“Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD: ‘I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider in the sea.’” Exodus 15:1 NLT
There is positive power in lyrics and music. Singing is an outlet of expression and a means of connection through the lyrics of a song. Whatever the celebration or need may be, just like an app or a Bible verse, there is a song for that. My mother, a classical pianist, former music teacher and church musician, has always said, “There’s a song for everything.”
There are several reasons why we should lift every voice and sing. I offer three biblical reasons for consideration.
One, we should sing because we can sing. God has given song and music to humanity, thusly gifting humanity with the ability to sing and play music. The first mention of anything musically before the flood is concerning Jubal, the father of those who play instruments (Genesis 4:18c-21). The first mention of songs after the flood is in the narrative between Laban and Jacob (Genesis 31:27).
Singing is mentioned over 400 times in the Bible. The first recorded singing is the antiphonal Song of Moses and the children of Israel (Exodus 15:1-19), followed by Miriam leading the women’s praise dance ministry with tambourines and directing the women’s chorus in singing to the Lord (Exodus 15:21).
We also should sing because we are commanded in Scripture. There are over 50 explicit imperatives commanding us to sing unto the Lord. According to Psalm 95:1-2, singing builds a sense of community, creating a connection with each other. According to Psalm 96:2, singing is an act of adoration in which we bless God, and in praising him, we proclaim that salvation is of God. As a command for the people of God, singing becomes oxygen, enabling us to breathe.
Thirdly, we should sing because it is cathartic for the soul. Catharsis is the process of releasing and thereby providing relief from strong emotions. Music is an agent of catharsis that can calm, compose, and refresh us. David’s anointed playing in service to King Saul brought forth a calm, driving away the evil spirit the Lord allowed to torment King Saul (1 Samuel 16:23).
God often uses pain to produce songs of praise for strength, especially in the dark moments of life, whether individually or in community. One of Job’s well-meaning counselors during his severe health condition stated that God gives songs to sing in the night (Job 35:10). It was at midnight, while imprisoned, that Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God (Acts 16:25).
The psalmist depicts singing a song to God at night as a prayer from the pain experienced during a darkened moment in one’s journey or as a praise for God’s presence and protection, providing a light of hope for tomorrow (Psalm 42:8;149:5). This song thus becomes a means of release from anxiety, a means of relief from emotional tension, a refreshing solace during distress — a catharsis in crisis.
Many of the beloved songs of the church were birthed out of pain, adversity, tragedy, loss and unfortunate or troubling circumstances, such as “It is Well (With My Soul),” “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” “Precious Lord (Take My Hand)” and “Total Praise.”
One of God’s means of grace to make us strong is a song. God doesn’t ever want us to stop singing even when suffering becausesinging sustains us through suffering.
While there are aggressive efforts to cancel Black History Month by some entities and an all-out effort by others to ban and erase Black History completely, we African Americans must continue celebrating our history this month and every day thereafter.
African Americans must keep singing aloud the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” as its lyrics and melody exude the strength, reliance, resilience and hope of the oppressed against the adversity and suffering embedded throughout their story.
Rev. Johnson Beaven III is a speaker, theological educator and ministry mentor. For more information, view linktr.ee/johnsonbeaven. Contact him via email at jb3ministries@gmail.com or on X @jbeaven.
