Lady Lydia Speaks
Singing for Comfort and Joy
By Mrs. Stanley Sherman
Jul 18, 2003 - 3:02:00 PM

Freedom to Worship by Norman Rockwell

Singing is an expression of the heart and has a profound effect on our state of being. Circumstances themselves may not be ideal--in fact, they may tragic--but God in His infinite wisdom has provided singing as a wonderful avenue of expression. The voice was the first musical instrument ever created. There is not a nation that does not have its own native songs, or a race that does not sing. The Bible contains clear commands to sing. Singing is for everyone, not just those with professionally trained voices or those who can read music. If you will listen to children singing, you will notice that although they often cannot sing a learned tune, they sing anyway. If we would develop the nature of little children, we would be able to sing in joy and in sorrow, without embarrassment.

Is singing important? Apparently Paul and Silas in prison thought so, for in spite of their hands and feet being in shackles, they were found singing at midnight. (Acts 16) The song of Moses after Israel saw the great work of the Lord in delivering Israel from Egypt, is found in Exodus 15. Hannah's song of praise and gratefulness is found in I Samuel 2. (Her words remind us that women of old time were, indeed, educated and composed poems and hymns.) Singing can reflect our moods, make time pass, and create contentment. The birds sing their morning and evening songs in good weather and inclement weather, a reminder that we as human beings should sing in all sorts of situations.

Because of the enormous availability of canned music (recorded, broadcast, concerts, etc.) it is rare to hear an innocent, unself-conscious voice singing in a neighborhood, on a country walk, on the beach or on a city sidewalk. As many people who grew up singing know, spiritual songs build our faith. Such songs as "Rock of Ages," "Trust and Obey," and "Sweet Hour of Prayer" contain valuable teaching and encouragement. In this world today, there are still people of the Book who sing. The following accounts, written by my husband, Mr. Stanley Sherman, are evidence of that. I'm sure your heart will be touched by the relating of these true experiences.

Jamaica
Jamaica is a place of deep poverty, and with poverty comes a feeling of hopelessness and despair. Yet the people find happiness in their music. Everywhere you go, you hear music of the Caribbean culture played lively and loudly. Church singing is a special event, and the Jamaicans sing strongly, with meaning.

After Service by Leo Carty, available from Allposters.com

Many of the people are deeply religious and, denied the luxuries of life on this earth, look forward to the abundance of life with God in Heaven one day. Therefore, singing is a way of life -- songs of life in the Lord; victorious songs about overcoming sin, joyful and lively songs about the blessings of Christ, their King on this earth. I remember such song titles as "Walking on the King's Highway" and "I'm A Hard Fighting Soldier on the Battlefield," a spiritual about the Christian's warfare. These songs captured the attitudes of both solace here on earth, because of Jesus, and hope for the future. Baptism services are accompanied by joyful singing.

Baptism by Leo Carty, from Allposters.com

Complete dependence and trust in the Lord is evident in the singing of these deeply spirtual people. They sing without care whether someone hears them or not. They sing when they are happy, and they sing when they are troubled. They are a very poor people, yet they have a deep, abiding happiness.

Scotland
One very precious memory I have is of worshiping with a little non-denominational congregation on a Saturday evening in the fishing port city of Peterhead, Scotland, located at the northeast coast of the North Sea.

North by Northwest by Wren, available from Allposters.com

It is the custom there to meet on Saturday evening in preparation for their Sunday worship to God. It is also the occasion of special prayers for all the fishermen who often risk their lives in plying their trade on the treacherous and stormy waters of the cold North Sea. They pray for their safety and their success. Their way of life is intertwined with their faith in God and His care. It is reflected in their fervent prayers and the comfort of the songs relating to tossing on the stormy seas. These songs are metaphorical in nature (relating to the pressures and problems of this life) and yet quite literally related to their real way of life. Our church songbooks have many songs about the ocean, the lighthouse, the perishing, and so forth. It is no wonder people have worshiped with this little church in Peterhead well over 100 years. The song "Now The Day is Over" evokes scenes of these Saturday evening prayers and songs (click the title to hear a verse of the song below):

Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh;
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.

Grant to little children
Visions bright of Thee;
Guard the sailors tossing
On the deep blue sea.

If you'd like to hear more songs like this, or your favorite hymns, sung by Aiden and Lillibeth Humphrey (my daughter and son-in-law) you can contact me. For historical information and photographs of the town of Peterhead, in Scotland, go here: http://www.blootoon.com/pics.asp

Peaceful Horizon by Nenad Merkovich, available from Allposters.com

These two stories show how powerful singing is for stabilizing our minds and guiding our lives. If you do not sing, there are tapes available to listen to that will fill your day with the kind of music you won't regret. Those of you who do not think you can sing will soon learn to imitate it, simply by listening to singing. Get tapes with good, clear singing and decipherable words, and your appreciation and singing ability will increase.

When you are happy, sing. When you are sad, sing. When you are waiting for a prayer to be answered, sing. When you are in trouble, sing. When you are discouraged, sing. When you are lonely, sing. Those of us who were brought up "in the old days" are increasingly thankful for our childhoods filled with singing. Singing along with others, or with tapes, increases your singing ability and understanding of music. Today, many youth live helplessly and without a strong moral purpose, as they listen to the "song of fools" ("It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools" ~ Ecclesiastes 6:5) instead of the songs of faith. Many popular rock songs contain more screaming and shouting of anger, vengefulness, and profanities, than real singing. How different we would all be in the things we do for our family and others if we sang songs of faith instead of the world's songs of depravity and hopelessness.

The Psalms of David are a collection of hymns that run the whole gamut of moods, from sorrow to joy. Some of these have been put to music, and many more of them could just be sung by making up a tune. Homeschoolers might find it an interesting and educational adventure to make up their own tunes for these Hebrew poems from the book of Psalms. Another suggestion is to create your own songs when you have particular thoughts you wish to express. You can take music lessons or voice lessons to improve your singing.

There are songs for emotional release, songs of petition, songs of loyalty, and songs of instruction and guidance, songs of home, songs of life, songs of love, songs of revival, of penitence, prayer songs, work and service songs, praise songs and songs of assurance. This variety of subjects and tunes affords us a rich experience in singing. Every family should have several hymnals and song books with this variety. You can sing while washing dishes, sweeping floors, waiting for something, rocking a baby, or any number of tasks--even while doing yardwork or on car trips. There are families that regularly sing to bedridden people and people in hospitals and nursing care facilities. I have attended some of these, where the group was asked by the staff "not to stop singing" because it soothed the patients and encouraged the employees as well.

Even if you do not sing as a ministry, your private singing at home will improve your health and your work. There are probably many benefits of singing that we don't even know about, so don't be afraid to sing with your whole heart.