Why Do Christians Sing?

“Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples” (Psalm 117:1).

Have you ever wondered why Christians sing? Why is singing a part of every worship service? What is it that we are doing when we sing hymns or praise songs during worship?

It’s not to set the mood.
It’s to get in the mood.
In fact, it has very little to do with us at all.

John Piper says, “Singing to God isn’t just a nice emotional trip to spice up a wonderful worship service. It is an attack against Satan!”

I love that.

You see, the reason why John Piper says that is found in two Old Testament passages that tells us about who Satan was before his fall. Did you know that Satan once was an angel in God’s court?

Isaiah 14:12-15: How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the Mount of Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to the realms of the dead, to the depths of the pit.

Satan became jealous of the praise God was receiving. Satan wanted to be like God. He wanted the same praises. In fact he wanted to be higher than God.

Ezekiel 28:17: Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings…All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.

Because of Satan’s jealousy of the praises of God, Satan was thrown out of heaven.

Do you know why we sing praise songs and hymns in worship? We sing praises because God is worthy of our praise, and because it is a great weapon we have against Satan.

So, the next time you sing at church, sing your heart out. Let God know how awesome he is, and know that that torments the devil more than anything else on earth.

Love it! Sing out loud! Let God know how awesome he is!