Why Do We Sing? Psalm 150, Colossians 3:12-17 Jim Zazzera, Faith Presbyterian Church, 18 May 2008

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1 Why Do We Sing? Psalm 150, Colossians 3:12-17 Jim Zazzera, Faith Presbyterian Church, 18 May 2008 Do you know what this is? [Show people my ipod] It is an ipod. Does everyone know what an ipod is? How many have an ipod or some MP3 player? Having a device like this is like having a whole music library/jukebox in your pocket. Your whole music collection in this little box. You can learn a lot about someone by browsing through their music collection. If you were to look at someone s ipod at random, you could find out some interesting things. Like the fact that the tattooed young man next to you actually has quite an extensive collection of symphonic music. Or the fact that your curmudgeonly boss loves to listen to Broadway show tunes. Or that your grandmother secretly listens to hip-hop music as she vacuums the floor of her condo. Like visiting someone s home, browsing their library of books, or riding in their car, studying someone s ipod collection is an illuminating experience. So I wonder what is on God s ipod? What do you think? Does God listen to thundering organ pieces, whose volume and complexity reflect God s own power and might? Is God s ipod filled with Gregorian chant, recalling the history of the church and calling forth deep meditation? Perhaps God is fond of praise songs, with infectious tunes, inspiring rhythms, and words of deep love. If you listen, maybe you ll hear Andrea Boccelli belting out O Holy Night, or a cathedral choir leading a thrilling version of A Mighty Fortress is our God What music would be on God s ipod? What styles have a favored place in God s music collection? Wouldn t it be great if we knew what kind of music God really liked? The truth is, though the Bible talks about music, it really spends very little time detailing what kind of music is really God s music. In fact, it seems that that the Bible takes great pains to avoid commitment in this area. Psalm 150, the final chapter of the book that has been called the hymnbook of the Bible, makes a point of highlighting the variety of ways we can sing to God. Praise God with trumpet and flute and tambourine and cymbals If these words were written today, we might add other instruments. Praise God with the synthesizer! Praise God with the djembe! Praise God with the saxophone! Praise God with the electric bass! Praise God with the sousaphone! The Psalmist is giving us a clue here I is not the instrument that is important, but what the instrument is used for PRAISING GOD! As I studied this week, I was touched by the fact that in scriptures that speak of singing and music the focus is more on why we sing and make music to God than how and in what style we do so.

2 Make no mistake, the Bible itself does encourage us to sing. We see it especially in the Psalms: Psalm 100 says: Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before God with joyful songs. 1 Psalm 28 says: The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in God, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to God in song. 2 Psalm 40 reminds us: God put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 3 Early Christian leaders remind us of the same thing: Christians are told to: Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord 4 In the Bible, we are constantly invited, some would say commanded, to sing! No matter if we are a soprano or bass, an opera or rock singer, loud or soft, on-key or off. God invites us to sing! So why do we sing? Why does the Bible encourage this behavior in us? What is it that singing does for us? How does singing contribute to the church s ministry? The first reason is fairly obvious. Please say these words after me, A Mighty Fortress is Our God Now sing these words A Mighty Fortress is Our God What is the difference? [allow response] The Directory for Worship of the PCUSA says, Song is a response that involves the whole self in prayer. 5 There is very little expression that involves as much of ourselves our breath, our heart, our body as singing. Why do we sing? Singing involves the whole self. How many of you have been to a European football match? Though I have never been, I am told that the singing of Irish football/soccer fans is unparalleled. There is an identity and unity expressed by these football choruses which the novice spectator finds 1 Psalm 100:1-2, NIV 2 Psalm 28:7, NIV 3 Psalm 40:3, NIV 4 Ephesians 5:19, NIV 5 Book of Order, W

3 overwhelming. Now if this can happen at a sporting event, imagine what can happen in church? German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer thought that all church singing should be unison singing. Why do Christians sing when they are together? he asks. The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak and pray the same Word at the same time; in other words, because they can unite in the Word. 6 Why do we sing? Singing is an expression of our oneness in Christ. How many of you have a favorite song from your youth or childhood? I am sure you can hear that melody very readily. I am sure there are many memories that accompany it. Singing recalls us to other places and times. Ben Weir, a Presbyterian pastor held hostage in Lebanon for several years in the early 1980s found that it was the memory of music, especially hymns, that helped him survive his time of captivity. Early in his captivity, Ben was blindfolded and isolated. One night he imagined that the sun had set and he thought of the hymn, "Abide with me: fast falls the eventide." As he reflected on his powerlessness and loneliness...tears came to his eyes. Yet as he sang he embraced the promise of Jesus that he would be with us always. Another evening hymn came to his mind: "All praise to thee, my God, this night..." Then Ben Weir discovered that his tears were now tears of gratitude, companionship, and intimacy. He wrote this: "As darkness became complete, I found myself recalling one hymn after another. Of some I could remember several verses, and where there was a gap I could improvise. Of others I could only remember a phrase or two. I was surprised to see how many came to mind." 7 Why do we sing? Singing triggers our faith memory. Over the last few weeks, as I have thought of storm victims in Myanmar, earthquake survivors in China, and every community that faces social and personal crises, I hope people are singing. I know that seems like a small thing. But I especially pray they are singing to the God of hope. Think of the faith that empowered the leaders of the Civil rights movement in this nation in the 1960s. The scene that plays over and over in my mind is a group of people, black and white, arm in arm, marching and singing what? [ We Shall Overcome. ] This song was not just a teaching tool or the expression of an idea, but claiming of the promise of God that we are all God s children created in the image of the Holy One. 6 Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, p Hostage Bound, Hostage Free, Ben & Carol Weir, p. 31.

4 Why do we sing? Singing gives us encouragement. In the Presbyterian Book of Order, the Directory for Worship, there is a section on singing and music. But this section is actually a subheading under another major heading in this book. Do you know what that heading is? Prayer. Music & song comes under the heading of prayer. 8 In the Presbyterian tradition, music (and singing especially) is considered prayer. That same thought is clearly affirmed in today s reading. Listen again to some of the phrases in Colossians 9 These are all really words about prayer Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts And be thankful Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him Why do we sing? Singing is the way we pray. There was one final thing I learned in my studies this week that I had never noticed before. And this one thing (for me) was worth the price of admission. Do you know what was the last thing Jesus did with his disciples after the Last Supper and before he went out to face his arrest, suffering, and execution? You can probably guess. They sang a song. The Gospel of Mark tells us: When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 10 On the brink of despair, the best thing Jesus & his disciples could think of to do was to join their voices in song to the Lord of the universe. I find that very interesting and encouraging. Now in our church we can discuss musical styles and instruments. We can debate how much we spend on an organ or sound system. We can (and should) consider the quality of our music. But I suspect if we spend too much time on these things, we are going down the wrong path. For there is one thing I am convinced of this morning. One invitation we are all encouraged to embrace. We should all be singing!!!!! Because when God turns on the divine ipod, it is not electric guitar, or mandolin, or professional choirs that God listens for but OUR VOICES that God longs for there. With heart and soul, loud and brilliant, quiet and off-key. We are all invited to sing. 8 Book of Order, W Colossians 3:15-18, NIV 10 Mark 14:26, NIV

5 Next Step Questions: ~ What kind of music do you most like to listen to? Why do you listen to this music? How does it affect you? ~ Do you ever sing? How and where does that happen? How is singing different from listening for you? ~ Could we have Christian worship without music and song? Why or why not? ~ What is the purpose of music in worship? (Take a look at Colossians 3:12-16 or Ephesians 5:15-20) Is there any music and song that is not suitable for worship? Why or why not? ~ Should music we sing in church be any different from music we listen to or sing in other arenas of our life? If so, in what way? ~ What insights do we gain about music in worship from Psalm 150? You might read it as a group having each person take a verse. ~ Are there times when music and song is misused in worship? What does that look like to you? ~ Jim mentioned that in the Presbyterian Book of Order that music is discussed under the heading of prayer. Is that how you think of music in worship? ~ One of the last things Jesus did before facing his passion and death was to sing a hymn with his disciples. Why do you think that was important for him?