“But I will sing of your power; yeah, I will sing aloud of your mercy in the morning: for you have been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. To you, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.”- Psalm 59:16-17

Years ago, I decided to learn how to play the guitar.

Later, I bought a small acoustic guitar, which I still have.

I am not an expert guitarist {as yet) but, at least I can sing while playing, which not many people can do.

I mostly play it during my personal devotions but sometimes publicly as well. Also, I have composed a few songs.

Today, there is simply so much amazing music all around us that almost everyone can sing.

This has been rightly described as the singing generation.

Indeed, music is a massive industry even in Christian circles.

In our meditation today, David repeatedly makes the declaration that he would sing to the Lord and sing of God’s power and mercy, and how He has been his defender.

The life story behind this psalm is recorded in 1Samuel 19:10-17.

Whereas King Saul had given his daughter, Michal, to David to be his wife, he still sent his soldiers to his home to kill his own son in law.

Someone in the palace alerted Michal, David’s wife, to her father’s murderous intentions.

Like every wise woman who has a queen’s vision, she quickly planned for her husband’s escape through a window.  She laid a doll in the bed as a disguise.

Her action greatly upset the king but David, a soldier, saw that episode as God’s handwork and so he composed a song to celebrate God’s deliverance.

After becoming the king, David would go on to become the inventor and chief architect of temple worship in Israel.

Of course there used to be some religious music before but it was not part of the liturgy.

It was David who introduced the idea of making music part of worship in God’s house.

He not only composed many songs and psalms for temple worship but also appointed the sons of Korah to take charge of temple worship. They also composed many psalms for temple worship.

Our Lord Jesus and the disciples did sing (Matthew 26:30). The apostles did sing in the dungeon, which means we can sing to the Lord in the hardest of circumstances.

Is it any wonder then that David was called “a man after God’s own heart”?

What is your attitude to singing? You don’t have to be a musician in order to sing.

You don’t even need a ‘good’ voice to sing (personally, I don’t believe that God ever created anyone with a bad voice). 

Everyone might not be a professional musician but anyone can make a “joyful noise” to the Lord (Psalm 100:1).

Our Lord Jesus and the disciples did sing (Matthew 26:30). The apostles sang while in the dungeon, which means we can sing to the Lord amid the hardest of circumstances.

I used to scrutinize ‘gospel’ music and dismissing some of it as being ‘uninspired.’

However, Ephesians 5:19 – 20 gives three categories of ‘gospel music’: “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 to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

That shows us that singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, one, is a command; two, it must come from the heart, and three, it carries powerful messages that “speak” to us both as individuals and corporately.

So go ahead and “sing aloud” because singing is for everyone, and while at it, remember that you are not necessarily singing to or for people; you are singing and giving thanks to your God for His mercy and power.

Prayer
Lord, help me to sing like David sang. May I always make melody in my heart no matter what for you are my song. May I praise you always because of Your awesome power and Your loving-kindness, which is better than life.  Amen!