Sing to the LORD!

1 Chronicles 16:23,

Sing to the Lord, all the earth;

Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

Music and song is important for Christians. It is so important for the Christian to sing that there's a whole Bible book dedicated to songs. Two, if you include Song of Solomon. Music was even played while offerings were offered in the temple (2 Chronicles 29:27-28). David dedicated 288 people for providing music for the house of God (1 Chronicles 25:6-7). Why is singing and music so important for Christians?

There are many reasons. Firstly, God has ordained it as a means to glorify Him. In Zechariah 2:10 God commands His people to sing because He was coming to dwell in their midst. Deborah and Barak used singing to praise God:

“Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes!
I, even I, will sing to the Lord;
I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.” (Judges 5:3)

After the return of the exiles, at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, huge choirs and musical ensembles were used to thank and praise God (Nehemiah 12:27-43).
In Psalm 13:6 David tells us that he sang because of God's bounteous actions to him.
There are so many more examples, but it is sufficient to know that psalms and songs and music was ordained and used to glorify and offer thanks to God.

Secondly, we become cheerful when we sing praise to God. “My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed,” (Psalm 71:23). The Bible says the aim of song is to raise the sound of joy (1 Chronicles 15:16). If we are praising God how can we be despondent? We can't help but be joyful!

A third reason for music to be integral for Christians is because God speaks to us by music. The Song of Moses (in Deut 32) was written to be a reminder of God's actions for the children of Israel. When they sought other gods then the Lord would use this song to remind them of Him (Deuteronomy 31:19,21). Psalm 32:7 tells us that God used song to comfort David. God even puts songs in our mouths in the midst of trial (Psalm 40:3).

Fourthly, Jesus Himself sang while He was here on earth. Mark 14:26: “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” The founder of Christianity sang. Shouldn't the followers and believers of Christ sing too?

It is evident from the world around us that the human heart is built to create a melody over almost everything it enjoys. Songs have been created and sung about all kinds of realities. Should we not do that with the most important and enjoyable reality in the universe? “Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day” (1 Chronicles 16:23).

Sing and play music to God for His glory. Shout for joy before God. Look forward to that day where we will be so joyful that we will sing every single day. Look forward to the day that we will hear Jesus sing with us.

“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;
Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
Sing to the Lord with the harp,
With the harp and the sound of a psalm,
With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King.” (Psalm 98:4-6).