Singing

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary

An ordinance of divine worship, in which we express our joy in God, and gratitude for his mercies. It has always been a branch both of natural and revealed religion, in all ages and periods of time. It was a part of the worship of the Heathens. It was practised by the people of God before the giving of the law of Moses,  Exodus 15:1-27 : also under the ceremonial law. Under the Gospel dispensation it is particularly enjoined,   Colossians 3:16 .  Ephesians 5:19 . It was practised by Christ and his apostles,  Matthew 26:30 . and in the earliest times of Christianity. The praises of God may be sung privately in the family, but chiefly in the house of God; and should be attended to with reverence, sincerity, joy, gratitude, and with the understanding,  1 Corinthians 14:15 . Among the Baptists, during the early part of their existence, psalmody was generally excluded as a human ordinance; but some congregations having adopted it about the beginning of the 18th century, a violent controversy was excited. About the middle of the century, however, the praises of God were sung in every Baptist church. It is to be lamented, however, that this ordinance has not that attention paid to it which it deserves. That great divine, Dr. Jonathan Edwards, observes, that "as it is the command of God that all should sing, so all should make conscience of learning to sing, as it is a thing that cannot be decently performed at all without learning. Those, therefore, (where there is no natural inability) who neglect to learn to sing, live in sin, as they neglect what is necessary in order to their attending one of the ordinances of God's worship."

We leave those who are wilfully dumb in God's house to consider this pointed remark! Much has been said as to the use of instrumental music in the house of God. On the one side it is observed, that we ought not to object to it, because it assists devotion; that it was used in the worship of God under the Old Testament; and that the worship of heaven is represented by a delightful union of vocal and instrumental music. But on the other side, it is remarked, that nothing should be done in or about God's worship without example or precept from the New Testament; that, instead of aiding devotion, it often tends to draw off the mind from the right object; that it does not accord with the simplicity of Christian worship; that the practice of those who lived under the ceremonial dispensation can be no rule for us; that not one text in the New Testament requires or authorises it by precept or example, by express words or fair inference; and that the representation of the musical harmony in heaven is merely figurative language, denoting the happiness of the saints. We have not room here to prosecute the arguments on either side; but the reader may refer to p. 211. of the fourth volume of Bishop Beveridge's Thesaurus; Stillingfleet's and Bp. Horne's Sermons on Church Music; No. 630 of the eighth vol. of the Spectator; Bishop Horne on the 150th Psalm; Theol. Mag. vol. 2: p. 427, and vol. 4: p. 333, 458; Biblical Mag. vol. 2: p. 35; Ridgley's body of Div. ques. 155; Haweis's Church History, vol. 1: p. 403; Williams's Historical Essay on Church Music, prefixed to Psalmodia Evangelica, vol. 2: p. 56; Bedford's Temple Music; Lyra Evangelica; Practical Discourses on Singing in the Worship of God, preached at the Friday Evening Lectures in Eastcheap, 1708; Dodwell's Treatise on the Lawfulness of Instrumental Music in Holy Duties.

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

From ancient times to the present, singing has been used as a form of relaxation or amusement ( 2 Samuel 19:35;  Amos 6:4-5), an expression of joy ( Proverbs 29:6;  Isaiah 16:10;  James 5:13), a form of celebration ( Judges 5:1-2;  1 Samuel 21:11), and a means of praising God ( Exodus 15:1;  Psalms 30:4;  Psalms 66:4;  Psalms 95:1-3;  Acts 16:25;  Revelation 5:9;  Revelation 15:3). Singing has often been associated with music and dancing ( Genesis 31:27;  Exodus 15:20-21;  Isaiah 5:12; see Dancing ; Music ).

In the temple worship that David organized, there were groups of singers who sang under a conductor to the accompaniment of music ( 1 Chronicles 15:16;  1 Chronicles 15:22). This arrangement was followed by some of Israel’s later leaders ( 2 Chronicles 29:30;  Ezra 3:10-11). The psalms that these singers sang were sometimes divided into parts that individuals or sections of the choir sang in turn ( Ezra 3:11; Psalms 118; see Psalms, Book Of )

Singing is an important part of the life of the church ( 1 Corinthians 14:26; cf.  Mark 14:26). It should be an expression of praise to God that arises from a heart filled with joy and thanks. However, the songs must be based firmly on the Word of God, and people must sing them with understanding, not just with a feeling of enjoyment. Only in this way will God be truly praised and the singers be truly built up in their Christian faith ( 1 Corinthians 14:15;  Ephesians 5:19;  Colossians 3:16).

In the early church, songs were an important means of summarizing Christian truth in a form that could be easily remembered and repeated. The New Testament contains what appear to be selections from early Christian songs ( Philippians 2:6-11;  Colossians 1:15-20;  1 Timothy 3:16; cf. also  Luke 1:46-55;  Luke 1:68-79;  Luke 2:14;  Luke 2:29-32;  Revelation 4:11;  Revelation 5:9-10;  Revelation 11:17-18;  Revelation 15:3-4.)

Morrish Bible Dictionary

In the O.T. we find there were courses of singers, and there were some who were 'taught to sing praise.' Instruments were also appointed for the singers.  1 Kings 10:12 . In  Habakkuk 3:19 , at the end of the prophet's poetical 'prayer,' it says, "To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." "The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels."  Psalm 68:25 .

Such organised choirs have no place in the N.T. They that worship God "must worship him in spirit and in truth." This also applies to the singing: "I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."  1 Corinthians 14:15 : cf.  1 Corinthians 14:26 . "Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody [or chanting] in your heart to the Lord."  Ephesians 5:19 . "In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."  Colossians 3:16 . There will be singing in heaven.  Revelation 5:9 . Singing and Praise naturally go together. At the institution of the Lord's supper they 'sang a hymn,' margin 'psalm,' ὑμνέω.   Matthew 26:30 . The same word is translated 'sang praises' unto God, when Paul and Silas were in prison,  Acts 16:25; and the Lord sings praise in the midst of the assembly.  Psalm 22:22;  Hebrews 2:12 .

King James Dictionary

SING'ING, ppr. Uttering melodious or musical notes making a shrill sound celebrating in song reciting in verse.

SING'ING, n. The act of uttering sounds with musical inflections musical articulation the utterance of melodious notes.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( p. pr. & vb. n.) of Sing

(2): a. & n. from Sing, v.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

See Praise.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

an ordinance of divine worship, in which we express our joy in God, and gratitude for his mercies. It has always been a branch both of natural and revealed religion in all ages and periods of time. It was a part of the worship of the heathen. It was practiced by the people of God before the giving of the law of Moses (Exodus 15); also under the ceremonial law. Under the Gospel dispensation it is particularly enjoined ( Colossians 3:16;  Ephesians 5:19). It was practiced by Christ and his apostles ( Matthew 26:30), and in the earliest times of Christianity. The praises of God may be sung privately in the family, but chiefly in the house of God; and should be attended to with reverence, sincerity, joy, gratitude, and with the understanding ( 1 Corinthians 14:15).

From the apostolic age singing was always a part of divine service, in which the whole body of the Church joined together; and it was the decay of this practice that first brought the order of singers into the Church. The Council of Laodicea (canon 15) prohibited singing by the congregation; but this was a temporary provision, designed only to restore and revive the ancient psalmody. We find that in after ages the people enjoyed their ancient privilege of Singing all together.

Among the Anti-Paedobaptists, during the early part of their existence, psalmody was generally excluded as a human ordinance; but some congregations having adopted it about the beginning of the 18th century, a violent controversy was excited. About the middle of the century, however, the praises of God were sung in every Anti-Paedobaptist church.

It was customary, early in the present century, for the precentor in the Church of Scotland to read the psalm line by line as it was sung., When the practice of continuous singing was introduced, it was a source of great and numerous congregational disturbances, and it was popularly stigmatized as an innovation. As to the use of instrumental music as an accompaniment to singing, (See Choir); (See Music); (See Singer).