David sang in time of trouble and rejoicing. Mary and Simeon sang songs of thanksgiving. John, on the island of Patmos, heard the glorious songs of the angels in his vision. Music serves both a mnemonic and communal purpose. Music helps people who sing together remember their story, and the repeated memory of that common story binds members of the group together.
Music helps people become one in identity and purpose.
Because of music's ability to form the community, it has been a vital part of the Christian church over the centuries. Music is God's creation. It is a gift to God's people to use in praise and adoration and in prayer. The Spirit sees nothing but God's benefits in the world and therefore begins to sing. For Luther, music was a practical art closely tied to theology, to be used in the praise of God and in the proclamation of the Word.