…addressing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…. (Ephesians 5:19-20, ESV)
John Daly sings and plays the guitar; well, sort of! The late Payne Stewart played a mean harmonica. Peter Jacobson, Mark Lye, and Payne formed a group called Jake Trout and the Flounders. I’m no authority on musical talent, but if asked, I would have encouraged all of them to stick with golf.
Learning to stay in one’s lane sometimes comes with significant pain. Consider Carl Lewis, an Olympic Gold Medalist’s attempt at becoming a recording artist. If you’ve never heard him sing the national anthem, be grateful.
Professional golf and the music industry have enjoyed a multi-decade relationship with some of the world’s greatest vocalists. For those old enough to remember, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, and Bing Crosby all had their names associated with PGA events.
At a completely different level of talent, I wish we could forget The Golf Boys. When Ben Crane pulled together his boy band with Bubba, Ricky, and Hunter singing “Oh, Oh, Oh,” the music world would never be the same. After watching their music video, one commentator remarked, “stick to your day job, boys!”
Yep, singing and golf go together like Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth in a best-ball match. Leaving aside all the singing that occurs in “The 19th Hole” after a few rounds, golf has enjoyed some natural talent from time to time. If we are to believe golf’s oral history Jimmy Demaret had a beautiful baritone voice.
I don’t know about you, but I am grateful for the verse encouraging us to “make a joyful noise” to the Lord. Of course, I am not addressing the need for gifted people who lead us in praise and worship on Sunday mornings. In truth, I wish more worship pastors could find a way to tell the would-be vocalist, “you have other gifts.”
There is no doubt that singing is at the heart of the Christian faith. After Moses led Israel through the Red Sea, he led the nation in a song of rejoicing. Miriam even grabs a tambourine and dances. Any effort to understand King David will be misleading apart from his gift of songwriting and singing.
By the time we get to the New Testament, exhortations to sing to the Lord are everywhere, especially in the Epistles. A happy heart will sing. A man or woman who knows the value of redemption will sing.
A few years back, I was in a basketball arena. It was filled with 10,000-plus men and women and one grand piano. As we sang the hymns of faith, there was hardly a dry eye in the house. As we gave ourselves in worship, it was evident that God was present as he “inhabited our praise.”
Perhaps it will surprise you to learn that our Savior sings. First, on the night he was betrayed, “…when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives (Matt. 26:30). Second, in Hebrews 2:12, Jesus, speaking to the Father, says, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
There are some Sundays, not many, and I can’t be sure, but on a few occasions, I sense Jesus singing in our midst. I have no way of knowing what Moses’ voice sounded like as he led Israel in songs of praise, but I’ll bet the ranch it is a distant second to one with perfect pitch!
Prayer: Jesus, teach us to sing lest the voice of the rocks drowns us out!