p. 196 | Singing and Praying by Frank Starr

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · March 25, 1880

FromThe Review and Herald, Vol. 55, No. 13

Singing and Praying.

By Frank Starr

BY FRANK STARR.

“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” Jas. 5:13. This advice, if heeded, would be profitable to the tried and tempted ones, as prayer and praise have their proper times. But are not these directions often unheeded? Is there not an inclination, in times of mental depression and conflict with the tempter, to resort, as did Saul of old, to the influence of music to soothe the troubled mind? Though this had, temporarily, a tranquilizing effect, the cause of the difficulty was not removed, and Saul received no permanent benefit. Can we expect better results, if we take the same course?

“As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.” How often mirth is used to smother conviction; but it is like the drum-beating of the pagans to drown the cries of their sacrificed infants, expiring in the arms of Moloch. Our convictions are for our good; they are not to be trifled with, for God’s Spirit will not always strive with us in this way. When the power of conviction or temptation is felt, we should wrestle in prayer as did Jacob; and when we obtain relief, we can sing as did the Israelites after crossing the Red Sea. There is no song like the song of deliverance. We can then sing with the spirit, and make melody in our hearts to the Lord. Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19. But to resort to music when one should pray, is a violation of the rule found in Jas. 5. Such singing is not done with the spirit and with the understanding. “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.”