According to the forty-seventh Psalm, we are to sing the praise of the Lord ‘with understanding’ (v 7) or skillfulness. I will leave the musical instruction side of that commandment, with its pitches, note reading, beat, proper breathing, harmonizing, etc., to those more gifted than I am in this area (which would be quite a number of people). Yet a congregation can make vast improvements in its singing even without choral training. How? Simply by listening to and obeying the Word of God’s instruction on how we are to sing in the presence of God. Consider applying in a purposeful way these short exhortations to your singing as you go to the house of the Lord the next time.

Sing to the Lord!⤒🔗

So many Scriptural exhortations tell us to sing to the Lord, or just place the words in our mouth, such as ‘I will sing unto the Lord, because He hath dealt bountifully with me’ (Psalm 13:6). How quickly we can forget that we are before the throne of the Lord who has redeemed us. He is worthy of all honour and glory and praise.

Sing with the Lord!←⤒🔗

Our Lord Jesus, who is Immanuel (‘God with us’), is with the church whenever it gathers. His church is the very temple of God, and through the continual presence of His Holy Spirit He dwells with us. We are told that Jesus says, ‘I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee’ (Hebrews 2:12).When we take His Word and its truths upon our lips, His Spirit is there singing with us. These first two reasons alone should sharpen our singing!

Be Enthusiastic!←⤒🔗

This article was prompted by a recent experience. Last Thursday evening I was about to step forward to speak again at a youth conference. To be honest, weariness from some extra pressures right before the conference, including a funeral, had caught up on me. Though the message was the one I had most looked forward to delivering, I felt drained and empty. Yet right before I went forward, the youth sang. Their spirited, robust singing not only filled the room but my heart. I floated up to the pulpit. My energy returned. Enthusiasm is contagious. Regardless of others’ attitudes as they come to church, if you have the attitude, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:3), others will be affected.

Engage your Mind!←⤒🔗

You should not read the Bible mindlessly or pray rote prayers. Neither should you sing this way. Paul exhorted the Corinthians by personally testifying, ‘I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also’ (1 Corinthians 14:15). Listening to the minister’s introduction to the song, and then singing what the words mean, are vital to praising God in truth. We cannot be loving Him with all our hearts and minds if they are distracted from the words we are using as we sing.

Reflect the Mood!←⤒🔗

Along with using your mind, your singing and face should acknowledge the tone of the song. When singing penitent Psalms and confessing sin, often a more sorrowful note and facial expression are called for. ‘The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins’ (Psalm 25:17-18). If a call to Christian duty and battle are ringing forth in the Psalm, should not fuller-throated, serious notes be heard from our lips like a war trumpet and looks of determination be seen in our countenance? At the times when songs are praising the Lord, joy should radiate from us; ‘my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God’ (Psalm 84:2).

Admonish the Brethren!←⤒🔗

Remember that the Lord is not the only object of your singing. ‘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). We are to sing into the hearts and lives of those around us as we ourselves become instruments of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to our fellow believers. Like player-coaches, we are both instructing them in the things of God and then urging them on in faithfulness to sacred truths as we sing. Your neighbour is supposed to hear you sing!

Warn the Unbelieving!←⤒🔗

Our singing is to be evangelistic in nature also. Unbelievers are to be hearing of the holiness of God and the way of salvation He has prepared in Christ for people. ‘Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people’ (Psalm 96:2-3).Yet not only do we need to warn them so that they will turn to Christ, we also must warn them of what will happen if they do not. The early church, after Herod’s threats, sang and prayed from Psalm 2 (see Acts 4:23-31).This Psalm ends with the warning,

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Finally, Lift your Voice!←⤒🔗

You should sing at a volume that says you want to be heard. Notice everyone is included in the exhortation, ‘O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph’ (Psalm 47:1). There are times when our singing should be lifting the roof.