Study and Singing

It is easy to understand how study is important for Bible class. And it should be obvious how important study before, during, and after sermons. Often before the Lord's Supper scripture will be read and remarks made, so it is not hard to understand that studying the word of God is useful there. Of course, we know we should study so that we may know how to behave and follow Christ. And study and prayer pretty naturally go together: praying before study, studying prayer, etc. But what about singing? How does study interact with singing? After all, it's hard to study while you're singing.

Of course, it takes study to know that we are to sing (Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16). We can (and should) study and see examples of the disciples devoting themselves to prayer and song (Matthew 26:30, Acts 16:25). But that's not the end of the interaction between singing and studying for us. At least, it shouldn't be.

Do you always know what you are singing? One of the more commonly known songs is O Thou Fount of Every Blessing. So, do you know what it means by “here I raise my Ebenezer”? Hopefully you do. It comes from I Samuel 7:12, where Samuel raises a stone, naming it “Ebenezer” as a memorial to what the Lord had done in protecting them against the Philistines. The meaning of Ebenezer is “stone of help,” which makes the song make more sense.

And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

I Samuel 7:9-12 (KJV)

In I Corinthians 14, Paul gave the first century Christians at Corinth instructions on the use of spiritual gifts. A good portion of that chapter is spent explaining how to properly use the gift of speaking in languages that hadn't been studied and learned. In that context, Paul writes that is is important to understand what is being prayed and what is being sung. He points out that without being able to understand the song (because it is in a language you do not know), nothing is gained. The same principle carries over to study in terms of singing. Understanding is needed, and that requires us to know what we sing.

Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

I Corinthians 14:13-17 (KJV)

The point is, we should not be singing, and thus teaching something unless we know what it is we are teaching. If we are not studying, we will not know what we are singing.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians 3:16 (KJV)

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Ephesians 5:19-20 (KJV)

Familiarity with God's word is a part of every part of what we do. It is not just a matter of studying for class, sermons, and instruction in living. Even a thing that may seem like it has little to do with study involves learning God's word.