Thanksgiving and Christmas, the last five weeks of the year, is a special “season for singing!” We hear more songs, we engage in singing more than the rest of the year combined.
‘Tis the season for singing! From “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” to “Silent Night,” more music comes forth than at any other time. God’s most pleasant command may be, “Sing unto the Lord!”
The door to real worship, according to Psalm 100:1-2 is, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with singing!”
Some say the first biblical reference to singing is a verse from Job 38:7, when he says, “… the morning stars sang together” around the time of creation.
A drawing was discovered on a cave wall in Europe that showed men hunting a deer and one hunter blowing something like a cane lute, attracting the deer.
There really is something special about music in general, singing in particular. I cherish two poems by unknown authors:
“How many ever stop to think of music as a magic link with God?
“Sometimes in place of prayer when words fall ‘neath our weight of care
“Music, that knows no race or creed, giving to each what meets his need.”
“For the common things of every day, God gave men speech in the common way!
“For the deeper things men think and feel, God gave men poets to reveal.
“For heights and depths no soul can reach, God gave men music, the soul’s own speech.”
Socrates said, “Rhythm and harmony find their way into the secret places of the soul, bearing grace in their movements and making the soul graceful.” Martin Luther called music “a fair and glorious gift of God… making people kinder, gentler and more reasonable.”
David would give us the biggest book in the Bible, Psalms, (which means “songs.”).
It is the hymnal for Jews and Christians. Exodus tells us Moses and his sister, Miriam, may have given the first religious song in the Bible celebrating deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 15:1). The Book of Revelation reaches its “double forte” with the hallelujah chorus filling heaven with music.
The earliest Christian song sung in newly discovered America was likely “Salve Regina” that first evening Columbus landed on American soil.
The earliest hymn I know of with words and music would be “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” by Martin Luther.
Some think a couple of “praise songs” go back deeper into early Christian history: “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow” and “Glory Be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost.”
Music is a wonderful catalyst.
Woodstock proved that with 500,000 young people camping out in the rough. Churches have realized for many years the magical magnet of music as a source of joy, a catharsis.
Dwight L. Moody’s great evangelistic campaigns did not take off until Homer Rodeheaver sang and encouraged the congregation to sing. Would Billy Graham have become the great Billy Graham we know without Cliff Barrows and George Beverly Shay?
More than 75 times, God gives us this command: “Sing unto the Lord…” for it purifies the soul, improves our health and even lifts our spirits as nothing else seems to do.