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SINGING IS THE ACTION AND THE HEART IS THE INSTRUMENT “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Eph. 5:19,20). We are to speak to ourselves in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. There are two great purposes of the song service: 1) to praise God (Heb. 13:15); and, 2) to teach one another true spiritual things. Sometimes songs are prayers such as, “Lord we come before thee now; at thy feet we humbly bow.” Other songs are exhortations to work such as “To the work! to the work! We are servants of God, Let us follow the path that our Master has trod”. Others are encouragements to soul winning such as: “Throw out the life-line across the dark wave; there is a brother whom some one should save.” Some songs prepare our minds to properly partake of the Lord’s Supper such as “When we meet in sweet communion Where the feast divine is spread; Hearts are brought in closer union While partaking of the bread.” The best sung songs are those of invitation to the sinner to obey the gospel such as “All things are ready” come to the feast!” and “Why not tonight? Wilt thou be saved? Then why not tonight?” Truly we speak to one another in the song service. We also praise God in the song service as when we sing “Hallelujah praise Jehovah” and “How great Thou art”. Great songs have been written to extol the virtues of the sacrifice of Christ and his help for us to reach heaven. The action is “Singing”. Webster’s first definition of “singing” is “to produce musical tones by means of the voice” and “to utter words in musical tones and with musical inflections and modulations.” This is the meaning of the command in the Bible. Every worship service in the New Testament always included singing. Paul said he would sing with the spirit and with the understanding also (I Cor. 14:15). “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” This includes singing and prayer. It is most important to carry out this command to sing. In Young’s concordance under the words “Making melody” he informs us that the Greek word is “Psallo” and means “to play on a stringed instrument.” This causes the proponents of mechanical instruments of music to say that involved in making melody is playing on a piano, organ or other instruments. The inspired scripture says “singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” There is an instrument involved in “Psalloing” and that is the heart of man. Singing is to touch the heart strings of everyone who engages therein. Singing touches the intellect of man by teaching him truths found in the Scriptures. Singing touches the emotions of man in that he is made to be happy by some songs and made to cry over others. His love for Christ and belief in Christ are enriched and developed by singing scriptural songs. The will or determination of man is touched by singing. Many a person has responded to the Lord’s invitation when he was touched by a song of invitation. As a result he purposes to obey the Lord and to serve Jesus the rest of his days. We answer in a good conscience to God in the song service because we are conscious of carrying out his command to sing. So every part of the heart is touched by a properly engaged in song service. God has told us what to do in this part of worship - and that is to sing. God has told us what kinds of songs in which we are to engage - and that is in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. God has told us what instrument to use in this service - and that is the human heart. Now any other service will not be acceptable to the Lord. We cannot add to the word without God adding to us the plagues spoken of in His word (Rev. 22:18). If we transgress and abide not in the doctrine of Christ we will not have God (2 John 9). Thus it is left up to us to learn to sing to the best of our ability and to engage therein with all our hearts. It also becomes us to check our songs and be sure they are scriptural. Our eternal destinations depend on proper singing.
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