p. 371 | Sing Praises

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Jun 18, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 24.

Sing Praises.

SINGING the praise of God is an important part of religious worship. We are not only required to pray, but also to "sing unto the Lord," and "make a joyful noise unto the Rock of our salvation." This is a duty to be performed not only in private, but also in public. We are to "praise God in the sanctuary," to "exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders." This is a duty which every one should endeavor to perform to the best of his ability. It is a duty which we must not transfer to another.

We can no more praise God by proxy than we can pray by proxy. If we cannot make much melody with our voices, we may make melody in our hearts unto the Lord. But as there are persons appointed to lead in the worship of God in other parts of the service, so it is entirely proper that there should be suitable persons appointed to lead the congregation in the service of song, that the people may sing not only with the spirit, but with the understanding also. But because there are suitable persons to lead in prayer, we are not to infer that the people are not to pray; and because there are suitable persons to lead in the praise of God, we are not to suppose that the congregation are not to sing.

While the preacher prays, all the people should unite with him in his petitions; while he leads them in discourse, every worshiper should follow him in thought; and while the choir leads in songs of Zion, the whole congregation should unite with them in singing the praise of God. The preacher should not do all the praying and thinking, neither should the choir do all the singing. Both are important in their place, as leaders of the people in the worship of the sanctuary, but while they lead, the people with heart and voice should follow. "Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee."—Sel.