I recently heard a message Dr. John Piper gave at the Sing! Global 2021 Conference. He so clearly outlined the purpose singing plays in our walk with God, that I wanted to share my notes on his message with you in preparation for the next six weeks, between Thanksgiving and the new year, when I will focus on some of this Holy Season’s most treasured songs.

Dr. Piper began his message by stating that human language does not suffice as an expression of the greatest realities of the universe, adding that the realities of the Christian faith are so glorious that they will never be adequately expressed by spoken language alone. They must be sung.

Piper next addressed the deeper question of why we sing with a story. He said that he and his wife have traveled to conferences and churches for his preaching duties for more that 50 years. “When I travel with my wife, I tell her, ‘I am so glad that you are able to travel with me—it makes me happy that we can do this together.’ Never once, in 50 years, has my wife said, ‘You are so selfish—it makes YOU happy to have me with you.’”

Why would she never think of saying that?

Piper answers the question, “The worth and the glory that we see in others is measured by the gladness we have in their presence. My pleasure in her presence is a tribute to her. It is a celebration. My pleasure is a measure of her treasure to me. And so it is with God in worship. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him and in His presence as our dearest Friend.”

Please read that over several times and meditate on it.

God is most glorified in us as we are most satisfied in Him. The worth and glory that we see in God can be measured by the gladness we have in His presence. Our pleasure in him is a tribute to Him. Our pleasure is a measure of the treasure He is to us.

Piper continues, “God has given singing to His people as one of the most precious and powerful expressions of our gladness in His glory.” This is especially true when we are in dark times or times of suffering. It is especially then that our singing makes God’s glory shine most brightly.

Dr. Piper provided five connections of singing to the glory of God.

The gladness of Godward singing:

1. Sends lovers of Christ to the nations (a call for missionaries)

(Psalm 96)

2. Sustains the servants of Christ among the nations. It also sustained Christ in His darkest hour. Mark 14:26 reports that the disciples and Christ sang a hymn and then went to the Mount of Olives. We don’t know what they sang, but the next words from Christ’s mouth were that the disciples would betray Him. He would face the greatest tribulation alone. And so, first, he sang with his friends to strengthen Himself and them for what was ahead.

3. Sets the captives free in the nations – such as in the story when Paul and Silas were singing in the prison, in spite of being in chains and having been beaten. God set them free. Singing also sets the hearts and minds of those in the prisons free. They spend that time not in the prison but in the presence of God.

4. Shows the all-satisfying glory of Christ to the nations – Piper notes that the Great Commission is a global command of God to be glad in God. This is our mission. God declares that we will be free of our sin and one day we will sing at His throne and will enjoy a banquet in His kingdom. Our singing shows this all-satisfying glory.

5. Is a sign that the kingdoms of the earth belong to Christ. Singing, global singing among all the powers, is a sign of the triumphant Christ.

This is detailed in Psalm 138:

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
    for you have exalted above all things
    your name and your word.[a]
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
    my strength of soul you increased.[b]

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
    but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
    and your right hand delivers me.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever!

As Piper states, “God is most gloried in us when we are most satisfied in Him and in His presence.”

We express this overflowing joy with song. And, we win the nations!