Michael Payton, Worship Pastor, First Baptist Church Hamlin, Texas Psalm 33:1-3 “Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings with loud shouts.”
This is one of my favorite Psalms because it sets up the reason for a crucial aspect of Christian worship: Singing.
Yes, singing, as in, out loud, with your voice. That immediately makes some uncomfortable, and I understand. I’m reminded of a scene from the movie Elf: “The best way to Spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.”
“Thanks, but I don't sing.” “Oh, it's easy, it's just like talking, except louder and longer, and you move your voice up and down.”
“I can sing, but I just choose not to sing, especially in front of other people.”
It may seem counter cultural today, or even against your personal preference, but what does this Scripture have to say about it?
“Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!”
First, who is he speaking to? The righteous! Not those who are flawless, but those who are seeking to be obedient! As in: “This is what a righteous person does,” and look, the very next line, “praise befits the upright,” so, it is fitting, it is proper, it is appropriate, it is right. Some translations say it is “beautiful.”
And the Scripture says “Shout” Exclaim! Sing it out! We don’t have the option to walk in obedience if we don’t open our mouths to declare His praises! “Singing is just not my thing.” Well, according to this Scripture right here, if you are pursuing righteousness, it most certainly IS your thing! We don’t have the option to say that “singing isn’t my thing” any more than we can say “sharing Christ isn’t my thing” or “being honest isn’t my thing” or being loving to my spouse isn’t my thing.”
It is our thing! If we are seeking to be obedient, it is our thing.
I don’t write this to shame; I write it to encourage you: This might be an area of obedience you have been missing out on. I say missing out because with obedience comes the blessing of walking in the will of our heavenly Father, and there is no better way to live.