In Unison

 

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

—James 15:5-6

Harmony—voices on two or more blending pitches—can thrill us with its beauty. What does it take to sing in harmony well? Each person must have enough confidence in his or her own ability to commit to notes that others around may not be singing. Attention to each other makes harmony singing possible. Listening, in order to blend the sounds, takes much practice. It is interesting to note that singing rounds in elementary school introduced many of us to harmony singing.

In contrast, singing in unison has a power that singing in harmony does not. Just as unison speech seems more powerful to us and even gives us the ability to hear the words more plainly, to truly sound like one voice, people have significant power when they sing in unison. While singing in unison, the weak and under-confident vocalists get a boost from the group and become encouraged to sing out. Those listening to unison singing can clearly hear the notes and text coming toward them in a strong manner.

I like the story found in 2 Chronicles 5, where the ark was brought into the newly built temple on the dedication day. What a day of rejoicing this was. The Scripture passage from verses 12-14 reveals what happened. Just imagine this:

All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

What power that music must have had in uniting the people of God. Likewise, the singing in our churches should sound out that strongly, whether we sing in harmony or in unison. Others, who hear our singing, should clearly be moved by the power of the Holy Spirit. And, God should unmistakably hear the glory given to Him through the singing.

Our pastor likes to say—and I agree—that when we gather as a congregation of God to worship, the Holy Spirit is “thickest”—that’s the power of unison singing. Our singing, our prayers, and our careful attention to preaching all pierce their way into our ears, minds, and hearts. No one should leave church the same way he or she came into the church. The more we live and worship in unison, the stronger our witness will be to the world!