Getting to the “Heart” of Singing
INTRODUCTION.
A. Before this lesson, we sang four songs. Why did you sing those songs?
1. Was it because we are “required” to sing?
2. Was it because we “traditionally” sing?
3. Was it because everyone else was singing?
4. Was it because you “enjoy” singing?
5. Was it because you were worshiping God from the heart, singing songs of praises to Him?
6. Was it because you were striving to teach and admonition fellow Christians?
B. If you answered “yes” to 1-4, then your reasons for singing may be suspect and your worship might have been in vain. If you answered “yes” to 5-6, then you were singing for the right reasons.
C. If we are going to sing during our worship services, then we have a scriptural obligation to make certain that our song service is acceptable unto God. More importantly, you have an obligation to make certain that your offering of songs were acceptable to God.
D. It is the purpose of this lesson to get to the “heart” of singing. We will examine simple Bible verses which tell us how to sing in such a manner so as to be pleasing to God. In order to accomplish this “mission,” we must first do a brief study of the heart.
I. WORSHIPING GOD FROM THE HEART.
A. Consider the following verses on the heart.
1. The Lord looks into our hearts.
a. I Samuel 16:7 - “. . . For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (NKJV)
b. I Chronicles 28:9 - “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. . . ” (NKJV)
c. Heart - lebab {lay-bawb’} - means, “inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
d. Read Psalms 139:1-12 to show the depth to which God knows you.
2. Knowing that God looks deep within our hearts (our thoughts, purposes, intents, motives, and desires), we should strive to keep our heart clean and pure.
a. Let us begin with a broken and contrite heart. (Psalms 34:18 - “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” NKJV)
b. David prayed for a clean (pure) heart. (Psalms 51:10 - “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” NKJV)
c. Let us keep our hearts “sprinkled from an evil conscience.” (Hebrews 10:22 - “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” NKJV)
(1) heart - kardia {kar-dee’-ah}- means, “1) heart . . . 2b) the centre and seat of spiritual life” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
(2) The heart is the center and seat of all that we do, both good and bad. Our heart houses our purposes, intents, motives, and desires.
d. Jesus taught that blessed are the pure in heart. (Matthew 5:8 - “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” NKJV)
3. If we will keep our hearts pure, then all actions flowing from the heart will be pure and in obedience to God’s word.
a. A change of heart will effect a change in behavior. (Proverbs 4:20-27, emph. vs 23"
b. Belief must originate in the heart in order to yield righteousness.
(1) Romans 10:10 - with the heart one believes unto righteousness.
(2) Ex. Acts 8:36-39 - the eunuch believed from the heart.
c. Obedience must originate in the heart in order for it to be true obedience and loyal service to God.
(1) Luke 8:15 - Jesus taught a parable that illustrated the fruitfulness of obedience from the heart.
(2) Romans 6:17 - the brethren in Rome had obeyed from the heart the doctrine of Christ.
B. Knowing that the Lord looks deep into our hearts at all times, it is important that our worship comes from the heart. When we worship God from the heart, then:
1. We will mean what we say.
2. We will believe what we say.
3. We will practice what we say.
II. WORSHIPING GOD IN SONG.
A. Here is what the New Testament has to say.
1. Any worship in songs must come from the heart.
a. Ephesians 5:19 - “. . . singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord . . .” (NKJV)
(1) heart - kardia {kar-dee’-ah}- means, “1) heart . . . 2b) the centre and seat of spiritual life” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
(2) The heart is the center and seat of all that we do, both good and bad. Our heart houses our purposes, intents, motives, and desires.
b. Colossians 3:16 - “. . . singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (NKJV)
(1) grace - charis {khar’-ece} means - “1) grace 1a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech . . .” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
(2) heart - kardia {kar-dee’-ah}- means, “1) heart . . . 2b) the centre and seat of spiritual life” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
c. When we sing and make melody from our hearts, we will do so:
(1) With grace (joy).
(2) With meaning and comprehension. We are to mean what we say, we are to believe what we say, and we are to practice what we say.
d. Remember, God listens to the melody of our heart when we sing praises to Him. So, no matter how “beautiful” the singing may sound, if we are not singing from the heart, then God hears anything but a beautiful melody of praise.
2. One of the primary purposes of singing is to praise God in songs.
a. Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26 - Jesus and His apostles sang songs of praise.
(1) Hymns - humneo {hoom-neh’-o} - “to sing the praise of, sing hymns to . . .” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
b. Acts 16:25 - Paul and Silas sang praises to God.
(1) The ASV and NKJV render: “singing hymns unto (to) God”
(2) The Greek word for hymns (sang praises, KJV) is humneo as seen in Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26.
c. Romans 15:8-13 - The context is addressing the Gentiles’ cause to praise God. Verse 9 refers to their singing praises unto God.
d. Remember: As we covered earlier, any singing of praise to God must come from the heart with grace or joy.
3. The second reason we sing songs during our worship services is to teach and encourage fellow Christians.
a. Ephesians 5:19 - “. . . speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. . .” (NKJV)
(1) speaking - laleo {lal-eh’-o} which means, “1) to utter a voice or emit a sound . . .5) to use words in order to declare one’s mind and disclose one’s thoughts. . .” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
(2) psalms - psalmos {psal-mos’} - which means “1) a striking, twanging 1a) of a striking the chords of a musical instrument 1b) of a pious song, a psalm” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon) Since the passage preceded this word with “speaking to one another in,” we can easily see that the definition of pious song fits the context of this verse.
(3) hymns - humnos {hoom’-nos} - which means “1) a song in tithe praise of gods, heroes, conquerors 2) a sacred song, hymn” (Ibid.)
(4) spiritual songs - songs pertaining to and speaking of spiritual matters. This could be songs of praise, songs of thanksgiving, songs of admonition, songs of encouragement, songs of teaching, etc.
(5) Summary: We are to speak or communicate to one another through songs which praise God, songs which glorify God, and songs which address Biblical or spiritual matters.
b. Colossians 3:16 - “. . . teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. . .” (NKJV)
(1) teaching - didasko {did-as’-ko} - which means, “1) to teach . . . 2) to teach one 2a) to impart instruction 2b) instill doctrine into one . . . 2f) to teach one something” (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)
(2) admonishing - noutheteo {noo-thet-eh’-o} - which means, “to admonish, warn, exhort” (Ibid.)
(3) Summary: We are to teach, to impart, and instill Bible teachings and doctrine through songs which admonish, warn, and exhort fellow Christians in spiritual matters.
c. Remember: Any songs of admonition, instructions or any spiritual matter must be sung from the heart, with purpose, meaning, and intent.
CONCLUSION.
A. As we close the lesson, I will leave you with the following question: When we sing the following invitation song, where will your mind be? Will it be focused upon conveying to the lost the invitation of our Lord and savior?
B. If you are not a Christian, then we plead with you to use this time to consider the lost condition of your soul. The invitation song is an opportunity for you to contemplate your spiritual need and request help in the fulfilling of those needs.
C. If you are a Christian, and you find yourself thinking about your spiritual weaknesses and sin, then you too can use this same opportunity to request the help and prayers of your fellow saints.
D. Above all, remember, the Lord is watching and listening to your heart. Will He be pleased with what He finds?
------------------------------------
Getting to the “Heart” of Singing -- June 23, 2002 -- File # 576
by John M. Duvall -- Lawton, OK