“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”

Is anyone cheerful?

“Cheerful” means to put in good spirits. This word comes from two words: good and soul. A “cheerful” person is someone who has a healthy soul, a joyful attitude. He is a person with prosperity in his soul; therefore, he has spiritual vitality. 

Ps 5:11, “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

            Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;

            Let those also who love Your name

            Be joyful in You.”

Ps 16:11, “You will show me the path of life;

            In Your presence is fullness of joy;

            At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

1 Pe 1:8, “…whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory…”

1 Jn 1:4, “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

Let him sing psalms

The Greek word “sing psalms” primarily means to twitch, twang (as with a bowstring), and play a stringed instrument with the fingers. The New Testament usage carries the idea to sing a hymn, sing praise (accompanied by musical instruments). The innate answer of a cheerful heart is to sing praise to God. There is a time for prayer, and then there is a time of joy. 

Ac 16:25, “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

The filling of the Spirit produces a song in the heart.

Eph 5:18-21, “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

PRINCIPLE: 

Spiritual singing is an expression of spiritual joy. 

APPLICATION: 

There is a time for prayer, and then there is a time of joy. A gal says “yes” to a date, so the guy sings in the shower. Singing is an expression of joy. Spiritual singing is an expression of spiritual joy. This is the ecstasy of spirituality. This is a healthy soul. 

Co 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.”

1 Co 14:15, “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.”

There is a right time for everything. There is a time to pray, and there is a time to sing. In all, God is sufficient. We relate everything we are and have to God. God’s will is right in every situation.