10 BIBLE VERSES ABOUT

SINGING
Feb 01, 2015

Some people are really great singers and even if we aren’t—that doesn’t
keep us from belting out a song of joy when we are in love or filled with the
Spirit of God. The Lord provided us songs to express our feelings whether
of sadness or pain. Check out 10 Bible verses about singing to encourage
your soul:
#1) Sing of freedom.
“God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land” (Psalm 68:6).
Many of us know what it’s like to be bound by Satan, the world, or the
desires of our flesh. Being imprisoned by the deceit of the devil can take
away our song. Yet because of our newfound freedom in Christ, we find
great joy in singing with all our hearts to the Lord.
#2) Sing of God’s love.
“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make
your faithfulness known through all generations” (Psalm 89:1).
We are saved because of God’s great love for us even when we were most
unlovable. His unconditional love gives us a reason to sing of His goodness
and grace on our lives. God expressed His love through the birth, death,
and resurrection of Jesus Christ for every person on this earth.
#3) Sing of what God has done.
“Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts” (Psalm
105:2).
God has done and will continue to do great things in the lives of those who
love Him. Our immediate response to Him is lifting up grateful hands and
singing a song of praise. Singing allows us the opportunity to speak out
about what He has done: broken chains of darkness, forgiven sin, and
restored strength to those who are weak.
#4) Sing for joy.
“May your priests be clothed with your righteousness; may your faithful
people sing for joy” (Psalm 132:9).
Singing is a great expression of joy for the Lord and His wonderful works
for us. Joy from the Lord can’t be restrained when we know and sense His
presence in our lives. The world can only offer temporary happiness, but
the joy of God lasts now through eternity.
#5) Sing for your whole life.
“I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I
live” (Psalm 104:33).
The beauty of knowing Christ is that the song of deliverance can last our
entire lives. We can never outgrow the wonder of God or His miraculous
hand over our lives. Even in our last breathing hours on this earth, we can
sing about the hope of heaven before we even arrive.
#6) Sing a new song.
“Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you
who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live
in them” (Isaiah 42:10).
There are new songs to sing to the Lord every day because He is always
doing new things in our lives to show His power and presence. We can look
to Him to refresh our spirits when we are low with a new song of joy and
peace. Our part of this newness is to be aware, humble, and open to what
the Lord is doing in our lives.
#7) Sing in times of trouble.
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,
and the other prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25).
Singing in the darkest moments of our lives seems strange. However, it’s
what God’s people should do when we are struggling in literal or emotional
prisons. We sing our way free from the bondages of fear and anxiety—in
doing so, our faith is strengthened to press forward another day.
#8) Sing with gratitude.
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and
admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and
songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts”
(Colossians 3:16).
We have a reason to sing with gratitude to the Lord every time we wake up
to a new day filled with grace and mercy. Many times we forget to express
our gratefulness in the busyness of our lives. However we can sing songs
of thankfulness for God’s goodness to us individually and corporately as a
church.
#9) Sing with understanding.
“So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with
my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my
understanding” (1 Corinthians 14:15).
When we sing to the Lord, it’s more than a beat or rhythm that makes it
real. The words we sing must resonate with our understanding of who God
is and what He means in our lives. Singing with understanding gives us the
connection in our minds and hearts with the beauty of knowing God.
#10) Sing from the heart.
“Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.
Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).
There are many people associated with the knowledge of God in their
minds, but they don’t know Him in their hearts. So it is with singing to the
Lord. In order for us to really connect and know the Lord in song, we must
know Him in our hearts. That is, knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and living
out His commands.
Sing your Song!
Singing rises out of the essence of our souls. We don’t have to be trained
singers or gifted in singing to raise our voices and hearts to Him in praise.
Our thankfulness in the song will lift His name in the presence of saints and
sinners. We never know how God will use our singing of personal
testimonies to bring someone to Jesus.
God’s Purpose for Music
Positive Examples Throughout the Bible

Depending on your family background or the part of the world you are from, the combinations of
music you may have been exposed to are probably endless. Because of this, the music people
enjoy, either by listening to or actively playing, varies.

Have you ever considered what the Bible says about music? Do you know that God created
music with several specific—and positive!—purposes in mind?

Improperly Used

As with almost everything that God has created for man to use for a right purpose, it should not
come as a surprise that mankind has perverted music to be used in many wrong ways. All of
these wrong uses originate from the ruler of this world, Satan.

The devil was created as the archangel Lucifer, a perfect being in every way (Ezek. 28:12-15), and
this applies to his ability as a musician. Lucifer was given the ability to play beautiful music
through his “workmanship” and to understand its purpose as well.

But Satan eventually became a perverted being. Now, as the “prince of the power of the air”
(Eph. 2:2), he broadcasts into our lives all of the wrong ways to use music. It is now his desire
that we use this wonderfully positive tool in a way that God did not intend.
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Even though the Bible was written thousands of years ago, it contains numerous examples of the
right purposes for music, and these can still be applied today. You will find that music is a
wonderful tool that can benefit you in many ways.

But this is only true when the right kind of music is used correctly!

A Powerful Tool That Elicits an Emotional Response

Most have seen in their own lives that music can profoundly affect emotions—either positively
or negatively. This even applies to God Himself! When “all the men of Israel assembled” with
King Solomon to celebrate the Ark of the Covenant’s arrival at the completed Temple (II Chron.
5:3), we are told that in addition to the feast and many physical sacrifices made to honor God,
music was played.

The immediate effect? God’s response was so profound that the Temple was “filled with a
cloud,” which represented His approval (vs. 13).

Think about this for a moment. Even the all-powerful Creator God responded to music when it
was used to glorify Him. This was not just any kind of music—it truly was “special music.”
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In II Chronicles 5:12-13, there is an amazing description of what garnered this response. When
the singers and musicians praised God in song (there were over 120 priests playing trumpet
alone), they all played “as one, to make one sound.” This means the musicians played with
instruments, together in harmony. The result was uplifting due to the unison and harmony. This
wasn’t like the disorderly or incoherent expression found in much of today’s music.

Another clear example of music’s proper use is when the angels “shouted for joy” and “sang
together” in unison when they first saw the earth’s foundations laid (Job 38:7). Since they
understood God’s purpose for music, this was how the angels expressed their joy, awe and
thankfulness for God’s creation. Again, they sang together—and with joy!

Do you see a theme developing? In both of these examples, music was performed in harmony
and with a specific purpose in mind—a positive one.

The book of Psalms alone has 150 wonderful examples—separate songs—that are recorded to
show us the right way to use music for praise.

Music for More Than Praising God

Expressing our gratitude to our Maker through music each week is so important to God that it is
commanded.
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However, in the Bible there are other clearly defined purposes for music. Some of these may
surprise you.

In his letter to the Colossians, the apostle Paul reminded the congregation to “let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs” (3:16).

The right kinds of songs can be powerful spiritual tools to communicate with Christ directly and
they can be used to teach as well.

In another example, music can have a calming effect and be helpful for relaxation. In I Samuel
16, the young David is described as a cunning and skilled harp player, who, when he played,
“refreshed” the king with his wonderful music.

Again, music can have a positive effect. It is a tool with tangible benefits!

Would it surprise you to know there is a reference in the Bible to music being used at a party?
Well there is! After Jacob secretly fled from his father-in-law Laban into the land that God
instructed him to go, Laban chased and finally caught him. He asked Jacob, “Why did you flee
away secretly…and not tell me; that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with
[timbrel], and with harp?” (Gen. 31:27).

In other words, Laban would have organized a celebration to honor him!

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote the book Song of Solomon as a love song to
his wife. So even “love songs” are appropriate—when used correctly.

While music doesn’t always need to be used to directly praise God, all of these examples have
one thing in common: whether used to praise, express joy, teach, celebrate, relax or even
express love, music is always used in a positive way.

Playing Music Yourself

In I Samuel, God describes King David in great detail. We are told of his teenaged days as a
shepherd and his brave actions in protecting his flock from lions and bears. The story of young
David’s battle with Goliath is one that even small children are familiar with. King David is
described as a soldier, a man of valor, good-looking, athletic, strong and a great speaker.

Have you ever considered that this mighty man of war, a man that in today’s vernacular would
be “a man’s man,” was also a skillful “player on the harp” (16:16)?

Being a talented harp player is not what most would think of as a “manly” skill, but clearly it was.
However, King David was not just someone who strummed a few strings. Although there can
be some benefits to casually “playing around” with a guitar or learning to play “chopsticks” on
the piano, remember the examples God gives us—and strive to learn how to play an instrument.

Examining Music in Your Life

There is much we can learn from these examples. In addition to reaping great benefits
from listening to music, learning to play music can be rewarding as well. The mental discipline
required to learn to play an instrument with skill can stimulate the mind in wonderful ways.
Certain types of music, such as the Psalms, were composed with meticulous detail and attention
to organization. They were actually composed as poetry set to music!

Examine music in your own life. What kind of emotional response do you receive from the music
you listen to—is it positive? Further, be proactive. Learn to play an instrument or learn to sing. If
you already know how to play an instrument, rededicate yourself to learning to play it with skill.

The creation of music was intended by God to be a powerful and positive tool. Learn from the
good examples in the Bible and make music a bigger part of your life!
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Question: "What does the Bible say about music?"

Answer: Music is an inherent part of every society. The unearthly sounds of throat-

singing in Mongolia and Siberia are as important to their cultures as Bach is to
European cultures or drum-driven song and dance are to Native American cultures.
Since music is such an important part of life, it should not be surprising that the Bible
says much about it; in fact, the longest book in the Bible is its song book—Psalms.

Psalms accounts for over 7 percent of the Old Testament. In addition to the Psalms
are other song- and poetry-focused books such as Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, and
others. In the New Testament, we have song lyrics recorded in Revelation 5, 7,
and 15; the mention of Jesus and the disciples singing in Matthew 26:30; and the
example of the apostles’ singing in Acts 16:25. Many people also consider
Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:46–55 and the angels’ announcement in Luke 2:14 to be
songs. The church is commanded to communicate with each other “with psalms,
hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord”
(Ephesians 5:19).

Recorded musicians and music in the Old Testament:

The first reference to a musician in the Bible is in Genesis 4:21. Jubal was the fourth
generation from Adam through Cain and is recorded as “the father of all those who
play the lyre and pipe.” Other early references to music include Exodus 15, which
records Moses and the Israelites singing a song of victory after the overthrow of the
Egyptian army in the Red Sea. At that time, Moses’ sister, Miriam, led the Israelite
women “with tambourines and dancing” as she sang. When Jephthah returned from
battle, Jephthah’s daughter met him with timbrels and dance in Judges 11:34. David’s
victories were also celebrated in song in 1 Samuel 18:6–7.

Two of the Old Testament’s most important figures wrote songs: Moses and David.
Moses has three songs recorded in the Bible: the song sung after the destruction of
Pharaoh’s army (Exodus 15:1–18); a song recounting the faithfulness of God and the
rebelliousness of Israel, which he sang before all the people just before his death
(Deuteronomy 32:1–43); and a prayer recorded in Psalm 90.

David, “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Samuel 23:1), is credited with writing about
half of the 150 songs recorded in Psalms, along with some in the historical books. He
was the official musician in Saul’s court (1 Samuel 16:14–23). During David’s own
reign, he organized the Levitical musicians, and 1 Chronicles 15:16 and 23:5 record
that more than one in ten Levites in temple service were musicians.

Other musicians include Asaph (twelve psalms), the sons of Korah (ten psalms),
Solomon (two psalms and 1,005 other songs [1 Kings 4:32] and the Song of Solomon),
Heman (one psalm), and Ethan (one psalm).

Music was used in conjunction with all manner of activities (Genesis 31:27; Exodus
32:17–18; Numbers 27:17; Judges 11:34, 35; Isaiah 16:10; Jeremiah 48:33). Music was
used at coronations (1 Kings 1:39–40; 2 Kings 11:14; 2 Chronicles 13:14; 20:28), events
in the royal court (2 Samuel 19:35; Ecclesiastes 2:8), and feasts (Isaiah 5:12; 24:8–9).
It is interesting to note the connection between music and the supernatural: trumpets
sounded when the walls of Jericho fell down (Joshua 6:1–20); and David played his
harp to soothe Saul during demonic attacks (1 Samuel 16:14–23).

For more technical information about Hebrew music, we recommend books by Eric
Werner and Abraham Zevi Idelsohn, both excellent scholars on the subject.

Recorded musicians and music in the New Testament:

Two of the Gospels mention the fact that Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn at the
end of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26). Elsewhere in the Gospels,
music is seen as part of mourning (Matthew 9:23) and celebration (Luke 15:25).

Paul gave instructions regarding the use of music during Christian gatherings
in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. In Ephesians we see that addressing each other
with hymns and songs is an indication of being Spirit-filled. In Colossians the same is
an indication of being filled with the Word of Christ, and the songs come “from the
Spirit.” In James 5:13 we have this command: “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing
praise.”

Music in the Bible - Conclusion:

Both the Old and New Testaments address music and strongly support its use in
worship. The extensive anthology of actual songs found in the Old Testament
indicates the importance and value God places on creative musical expression.
Music’s use in worship in the church today is valuable and can honor God in a special
way. Music is a communication tool, and a Spirit-filled Christian is a singing Christian.
There are no New Testament instructions on the type of instruments to be used (or
not used), and no particular “style” of music is recommended or forbidden. The
simple command is to sing “to God with gratitude in your hearts” (Colossians 3:16).

Recommended Resource: All the Music of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer

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