After all, God designed us to sing—and to wake
each other up to beautiful things.
By Terri Moon
“And suddenly first one and then another began to sing as they played, deep-throated singing of the dwarves. . . . As they sang the hobbit felt the love of beautiful things made by hands and by cunning and by magic moving through him, a fierce and jealous love, the desire of the hearts of dwarves. Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.” [1]
One only has to read a few chapters of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien to notice that songs and singing are practically everywhere. Hobbits have drinking songs, walking songs, songs for every occasion. In fact, if they don’t already know a song, they make one up on the spot. Remember Pippin and Merry’s bathing song in the Green Dragon Inn?
Sing hey! for the bath at close of day
that washes the weary mud away!
A loon is he that will not sing:
O! Water Hot is a noble thing! [2]
My own childhood has memories resembling the scenes of Middle Earth. My father used to pick up his guitar after dinner and sing “You Are My Sunshine” while I joined in. I grew up in a church where everyone sang from well-worn hymnals, trying their best to follow the four-part harmony.
You Were Made to Sing
God designed human bodies as musical instruments. Like fingerprints, each of us has a voice that is unique among all the other voices in the world. When joined together, our collective voices create something more beautiful than any individual parts.
Singing is a gift that has marked the Christian Church for centuries. Jesus sang psalms and hymns with His disciples. The word “sing” is mentioned over 400 times in the Bible, and at least 50 of these are in the form of a command.
“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of the godly!” (Psalm 149:1 ESV) This is a command not only to sing, but to sing together with others.
“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 40:3 ESV ) This declares that singing is part of our witness to the world.
Singing engages every part of us, not only our body, but also our mind and our spirit. When we sing, we return to Him the gift of the very breath that He has put in our lungs. And somehow in the process we slowly transform into people who resemble Him.
So, why don’t we do more singing? I often hear people say, “Oh, you don’t want to hear me sing, I can’t carry a tune.” Are we intimidated by the countless recordings on YouTube and Spotify where we hear perfect voices—voices we’re sure we don’t have? Why do we think that singing is only for the “talented” few instead of ordinary people like ourselves?
Singing Forms Community
Throughout history people have sung together for encouragement, to pass the time while doing difficult or tedious tasks, or simply to create beauty together. Every culture has examples of rowing songs, wool-spinning songs, traveling songs, railroad building songs, and much more. But some of the most soul-stirring songs in the world are songs through which Christians tell their stories.
We are story-telling creatures, and our stories are most memorable when they are sung.
Singing is not only an expression of our vertical relationship with God and a response to His love. It also forms a horizontal connection to the people around us, knitting us together in a great act of hospitality that encourages and empowers others to join in. Think of this vertical and horizontal truth as a cross-shaped promise.
I remember many times when I brought a heavy heart to a gathering, and by simply joining my voice with others I was suddenly made aware that I was not alone. I felt the connection vertically and horizontally and saw myself with a new perspective as a result. Creating beauty with others knits hearts together but when combined with the spiritual bond of a shared faith and a sense of His presence in our midst, it can be powerful and transformative. Maybe that’s because we experience God’s promise to be present when His people sing.
“Yet you are holy, enthroned on [some translations say ‘inhabit’] the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3 ESV)
God Sings Over You
How do you imagine God’s response to your singing? Some people imagine Him looking down upon them with displeasure, but that’s not true. What if I told you that He joins in?
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV)
God delights in you, and He loves to hear you sing. He sings with you and over you.
How can we help build a culture of singing in our Christian communities? First, the community must participate in the music instead of merely consuming it. Each individual must recognize the value of their unique voice in shaping the collective voice. Both the vertical and horizontal aspects (the cross-shape) of singing and praise should be cultivated and loved.
So, how about if we just sing? Sing, unfettered by the self-conscious judgment that compares our voice with all the “perfect” voices we’ve heard. Here’s the advice of John Wesley: “Sing lustily, and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half-dead or half-asleep; but lift up your voice with strength.” [3]
This sounds to me like the kind of singing you might hear from real Hobbits. Hobbits with something Tookish waking up inside of them.
Terri Moon’s lifelong passion is the intersection of music, worship, and spiritual formation, and she longs to share the beauty of the Church’s rich musical heritage. Terri serves on the Anselm Society's Leadership Team alongside her husband, Steve. You might hear her violin at pub nights or other events, or at an Anselm Society Arts Guild meeting. She is a contributing writer to Cultivating Oaks Press, and serves as the Minister of Music for Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Colorado Springs.
[1] J.R.R.Tolkien, The Hobbit, Chapter I, “An Unexpected Party”
[2] J.R.R.Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter III: "Three is Company”
[3] Excerpted from the last page of John Wesley’s hymn book, Select Hymns, published in 1761