• Strengthen feeling of togetherness (University of Bath) “The synchronistic physical activity of choristers appears to create an unusually strong bond, giving members the emotionally satisfying experience of temporarily "disappearing" into a meaningful, coherent body.”

 ~ Psychologist, Nick Stewart, University of Bath.
https://psmag.com/social-justice/more-evidence-of-psychological-benefits-of-choral-singing

• Regulate heart rate (University of Gothenburg)
• Reduce stress levels and depression
• Improve symptoms of Parkinson’s and lung disease (Cardiff University)
• Improve feeling of social wellbeing (Bath)
• Increase life expectancy (Harvard and Yale University)
• Reduce risk of dementia, benefits people with condition.

“The surprising thing about music is that, contrary to popular belief,we don’t actually learn songs particularly easily. However, once those memories are formed, they become exceptionally robust and easily accessible.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3767275/Why.SINGING-help-battle-dementia-Neuroscientist-explains.holding-tune-activates-crucial-parts-brain.htm

• Awnaw – to declare in song.
  • 6 times. E.g. 1 Samuel 21:11
1 Samuel 21:11

And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying:
 &emsp‘Saul has slain his thousands,
 &emspAnd David his ten thousands’?”

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• Zamar – give praise, sing forth praises, psalms. Also allude to using an instrument.
  • 42 times. E.g. Psalm 30:4
Psalm 30:4

   Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,
   And give thanks at the remembrance of [a]His holy name.

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• Ranan – cry out or sing out with joy.
  • 28 times. E.g. Zechariah 2:10
Zechariah 2:10

“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord.

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• Halal – to celebrate, rave about, give praise.
  • 2 times. E.g. 2 Chronicles 29:30
2 Chronicles 29:30

Moreover King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped.

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• Humaneo – to hymn, sing a religious song.
  • 6 times. E.g. Acts 16:25
Acts 16:25

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

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• Ado – to sing.
  • 5 times. E.g. Ephesians 5:19
Ephesians 5:19

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

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  Colossians 3:16
Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

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“Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” ~ Hebrews 2:12

“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.” ~ Hebrews 13:15

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” ~ Ephesians 5:19

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” ~ Colossians 3:16

“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”
~ Matthew 26:30

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
~ Acts 16:25

• To Chief Musician “To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.”
~ Psalm 4:1

• Exhort to sing ( Psalm 33 ) “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
 ~ Psalm 33:1-3

• Singing to certain tunes/modes ( Psalm 12   Psalm 22 ) “To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.
Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth;
For the faithful fail from among the children of men.”
 ~ Psalm 12:1

“To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaring?
 ~ Psalm 22:1

• Declaring His Name ( Hebrews 2:12
Hebrews 2:12

saying:
 “I will declare Your name to My brethren;
 In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”

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) “To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David. O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.”
 ~ Psalm 8:1

• Sacrifice of Praise ( Hebrews 13:15
Hebrews 13:15

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, [a]giving thanks to His name.

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) “David's Psalm of praise. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.”
 ~ Psalm 145:1-2

• Thanksgiving ( Hebrews 13:15
Hebrews 13:15

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

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) “Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:”
 ~ Psalm 147:7

• Teaching and Admonishing • Teaching – didasko(Gk): to teach.
• Admonishment – noutheteo (Gk): to put in mind, reprove gently
• Interspersed throughout service

• Afflicted and Happy “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.”
 ~ James 5:13

• Paul and Silas “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
 ~ Acts 16:25

• Evangelism “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
 ~ Acts 16:25

• What kind of service atmosphere would you rather have?

• Temple rebuilt ( Ezra 3:10-13 ) “And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.

And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.”

“But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.”

• Singing in truth • A Capella – in the manner of the chapel/church.

• Singing in spirit • Example of David “And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.”
 ~ 2 Samuel 6:14

• David was mocked but observe…
“And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.”
 ~ 2 Samuel 6:21-22

• Sing with understanding “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
 ~ Psalm 47:7 “…I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”
 ~ 1 Corinthians 14:15b

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
 ~ Colossians 3:23

• Singing is not as important • Singing is mentioned 13 times in NT.
• Singing is as important as any other element of worship.

• Hymns are too difficult • Forget about “difficult” scriptures? ( cf 2 Peter 3:16
2 Peter 3:16

as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

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)
• Problem is not with scripture/song.

• Song leaders do not lead well • Song leaders need to level up
• Whose responsibility is it to sing?

• My neighbour is singing too loudly • Maybe we ought to sing out more!
• Move!

• Singing is such pageantry •Singing is commanded.
• Phariseean Hypocrisy
• Singing is as fake or real as we make it to be.

• I am not talented • Who are we singing to please? ( Remember Colossians 3:23
Colossians 3:23

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

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)
• Why can’t we improve?

• I’m too shy • Why can’t we overcome?

• Sing! • Practice makes perfect.
• Get professional help.
• Food for thought “And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.”
 ~ 2 Samuel 24:24

• Get to know the lyrics • Singing with understanding
 ~ Psalm 47:7
Psalm 47:7

For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.

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   ~ 1 Corinthians 14:15
1 Corinthians 14:15

What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

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• Spot controversies and errors

• Improve our posture • Importance of proper posture
• Body language speaks volumes

DIDN’T MARY HAVE CHEAPER PERFUME?

I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.
 ~ Psalm 35:18

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
 ~ Psalm 30:12

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