"Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing" (Ps. 100:1, NKJV). The psalmist echoes the emphasis that God has placed upon worship in song.

Dr. Kenneth Davis, late director of Harding Acappella Chorus, once observed that the most marvelous musical instrument in the entire world is not mechanical: it is the human voice. God made the human voice capable of the most remarkable and beautiful music of all. As faithful Christians, it is our privilege and obligation to make the most of our singing in worship and praise to God. As we raise our collective voices in song, we can pour out meaningful expressions of praise, thanksgiving, and edification through this medium of the human voice.

In the Old Testament, we find singing occupies a prominent place. Israel sang a song celebrating deliverance from Egyptian bondage (Exo. 5). Deborah and Barak sang a song of victory for God's people (Jud. 5). God required that Israel be taught a song as a testimony against the people (Deut. 31:19-22). In meditating upon the law, the psalmist said, "Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage" (Ps. 119:54).

In the New Testament, we find Christianity is permeated with singing. At the birth of our Lord, the host of angels praised God saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" (Lk. 2:14). On the eve of His betrayal and His institution of the Lord's Supper, Jesus and the disciples sang (Mt. 26:30). From a dark prison cell in Philippi, Paul and Silas sang (Acts 16:25). Ultimately, we read of those who overcome victoriously singing the song of Moses and the Lamb (Rev. 15:3).

Not only do we see examples for singing, but also direct statements enjoin God's divine imperative to sing (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19). We must worship God in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:24); we are further required to sing with the spirit and with the understanding (1 Cor. 15:14). By singing we praise, teach, admonish, and edify. It combines the intellect, the emotions, and the will of man in meaningful verbal expression which both praises God and edifies man. In response to the great love of God, His children should be so constituted that we cannot help but sing praises to Him.

There may be certain conditions where it is impossible for one to sing vocally (a problem with one's of vocal chords or deafness). Singing non-vocally by using sign language (such as ASL), moving the lips, and making melody in the heart is certainly constitutes obedience to this command for those lacking certain vocal or hearing capabilities. Each of us should worship to the best of our abilities, whatever our deficiencies may be.

"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15).