What Does The Bible Say About Worship?

Singing
The Old Testament law required the Israelites to bring various sacrifices to God—bulls,
goats, rams, pigeons, doves, grain.  

Likewise, we are commanded to lay our sacrifices down at the feet of God “Therefore by
Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips,
giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).  The sacrifice we bring though, is “praise
to God”.  Singing is an offering of the lips which we bring to the feet of God for His
acceptance.

Why did God choose singing as a method of worshipping Him in the New Testament
church?  

Singing is something that every Christian can do.  One person may sound much better
than another, but every worshiper can sing.  Singing is a very personal expression of the
heart to God.  God listens to our hearts and not just our voice anyway “singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

Singing is an effective outlet for thanksgiving.  A full heart needs some way to spill out its
thanks and appreciation for God’s blessing “Is anyone cheerful?  Let him sing songs”
(James 5:13).  We certainly express our unhappiness enough!  Why not our happiness?

Singing is a powerful motivator.  It lightens the depressed spirit, refreshes the heart,
and motivates the soul.  Even in prison, singing could motivate the missionaries to
greater boldness and zeal “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing
hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25).  

Before His betrayal and crucifixion, Jesus found comfort and strength singing with His
apostles “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives”
(Matthew 26:30).  It has been written of many Christians who were about to face their
death in the Roman arena, that they faced it together... singing!!

Singing is a wonderful teaching medium.  At times, words alone are empty, whereas a
song’s words may strike the right chords in our hearts and teach valuable lessons of
faith, hope, and love “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” (Colossians 3:16).  

To design singing to be entertaining—with special choirs, solos, and cantatas— is to
miss the point!  We are not to be sung to, but each worshipper is to sing in order to
teach each other!

Singing encourages others.  When we may not know the right thing to say to pick up,
build up, or give hope, our songs do!  “Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).  

Did you know that the New Testament never mentions using instrumental music to
worship God?  However, most people don’t give a second thought to using it... actually,
it seems strange to them if singing is not accompanied by musical instruments.  Yet,
singing is the only way God has authorized us to worship!          

Musical instruments were used under the Law of Moses in the Old Testament, but
Jesus taught that the outward, physical trappings of that law were going to be done
away with and replaced with the spiritual nature of New Testament worship “But the
hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and
truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is  Spirit, and those who
worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).  

Why didn’t God give us authority to use musical instruments in our worship today?  After
graduating to the spiritual worship of the New Testament we would be reverting back to
the physical things of the old law if we did “For the law, having a shadow of the good
things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same
sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect”  
(Hebrews 10:1-4).  

All aspects of the Old Testament law were done away with in Christ unless they carried
over into New Testament teaching (Colossians 2:14-17).  If we cannot read about
instrumental music in the New Testament, then we are not authorized to use it!

Singing is a vital part of our worship and praise to God, and a much needed motivator
for our souls.        

--Rob Harbison