SING ALOUD

God gave man a voice so that he could commune with his Maker, to make requests and to express his appreciation of all God’s goodness.

We read of the morning stars singing together at creation; but singing is first mentioned in Scripture in connection with Israel’s deliverance from the angel of death in Egypt and from Pharaoh’s hosts at the Red Sea. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel, “I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously” and Miriam led the women in the same song, Exod. 15. 1, 20.

In this psalm, the call is to express ourselves collectively in song. It is not David the shepherd boy alone on the hillside singing as he watched the sheep. It is a call for collective song; “For this was a statute for Israel”, v. 4. It was appointed by God. God’s law bade Israel blow the trumpets in His praise at the beginning of each month and at their God-appointed feast days. Then, as today, the godly would say, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” this is fellowship in song, Psa. 34. 3.

Believers today are liberated from what Scripture calls “the weak and beggarly elements” of the ceremonial law. Paul wrote to the Galatians, “Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you”, Gal. 4. 8-11. Yet with his back lacerated by the human scourge, with feet fast in the stocks in the inner prison, he could pray and sing with Silas at midnight; “and the prisoners heard them”, Acts 16. 25.

We hear our Lord in resurrection triumph, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee”, Psa. 22. 22; Heb. 2. 12. There was a partial fulfilment on the resurrection day: “I ascend to my Father, and your Father”, John 20. 17. But what a dignity this gives to a local congregation (a church, or assembly) gathered unto His name with Him in the midst. He leads the praise!

“Making melody in your heart to the Lord”, Eph. 5. 19.