What possibly could stir the mighty God of heaven and earth to sing? Not what but who—you! God’s delight is in you. You make him glad. He is overjoyed with you. You, his child, are the apple of his eye, the choicest among ten thousand.

Why Would God Sing?

The steadfast love that God has for us is not only seen in the gift he gave to us of his Son, by whom we are justified and are being sanctified, but also revealed in the passion in his heart, which is so intense he cannot help but break forth in joyful singing!1 Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that “the Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

After careful study of this verse, I’ve come up with my own paraphrase. It’s not a word-for-word translation but an expanded rendering of what I think the original author had in mind:

The Lord your God is with you all the time. He is a powerful and mighty warrior who saves you and fights on your behalf. When he thinks of you, he exults in festive pleasure and with great delight. At other times, when protests arise in your heart, he quiets you and reassures you of his deep and abiding affection. He celebrates who you are with joyful singing.

However you read this passage, the words are stunning. Its force is unmistakable. If ever there were a Scripture verse worth committing to memory, this is it. It has rightly been called the John 3:16 of the Old Testament.

Some people resist the urge to sing because it makes them feel vulnerable. It brings to the surface passions that they feel more comfortable keeping tucked away, out of sight. Many are determined at all costs to stay in control. Singing is thus a threat to their resolve to keep a grip on their feelings. There’s no denying that there is a vast difference between speaking and singing. It goes beyond the mere fact that some people are embarrassed to sing because they lack a melodious voice. Music has a peculiar power. It infuses words with a dynamic energy that speaking could never achieve.

In other words, singing enables the soul to express deeply felt emotions that mere speaking cannot. Singing channels our spiritual energy in a way that nothing else can. Singing evokes an intensity of mind and spirit. It opens the door to ideas, feelings, and affections that otherwise might have remained forever imprisoned in the depths of one’s heart. Singing gives focus and clarity to what words alone might only make fuzzy. It lifts our hearts to new heights of contemplation. It stirs our hope to unprecedented levels of expectancy and delight. Singing sensitizes. It softens the soul to hear God’s voice and quickens the will to obey.

I can only speak for myself, but when I’m happy I sing. When my joy increases, it cries for an outlet. So I sing. When I’m touched with a renewed sense of forgiveness, I sing. When God’s grace shines yet again on my darkened path, I sing. When I’m lonely and long for the intimacy of God’s presence, I sing. When I need respite from the chaos of a world run amok, I sing.

Read More