Exhortation

Singing is the primary expressions of joy in the Bible. Women greet David with singing, dancing, and tambourines when he returns from killing Goliath. Singers and musicians parade with Solomon to his coronation.

Israel rejoices when Yahweh descends to the temple, and they sing. When God comes to judge the world, the trees break out in song. To exiles, the Lord says, “Sing for joy and be glad, daughter Zion, for behold I come and dwell in your midst.” When Israel’s God comes in Jewish flesh, angel choirs hymn His Advent.

“But I don’t feel like singing,” you say. “I don’t feel joyful.” That’s just tough, because the Bible doesn’t excuse the joyless. When Israel gathered to consecrate the temple, they sang because they were joyful. Chronicles also says that they sang until they were joyful.

Advent gives one prescription for all: God has come. Therefore: Rejoice. Sing, sing because you are joyful, sing until you are joyful. Advent offers a simple, objective test of your spiritual health: Do you sing?