Singing in Suffering

When I was 16, I had shoulder surgery. I woke up from the surgery in pain. I promise you, the last thing on my mind was singing. As a matter of fact, any time the pain medicine wore off over the next several weeks, and I suffered from the pain of that surgery and the recovery, singing was not on my mind. I tend to sing when I am happy, but not during times of physical, mental, or emotional pain. I would almost wager that I am not alone in that respect. However, as we will see in our passage today, Paul and Silas sang during a time of suffering.

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And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Acts 16:19-25

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Let me provide a little backstory so that you know why Paul and Silas were in trouble. They were in the city of Philippi, and a demon possessed girl was following them around harassing them. She was a soothsayer and a slave. This was how she made her master money. After some time, Paul cast the evil spirit out of her, which removed her ability to "tell the future". When her master saw that he was not going to be able to profit from her anymore, he got mad and stirred up a mob. That is where our passage picks up.

Paul and Silas were beaten with whips and cast into the deepest part of the prison. Their backs were raw and probably bleeding. Their feet and hands were shackled so that they could not even tend to their wounds. What did they do? They sang praises to God! Can you imagine that? Most of us would have been wallowing in self-pity, but not them. They praised God!

In Acts 5:41, we get a little insight into the minds and motives of the Apostles concerning suffering. Luke, the writer of Acts, tells us, "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name". I believe this was what motivated Paul and Silas to sing. Just like the Apostles praised God that they were "counted worthy to suffer shame for his name", so did Paul and Silas, and so should we. We should sing in our suffering because we have been counted worthy so suffer for the Name of Christ. When we suffer persecution, just like Jesus suffered persecution, we bear His image and people see Christ in us, "the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

Father, thank you that in the good times and bad we can sing praise to Your holy Name. Help us to always remember that You are good, and that You are using our circumstances for good and for Your glory. Thank You for the gift of singing. May we remember to use it to encourage ourselves, and to encourage others.