Notice I did not say “Singing about the Lord!”

But rather, singing UNTO the Lord!

Which, in my estimation anyway, makes singing a definite act of Worship. Just between you and HIM!

But where does one get that idea? Of singing “unto” the Lord?

Here’s where I found it late last night. “O come, let us sing unto the LORD.” Psalm 95:1

The first verb in the Verse is an imperative, a stark command, “come!” It literally means “to walk,” and is here a call to congregate and praise the Lord!

The second verb “to sing” is NOT a command! As if to say once we have “come and gathered and assembled” in the Lord’s Name … WE WILL AUTOMATICALLY, INSTINCTIVELY, HABITUALLY sing unto Him!

This verb (to sing) is a PIEL stem imperfect mood action word. The PIEL indicating the use of great emotion and fervor, all one’s strength! And the imperfect mood revealing ongoing action, not a one time event! Habitual singing!

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD.”

Not singing to the congregation (not here anyway, in this context) … but singing unto HIM!

Wow!

I have an idea … sing to HIM some today!

Then think of some of the songs in our hymnals at Church that do that, address Him in adoration and exaltation!

Here’s an example: “HOW GREAT THOU ART!”

There are others.

Paul, likely learning from this Psalm and others like it, got the principle down pretty firmly!

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart TO the Lord …” Quoting Ephesians 5:20.

Colossians 3:16 agrees: “Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts TO the Lord.”

Today is a travel day, lots of miles to drive. I think I shall invest part of that time (though I am not talented in any musical way) singing UNTO the Lord! He has asked that much of me for sure.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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