Why We Sing - Part 5 [Notes]

You’re invited to join us for "Why We Sing," a six-week series about worshiping God through music. On any given Sunday, we sing three, four, sometimes five songs together. At home, in the car, or in our earbuds, we turn on worship music or put a favorite song on repeat. But have you ever stopped to ask: why do we sing? Why lift our voices in praise to God? How and why does singing bless God and stir our own souls? What if we don’t feel like singing? Or don’t feel worthy to sing to God? Or maybe we feel like our voice isn’t good enough to really sing out? In this series, we’ll explore six biblical reasons why we sing. Our prayer is that each of us will grow in our theological understanding of musical worship – and as a community, feel more free and empowered to lift our voices in praise to God on Sundays and throughout the week.

“The hippocampus and the frontal cortex are two areas in the brain associated with memory and they process millions of pieces of information every day. Getting the information into those areas is relatively easy, what is difficult is pulling data out efficiently. Music provides a rhythm, a rhyme and often, alliteration. All that structure is the key to unlocking information stored in the brain—with music acting as a cue.”
– Dr. Henry L. Roediger III

I have treasured Your Word in my heart
so that I may not sin against You.
– Psalm 119:11 (CSB)

How happy is the one who does not
walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners
or sit in the company of mockers!
– Psalm 1:1 (CSB)

All these men were under their own fathers’ authority for the music in the Lord’s temple, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of God’s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Meman were under the king’s authority. They numbered 288 together with their relatives who were all trained and skillful in music for the Lord.
– 1 Chronicles 25:6-7 (HCSB) 

What is true of the one who is happy?
He does not:
Walk in the advice of the wicked
Stand in the pathway with sinners
Sit in the company of mockers

“Draw attention to the realms of thinking, behaving and belonging, in which a person’s fundamental choice of allegiance is made and carried through.”
– Derek Kidner

Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.

• Psalm 1:2 (CSB)

What is true of the one who is happy?
He does not:
Walk in the advice of the wicked
Stand in the pathway with sinners
Sit in the company of mockers
He does:
Delight in the Lord’s instruction
Meditate on it day and night

He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams 
that bears its fruit in its season, 
and its leaf does not wither. 
Whatever he does prospers.
– Psalm 1:3 (CSB)

Bearing fruit is an extension of the metaphor and refers to the products of the spiritual life in the individual.
– CSB Study Bible

So if a person meditates on God’s Word, his actions will be godly, and his God-controlled activities will prosper, that is, come to their divinely directed fulfillment.
– Allen P. Ross

The wicked are not like this; 
instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away.
– Psalm 1:4 (CSB)

Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment, 
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.”
– Psalm 1:5-6 (CSB)

As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, gave it to the disciples,   and said, “Take and eat it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”  
– Matthew 26:26-30 (CSB)

From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land, 46About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
– Matthew 27:45-46 (CSB)

We sing today for tomorrow's battle

What or who are you listening to? 
What are you meditating or dwelling on? 
What are you allowing to shape you? 
How will that help or hurt you today and how will that prepare you for tomorrow?

I have treasured Your Word in my heart  
so that I may not sin against You.
– Psalm 119:11 (CSB)

Battle Belongs // See a Victory, Surrounded // Firm Foundation (He Won't) // King of Kings // You've Already Won

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