DAY 3 PRAISE DECLARATION:
THE PURPOSE OF SINGING
PRAISE INSPIRATION:
7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will SING and make MELODY! 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will SING praises to you among the nations. 10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! - Psalm 57:7-11 (ESV)
PRAISE REVELATION:
As believers, we often sing to praise the Lord. The question is, why do we sing, what is the purpose, and is it necessary? This may be a question that you have asked before, especially when you’ve come into a corporate expression of worship. Regular attenders of a church, synagogue, or cathedral may become familiar and accustomed to this festive style of praise, but there are many people who are unfamiliar with it, yet need to understand the reason behind it. The number one reason why we sing is because our God desires it and asks us to praise Him that way. Could it be that Almighty has a hidden blessing and benefit behind this request? Of course, the obvious answer is, “Yes He does!” The Psalmist, King David, reveals the secret in Psalm 57 and again in Psalm 108:1-4, where his whole being was brought into melody through song. According to King David, singing makes our hearts steadfast, and brings our whole being into a harmonious melody as we come into the presence of our Creator. The beginning of the song explains why David sang to the Lord. He was actually running from King Saul who wanted to kill him, as he found refuge in a cave. In the middle of a storm against him that was meant to destroy him, he declared, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His PURPOSE for me” (verse 2). God’s purpose for singing is rooted in His purpose for creating us. We were created to bring God glory. So while David was singing to God about being his refuge, to the melody of a song called, “Do not destroy,” the enemy was rendered powerless and could not destroy David’s purpose. If a bear, a lion, or a giant name Goliath couldn’t kill him, then neither could King Saul. God definitely has a purpose for us singing to Him. Our songs of praise become songs of deliverance that recognize our God as the ultimate Deliverer. Yes, when there is passion in your praise, there will be purpose in your singing. The Hebrew word in this passage for singing or making a melody is “zamar” זמר and means to sing along with string instruments. It implies plucking strings of a guitar, harp or other stringed instruments to create a beat or melody for the purpose of singing. David declared that singing had the power to awaken his glory, just as it awakened his desire to play the harp and lyre in praise to God. We can glean a lot more from this Hebrew verb than just the melody of the physical instrument. When we sing to the Lord, there is a melody created in our hearts that ascends to the Father. The Apostle Paul reveals this truth to the believers in Ephesus. “Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18). The Hebrew verb and idea behind this verse is “zamar.” David understood that his musical instruments could harmonize together and create a beautiful melody, just like a unity of voices coming together creates a symphony of sound to our Sovereign King. Even science and medicine have done studies on the purpose for singing, and have learned that music ang song releases endorphins in the brain. These are the feel-good brain chemicals that make us feel uplifted and happy. In addition, scientists have identified a tiny organ in the ear called the sacculus, which responds to the frequencies created by singing. God created us to praise Him, and even formed us to be musical instruments of praise and worship. So let’s use our passion of praise to sing with a greater purpose! We declare this week will be seven days of praise! So start praising God now, with a melody that has the power to defeat depression, discouragement, and disappointment. Awaken your praise until it reaches the heavens in glorious song!
PRAISE DECLARATIONS:
1. We declare that our hearts are steadfast today as we sing and praise our God.
2. We declare and awaken our praise as we make a melody in our hearts that destroys depression and discouragement.
3. We declare that God will be exalted during these days of praise as we ignite a lifestyle of praise and song are the world.