“Sing a song to Him; sing a psalm to Him!

Speak loudly of all His miraculous works!”

(Psalm 105:2)

How shall we praise God? One of the most fundamental ways to do so is to sing to Him of his wonderful, or miraculous works. Those who object to Christian faith see this as an indication that God is needy, like a self-conscious child that needs people to offer empty platitudes to tell him that he has done well. With God, though, this could not be further from the truth. 

No, we sing of God’s miraculous works not to make God feel better; we sing of God’s miraculous works for two primary reasons. The first is a reminder that we are paying attention to the works that God is doing and that we are giving Him His due. Thus, when we see something miraculous, we do not count it as a matter of chance or unexplainable providence; we see His hand at work. The second reason we sing of God’s miraculous works is that it reminds us of who we are worshipping. Sometimes it is easy to fall into a trap of going through the motions in our worship (both public and private). Sometimes it is easy to despair when things just don’t seem to be going the way they ought. But, when we engage in worship and remind ourselves of these works of God, we remember who He is and ought to be made more confident in what we have been called to do. As Asaph writes, he despaired until he came into the sanctuary of the Lord (Psalm 73:17). Worship has a remarkable way of putting things into perspective — giving us a heavenly perspective.

Commonly, English translations of the first portion of this verse will render the text: “sing to Him; sing praises to Him.” While that is a perfectly legitimate translation, in our text here, I wanted to highlight something taking place within the language. In Hebrew, there are many words that can be translated as “sing” or “sing praises,” which is a testimony to the importance of singing in worship — God commands it! Yet, some words are present to help us understand what we ought to be singing when we gather in worship.

In the Greek translation of the Hebrew psalter, there are three general categories of psalms that can be found: psalms, hymns, and odes. Some of the psalms are one or the other (see, for instance, Psalms 4, 5, and 6 are respectively described as a song, a psalm, and a hymn. Some psalms fill multiple categories. For instance, Psalms 66 and 75 are described as “a Psalm, a Hymn, and an Ode.”

How does this help us to understand our text? In the first portion of the first line, the Hebrew word שׂיר (siyr) is used. This is the verbal form of the Hebrew word that is translated as an “ode” or a “song.” In the second half of the first line we see the Hebrew word זמר (zamar) being used. Again we have a verbal root, but this time it is the Hebrew wroot for the word we translate as “psalm.” What is the implication of this? Hebrew uses parallel ideas to add force or clarification to what has been previously stated. So, what is conveyed, David is saying, “sing a song to God! What kind of song? Sing Him a Psalm.” Even the final clause is helpful to understand the full thrust of the command. “What kind of Psalm? One that tells of His mighty deeds!”

David is ushering a command in these words: sing psalms that tell of God’s power and might. They put life in perspective (we are small and God is mighty!). They also give you confidence when you see the wicked prospering (at least in a worldly sense). God is enthroned on high; we should worship like it! Further, this psalm will give us an example of exactly what that looks like.