We sing songs, hymns, and spiritual  songs (the Song of the Lord) because...

Ephesians 5:19 “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,”

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

 

A word on the Song of the Lord

Throughout the Psalms (33:3, 40:3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9, 149:1) and in Isaiah 42:10 we are instructed to sing a new song to the Lord.  This cannot occur if we are singing a song that has been sung before, even if only once before.  The Song of the Lord (named such in 2 Chronicles 29:27) is a spiritual song, thus one directed by the Holy Spirit.  It is a fresh expression through His vessels as we sing according to His leading.  Learning to minister to Him with the Song of the Lord in this life prepares us for eternity in His presence, where saints will worship the Lamb forever:  Revelation 5:9 “And they sung a new song...,” Revelation 14:3 “And they sung as it were a new song before the throne....”

 

We praise the Lord audibly because...

Psalm 47:6,7 “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.  For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.”
Psalm 98:4 “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”

 

We sing praise because...

Psalm 47:6,7 “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.  For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.”
Psalm 146:2 “While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.”

 

We wait on the Lord and are quiet because...

Lamentations 3:25,26 “The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”

 

We pray together out loud because...

Acts 1:14 “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.”
Acts 20:36 “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.”

 

We praise out loud together because...

Psalm 107:32 “Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders.”
Psalm 149:1 “Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.”

 

There is prophecy because...

1 Corinthians 14:1 “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” (NKJV)
1 Corinthians 12:10 “to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”

 

We do not use drums because...

They are not found in the Bible as a means of Godly worship.  If drums would be a means of worshiping the Lord then surely they would be found among the list of instruments that pleases the Lord.  “Lord, what do You like and what pleases You?” should be our motivation, not what we like or what pleases us.

 

We clap because...

Psalm 47:1 “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”

 

We shout because...

Psalm 32:11 “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.”

 

We cry out because...

Isaiah 12:6 “Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

Psalm 77:1 “I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and He gave ear unto me.”

 

We rejoice because...

Psalm 9:2 “I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: I will sing praise to Thy name, O Thou most High.”

Psalm 68:3 “But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.”

 

We give thanks because...

Psalm 105:1 “O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people.”

Psalm 140:13 “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name: the upright shall dwell in Thy presence.”

 

We dance because...

Psalm 149:3  “Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.”

Psalm 150:4  “Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”

 

We lift our hands because...

Psalm 63:4 “Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name.”

Psalm 134:2 “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.”