I was praying through Psalm 68 (in the NASB) recently. When I came to the words, “Sing to God, sing praises to His name” (verse 4), guess what I did? Yes, I did exactly what the text said. The words of the Bible are not merely to be observed, but obeyed.
But I did more than just “sing to God.” I praised Him by singing words quoted from or suggested by this psalm. I sang them to a simple, spontaneous tune which I improvised moment by moment.
I sing to You, Lord (from verse 4)
I sing praises to Your name (from verse 1)
Desert Rider (from verse 4)
Burden Bearer (from verse 19)
You are a God who is a God of deliverances (from verse 20).
Please understand that I am in no way claiming that this song of praise was inspired in the same way David’s was. Moreover, I make no pretense of being a composer, and you’ll never hear my improvised melody in church. But this brief song was, I believe, beautiful in God’s ears. After all, it was evoked by words He Himself sent to Earth with the intention that we would sing them back to Heaven. In other words, God has ultimately intended the words of the book of Psalms not just for our ears, but also for His.
Sometimes you may want to sing His words back to Him in a manner as simple as I did with Psalm 68. If you play an instrument, you might enjoy incorporating it into your improvisational praises to the Lord. Or you may want to sing a psalm just as you find it, singing it word for word in way similar to chanting. Another option is to use a psalter (a songbook based on the Psalms) or search the Scripture index at the back of a hymnal for the songs based on Psalms.
Here are ten reasons why it’s good to sing from the Psalms in congregational worship (a practice commanded in Scripture), as well as when you are alone before the Lord:
- It’s good because the Bible explicitly teaches us to sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
- It’s good because the Bible says, “it is good to sing praises to our God” (Psalm 147:1).
- It’s good because it helps you to “sing to Him a new song,” which the Bible commands in verses such as Psalm 33:3 (see also Psalm 96:1; 98:1; 149:1).
- It’s good because it nourishes your soul as only the words God inspired can do.
- It’s good because it expresses to the Lord what’s in your heart in a divinely appointed way.
- It’s good because singing God’s Word reinforces His truth in your heart and mind.
- It’s good because along with your mind, singing involves your body and soul, leading to a more whole-person worship of God.
- It’s good because by doing so you learn to express yourself biblically.
- It’s good because it’s enlivening to your soul to sing words that are “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12).
- It’s good because by singing the Psalms, you unite with what the people of God throughout the world have sung for thousands of years.
It really is “good to sing praises to our God.” Enjoy the goodness.
