At the end of life, when he is no longer able to sing, the man who has led his family in song will have a rich repertoire at hand and will have prepared himself well for the eternal song of the saints of God in heaven.
Singing is a manly and powerful means of leadership. Throughout history, men have led others in work, warfare, and worship with their singing.
Men sing as they lead others to work. A beautiful example of this is the singing of Welsh coal miners who would sing hymns together on their way to the mines through the first half of the twentieth century. The valleys could be heard resounding with hymn tunes such as “Bryn Calfaria” and “Cwm Rhondda.” Theirs was purposeful singing. It helped them, and those around them, to endure the harsh conditions of the mines and grueling physical labor. This cultural phenomenon was beautifully portrayed in the classic 1941 film How Green Was My Valley and in a 1957 musical recording titled Music from the Welsh Mines, which featured a choir made up of Welsh miners. Annual Welsh male-choir festivals with hundreds of participants still bear witness to the impact of generations of men singing while they work.
Men sing as they lead into battle. When King Jehoshaphat sent his army against the enemies of Israel, we are told that he
appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men…who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.
2 Chronicles 20:21–22
This event demonstrates that the Israelites acknowledged God’s sovereignty in their victory, even before their victory was realized. It is key for us, as people of God, to acknowledge the Lord with our worship as we fight our present spiritual battles. Those who study human behavior and its effects on the mind and body are just scratching the surface of the benefits of singing in terms of fighting anxiety, depression, and stress. How much more does singing benefit us in fighting sin and spiritual apathy. God doesn’t always tell us why He commands us to do something, but I’m convinced that God commands us to sing for our own good and to sustain us in the fight.