(1 Corinthians 10:31)
"Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 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, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God." (Ephesians 5:17-21)
One of the reasons we sing is to glorify God. We are commanded to glorify God in everything we do, but singing especially has been given as a means to glorify Him (Exodus 15:2; 2 Samuel 22:50; Psalm 146:1-2; 150:1-6; Isaiah 43:21; Jeremiah 31:7; Hebrews 13:15). There is singing and music, however, that doesn't glorify God and please Him. "Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream" (Amos 5:23-24). How do we glorify God in our singing and making music? How do we ensure that it is pleasing in His sight? Ephesians 5:17-21 is very helpful in answering this question.
1. In order to glorify God, singing must be a result of and expression of being filled with the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18-19: "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." Being filled with the Spirit results in God-glorifying music. Singing flows out of being filled with the Spirit.
How do you become filled with the Spirit? Verse 18 contrasts being drunk with wine with being filled with the Spirit. Rather than being controlled by wine, be controlled by the Spirit. Let the Spirit guide you to feel and act in certain ways - specifically in how you sing. Practically this means reading and meditating on and believing the Spirit's utterance recorded in Scripture (Romans 8:4-8; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; Galatians 3:5). It is immersing ourselves in the Word of God that causes us to be filled with the Spirit. So Christian singing is to be the expression of the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
2. Making music is to be from the heart.
Verse 19b: ". . . singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord." Music and song that comes from the heart is so much more powerful because it means that you feel it and mean it. God does not get glorified by merely words out of the mouth, mindless actions and outer beauty. God is glorified by an inner attitude - a deep feeling for Him. Our singing must spring from a heart-felt affection for what we are feeling, and we should have a heart-felt affection for what we are singing.
3. Singing is to be "to the Lord."
Verse 19: "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord." Everything that we do is to be directed to God (Colossians 3:23; 2 Timothy 2:15). Singing and making music is no exception. Our music must be God-centred, not only that it is done in relation to God, but also toward God. That involves being done in His presence, with a view that He will delight in it.
This doesn't mean we are not to sing songs that are not directly speaking to Him, but whether you are singing directly or indirectly to Him be sure to focus on God's hearing our songs. Little glorifies God more than directing your music to Him!
4. Singing is to be to one another.
Verse 19: ". . . speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord." Singing with and to another person increases the glory to God even more. This intensifies our emotions for Him, and unifies our feelings for Him (Romans 15:6). Thus God calls us to speak to one another in our singing.
This can not only be accomplished in our congregational singing every Sunday. We can also get together in small groups and enjoy making music to each other in our family devotions, sing-alongs etc. We can also use choirs and musical ensembles to speak to one another by music. This is commanded by God!
5. Singing is to be done with thanks.
Verse 20: "giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Singing and making music glorifies God when we use it as a medium for our thanks. Frequently the Old Testament psalmists did this (Psalm 92:1-5; 95:1-4; 107:1; 117:1-2). There is a way to see all things that happen to us as good and ultimately we can thank God for all things (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). Believing this and thanking God through singing brings Him deserved glory.
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