Why do we sing?

1. We praise with purpose

Psalm 95:1–3 - “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”

When we come together to sing,

Our purpose is pointed at the Lord.

Our praise is joyful, exciting and has volume.

Our praise demonstrates thankfulness for the privilege of being in God’s presence.

Our purpose is to exalt the greatness of our God and celebrate that He is above all things that could be praised.

2. We celebrate His sovereign authority

Psalm 95:4–5 - “In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.”

When we celebrate when we sing,

We are reminded of God’s intentional design of creation.

We are reminded that he rules over the earth and nothing surprises him.

We are reminded the depth of his love for all humanity is immeasurable.

We are invited to respond with trust in the security of his care.

3. We submit in worship

Psalm 95:6–7 - “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.”

Worship is the act of falling prostrate and submitting to someone more superior than me. The verses tells us to bow down and kneel before our maker.

Worship is a call to humility because it magnifies God while it minimizes self.

Worship melts our heart and invites God to do things we cannot do ourselves.

Worship transforms “God information” into “God experience.”

In John 4, Jesus is talking to a woman at the well. She would rather talk about church liturgy than fornication, so she mentions geographical worship. Jesus responded, “the hour is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Humans are intellectual and spiritual creatures. If Jesus told the woman that complete worship involves both intellectual and spiritual, what are we missing if we only worship God intellectually? If we never kneel before the Lord. If we never bow in his presence. If we never clap our hands. If we never sway back and forth. If we never raise our hands in surrender. If we are never brought to tears. If we never involve our emotions as we worship the Lord. I suggest that we will experience only half of what the Lord has for us.

Worship is eternal.

When we get to heaven, we won’t need preaching but we’re going to worship.

Revelation 5:11–13 - “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!””

4. We respond to His call

Psalm 95:7 - “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts”

Singing is reminds you and me,

to remain receptive to God’s call

to remain open to transformation through the gospel

to live in obedience

to express daily gratitude