Why Singing in the Shower Matters
Do you ever sing in the shower? Come on now – admit it. Some of you belt out a tune between soaps and shampoo. You imagine you’re on the stage at Madison Square Gardens and you let it out. You figure why not – no one is listening except me. I am singing for an audience of one.
Did you know the Bible contains a number of songs? The first song recorded in the Bible is sung by Adam to his newly created wife Eve. It’s not a real catchy tune but it sure has heart. Listen to the words in Genesis 2:23
“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.”
That’s the whole song! Short, to the point and full of passion! There are other, longer songs in the Scriptures, most of them are called Psalms. If you read Psalm 45 you will notice a note by the writer that says, “Set to ‘The Lillies.’” In other words, the writer is saying, “Hey sing this song to the same melody as that song “The Lillies.” The Bible is filled with songs of praise and thanksgiving; of joy and pain; of victory and more.
Why? Well let me give you the answer in song – I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches over me. The greatest reason to sing is JOY. Joy of life. Joy of the moment. Joy because I am loved by God. Joy! Joy! Joy!
In the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) there a lot of songs – especially in Luke. But before we get to the singing let’s look at the reason for the song.
SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her (Luke 1:26-38 NIV).
CONTEXT
Mary has just been visited by the angel Gabriel who informs her that God will use her to be the mother of the Messiah. Though she is a little startled by the news she accepts God’s plan with faith. She believes God’s promise and stands ready to serve the Lord.
Not long after this Mary becomes pregnant by the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit. Mary decides to visit her cousin Elizabeth. This is the same Elizabeth we read about in the beginning of Luke’s gospel. She too is pregnant – six months along. Listen to what happens when Mary enters Elizabeth’s house and greets everyone:
(Luke 1:41) When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit…
Mary had taken a very risky and long journey to see Elizabeth. She knew how God was working in her life and wanted to see what God was up to with Elizabeth. Now remember this is not the 21st Century. There are no phone or email for Mary to let Elizabeth know she is on the way. No one but Mary, God and the angels know that Mary is pregnant with Jesus. So, when she arrives the whole visit is a surprise.
Luke makes it sound like Elizabeth is in the kitchen doing some work when Mary arrives. Without seeing Mary, Elizabeth suddenly understands that Mary is with child. But not only Elizabeth but even the baby in her womb understands Mary is pregnant with the Son of God and the baby leaped in her womb!
The joy of the Lord flooded over Elizabeth. A joy filled excitement washed over her. She was so filled with joy she couldn’t contain her emotions! She loudly proclaimed…
(Luke 1:42-45) “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Listen to the sounds of joy coming out of Elizabeth’s mouth: the word “blessed” is used three times in this verse. Two of them refer to Mary and one to Jesus – whom Mary will give birth too. Elizabeth counts herself “favored” because God has chosen to reveal to her the plan He is bringing to pass in Mary. Suddenly Elizabeth saw the whole picture and she was EXCITED!!!
Elizabeth’s joy was contagious. Even the baby in her womb caught the excitement of God’s plan! Joy is filling her soul and the house. Mary catches this contagious joy and begins to belt out a tune. I going to read Mary’s song found in Luke 1:46-56 from The Message –
I’m bursting with God-news;
I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It’s exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.
What a song – it’s called The Magnificat. Do you hear the sound of promise fulfilled and hope realized? Do you hear the power of God to “knock tyrants off their horses and pull victims out of the mud!” The poor – those without food are now invited to a BANQUET! Why? Because of Jesus. Because the MERCY of God flows like wave after wave! Because God has showed up and done the impossible!
I love the first two lines - I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
APPLICATION
When was the last time you got excited about the plans and purpose of God for your life? When was the last time you were so overwhelmed by the reality of God’s promises that you just couldn’t contain your enthusiasm?
Do you know that happiness and sadness are both contagious? I read something amazingly interesting the other day. A group of scientists were studying happiness. They discovered that when a “person’s friend who lives less than a mile away becomes happy, the probability that the original person will be happy goes up by 25%” (“Shine,” Hallowell, 2011, p. 84). In other words, without even knowing it friends effect each other’s happiness even when they are not in each other’s company. Unfortunately, there is a similar effect with sadness.
What I am trying to say is that JOY is contagious. Someone once said, Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.”
I want God to infect us with an assurance that He is in control
I want God to infect us with confidence that ultimately everything will be alright
I want God to infect us with a determined CHOICE to praise God in every situation
But more than this I am asking God to make us CONTAGIOUS WITH JOY!
JOY BRINGS LIFE! So, as Joyce Meyer says, “Watch out for the joy-stealers: gossip, criticism, complaining, fault finding, and a negative, judgmental attitude.” All of these things suck the life right out of you!
So when you feel like complaining – SING! When you feel like criticizing – SING! When you feel like complaining – SING! When you feel like being negative – SING! When you feel like judging others – SING!
You cannot sing the praises of God while putting down your neighbor! Let’s ask God to make us CONTAGIOUS with JOY!
I want us to understand that I am not talking about mere “happiness.” Joy and happiness are two different things. Happiness is based on “happenings” or the things that happen externally. This is good and great; but happiness is temporary. Joy, on the other hand, is about the internal – the work of Christ within us – it is also eternal and based on a relationship with Jesus Christ.
What is your song? Are you singing a song of fear and dread? Or, are you singing the song of the redeemed? A song like Mary’s – a song of hope – a song of God’s goodness.
CHALLENGE
You may say, “But Danny I can’t sing!” I would say, “You’re missing the point.” Praising God is not about carrying a tune – it’s not about having a great voice. Singing is a GOD-DESIGNED PATHWAY TO JOY…[i]
Listen to the Psalms…
Psalms 5:11: “Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.”
Psalms 9:2: “I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”
Psalms 51:14: “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.”
Psalms 59:16: “I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.”
Psalms 63:7: “For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”
[i] http://www.unlockingthebible.org/why-singing-matters/