Amos 5:23 (ESV) reads, "Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen."
But, why would God say that?
The only times in the Bible where God tells people not to sing praises to God is when people engage in horrible, unrepentant sin and praise Him sweetly with their lips as if they are not simultaneously hurling rancid dung at him and his commands with their actions.
Don’t get me wrong, no one is perfect. God’s mercies renew every morning, and asking for forgiveness is part of Jesus’ model prayer.
The difference is these people were not following God. Those whom Amos addressed took the clothes of their poor exploited workers as a pledge for repayment even though these workers could never repay the debt and would be left naked without these clothes.
To make it worse, these exploiters then used those clothes as blankets to sit on during praise and worship time, and they used their money from exploiting the poor to buy wine.
They were not following God’s truth.
To demonstrate, Amos also writes, they “hate the one who reproves in the gate (elders in the church) and they abhor the one who speaks the truth (anyone who tries to tell them God’s truth and way of living).”
What about people who follow God?
Now for those in Christ, who believe Him and are a new creation, a.k.a. the righteousness of God and those who live no longer for themselves but for him who died and was raised for them− we need to sing praises to God.
All too often, I find myself in congregations of people at church, campus ministries, conferences, and other times of praise and worship where many people just stand there and watch, mess with their phones, or remain disengaged somehow.
"Don't sing praises to God" seems to be stuck in their mindset for one reason or another.
Some don’t sing because they are physically unable, praying, overwhelmed by God, feel the words are not true about God or have some other valid reason not to sing. Power to them.
Others might think singing is boring, the music team isn’t the best, or they don’t believe they are good enough singers. They might think they only want to hear the message, or they might be texting about lunch. These are invalid reasons to not sing praise to God, and there are plenty more out there.
My experience
I used to be part of the latter group. My parents put me in children’s choir at an early age, and I dreaded going to it. I found it boring and unimportant, and I’d rather do other things with my time. I’d sing in church on Sundays or during performances out of compulsion but didn’t like it.
Once I got into middle school, I was out of that choir and kissed singing in church goodbye. Oh no!
Yet, one summer in middle school, I went to something called Student Life Camp. At this camp, we did all sorts of things dealing with recreation, group Bible study, and gathering for praise and worship.
Famous church leaders like Louise Giglio and Francis Chan would speak each night too along with bands like Skillet and David Crowder playing.
To cut to the point, I stood there and watched while others sang, thinking about other things, and wishing we could just get to the speakers because I felt bored out of my mind during the songs.
One of those nights midway through the week, my youth pastor, and some fellow students brought this up, not about me particularly, but about the fact that many people weren’t singing that night.
Although I cannot remember the specifics or the Scripture they referenced, I was convicted that I was doing wrong and persuaded that I should start singing.
Why should we sing?
The Bible contains over 400 references to singing and 50 direct commands to sing, so they had plenty to choose from.
For example, we're commanded twice in the New Testament to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16).
One verse that I feel most Christians are familiar with is Psalm 98:4. It reads, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!” That means you, me, everything!
So, that week I started singing again, and I’ve never stopped!
I realized that singing with God connects us with God and other believers. Singing made and still makes me more aware of his goodness and presence, and there is so much we can sing about from songs of awe and reverence, to songs about grief or repentance, or even songs of joy and celebration.
Singing helps me emotionally connect with God’s word as well, and it helps me remember it as well. Singing about things in scripture has helped me remember God’s promises, His love, and so much more than I can recall because it’s in a song in good times and bad.
Singing to God became fun to me as well. After all, Psalm 147:1 reads,"Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is becoming." It's pleasant and proper for us.
I urge you, therefore, to start singing praises to God. God commands us to sing not out of arbitrariness, but because it’s good for us in helping us celebrate and appreciate all he is and all he has done.
Singing enables us to remain aware of our wonderful, merciful, life-changing relationship with God and how he wants us to live. If you're already singing keep doing it. If not, try it out. You won't regret it!
In conclusion, please read and be encouraged by the lyrics of this song I recently performed with the NC State Chorale.
How Can I Keep from Singing?
My life flows on in endless song;
Above earth's lamentation,
I hear the sweet, tho' far-off hymn
That hails a new creation;
Thro' all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul—
How can I keep from singing?
What tho' my joys and comforts die?
The Lord my Saviour liveth;
What tho' the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm
While to that refuge clinging;
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
How can I keep from singing?
I lift my eyes; the cloud grows thin;
I see the blue above it;
And day by day this pathway smooths,
Since first I learned to love it,
The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
A fountain ever springing;
All things are mine since I am his—
How can I keep from singing?
