first nine months of life. They are comforted. The music they heard in the womb changes their view of life. There is even research suggesting a similar effect when a father sings in the presence of his child in the womb. Certainly it would be a big mistake to underestimate the power of music, and its part in the wonderful way God made us.
We read: “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights! Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you heavens of heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for He commanded and they were created. He also established them forever and ever; He made a decree which shall not pass away” (Psalm 148:1–6). This is a very interesting Psalm. It tells us that God made all His creation to praise Him—the heavens, the sun, the moon, the stars, the clouds, the birds of the air, the grass of the field, the trees that grow, the flowers, the vegetables. And, our potential fits in there, too. We were created to make music, and not just during our brief human lives. We are going to make music throughout eternity. So, sing out with your whole heart!