Musing - Should we be Praying or Singing?

Hebraic Musing - Should we be Praying or Singing?

Why are we constantly admonished by church teachings to pray?  I have yet to hear a church leader say “Go home and sing”?  Singing “Oldies but Goodies” to one another is drawing my wife, Irene, and I ever closer as we use songs to express our love, admiration, honor, respect, praise and thanks to one another. God used the OT Bible to write songs to us (many more than just the Psalms). Why not sing songs back to Him? What might that do to our relationship with Almighty God?

·      In the Exodus, after the people of Israel escaped to the opposite shore of the Red Sea, they sang a victory song.  Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the Lord, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!”  NKJV  Exodus 15:1   Imagine how Adonai felt hearing the voices of thousands, or millions, singing this song of praise and thanksgiving giving Him glory.

·      At Beer, God gave the people water and the people of Israel sang this song of thanksgiving – Then Israel sang this song: “Spring up, O well!  All of you sing to it”  NKJV   Numbers 21:17

·      Deborah and Barak celebrated their victory in war by song – Judges 5:1-3 Then Deborah and Barak … sang…:  "When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord!  Hear,… even I, will sing to the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel”. Judges 5:1-3.

·      David often played his harp to comfort King Saul.  I Samuel 16:23, "And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." – a tool of Spiritual warfare!

·      Samuel encouraged music when he told Saul  "After that you will go to Gibeah of God, … you will meet a procession of prophets … with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying.  The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.  Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.”  NIV  1 Sam 10:5-7 –  preparation for ministry!

·      Before Elisha prophesied, he said   “But now bring me a harpist."  While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha and he said, "This is what the Lord says:…”  NIV 2 Kings 3:15-16 – as preparation for prophesying!

Song was used in the home, the temple, and the field of service. Israel was no stranger to singing; music played an important part in her history. Much of the Old Testament was recited as a song.  Expressing gratitude to God in words of prayer is much more emotional when sung to music. If you are like me, songs have a way of sticking in my brain and then I find myself worshipping continuously.

Music is not just emotional preparation or entertainment. It’s been said that “Music takes us where words cannot go”.  God enjoys hearing you sing; but choose your music wisely. Song and music have a way of leaving an indelible impact on your brain and then your heart.  That’s the good and the bad news.

Points to ponder

Should we sing before, after or instead of praying?

What, when, where and to whom should we sing?

“Sing to the LORD a new song” Isaiah 42:10                                                February 5, 2013

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd