Tag: Hymns

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Worship…in Song

I love to sing songs of praise to God.  There are some songs that I consider to be my favorites, and I’m sure you have your favorites as well.  Going back, I can’t remember a time when singing hymns weren’t a part of my life.  “The Old Rugged Cross“, “We Praise Thee, O God“, “He is My Everything” have been songs I remember singing from an early age.   When Vicki and I were married (22 years ago), we had “God Be With You Til We Meet Again” as our recessional.  For years we would sing “I Come to the Garden Alone” to our children as they were going to sleep (a practice my grandmother did for me), because there is no better way to close your day then to put into your heart and mind ‘…the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding…’ (Philippians 4:7).

Hymns and spiritual songs are intended to give praise to God.  We should sing in hopes of teaching valuable lessons and stirring the hearts of those who hear.  Singing involves at least three basic elements of our bodies; our hearts, our minds and our voices (lips).  Would that we use all three to bring glory to Him and edification to His people.

Let’s take a look at the blessings we find in singing songs of praise. Since the Lord seeks those who will worship Him to worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), it is important that we ask ourselves one basic question; “What is God’s will for us as we worship Him in song?”

To learn the truth about Christian worship in song, we must go to the New Testament.  (A study of the Old Testament will show you what God expect under the old law).  Ephesians 5:17-21 states, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation (moral looseness); but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in fear of God.”  In Romans 15:5-9, Paul speaks of the Gentiles glorifying God, and emphasizes how a congregation, together, should be glorifying God.  Notice Paul’s words from this passage in Romans; “…so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…I will give praise to Thee among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Thy name.”

In short, the following are New Testament passages that reference singing praises to God:

Matthew 26:30…Jesus and His disciples after the Lord’s supper

Acts 16:25…Paul and Silas at midnight, in jail with their feet in stocks

Romans 15…Noted above

I Corinthians 14:15 & 26…”I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also…” “What is the outcome then, brethren?  When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.  Let all things be done for edification.”

Ephesians 5:18, 19…Noted above

Colossians 3:16…an emphasis on singing songs that teach and admonish

Hebrews 2:12 & 13:15…quoting Psalm 22 (‘…in the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise.‘) and ‘…let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.‘

James 5:13…a clear call to sing, ‘…Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.”

Each example listed from the New Testament describes worship for the Christian as one that emphasizes verbal communication: singing, speaking, teaching, admonishing, making melody with your hearts, confessing, giving thanks, proclaiming, and the fruit of lips.  Is it just me or do you see a clear call for your heart, mind and voice (fruit of lips) to be the instruments of choice from God.  When we worship, know for certain, your body should be giving God all the praise and all your worship.

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A Psalm, a Hymn or a Spiritual Song?

Is there a difference between singing a psalm or singing a hymn?  If I’m singing a spiritual song how is that different (is that different) from singing a psalm?  Both Ephesians 5, and Colossians 3 use similar wording when talking about these three terms; “…speaking to (teaching and admonishing) one another in (with) psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs…”  The apostle Paul authored these letters to the churches in Ephesus and Colossae, and based on Acts 16:25, he was no stranger to singing.  But what exactly is the difference between a psalm or a hymn or a spiritual song?  Do theses words mean the same thing?  A deeper look into these three (different) forms of singing praise to God and singing encouragement to the faithful might give us a better understanding of what we are doing when we sing.

Though admittedly, there is some gray area in the exact interpretation of these three words, a basic idea can be found for a quick understanding of these terms by evaluating each on it’s own merit.

A Psalm (for all practical purposes) would be a song that is based on scripture.  The Psalms would obviously be our first thought in answering the question, ‘What is a psalm?’.  But the following could be classified as a psalm as well: ‘a song of praise or edification that can be found in part or in whole in the word of God.’  It is clear when we sing, the 23rd Psalm… “The Lord’s my shepherd I’ll not want, He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.  He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and lovingness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  You know the song… “The Lord’s my shepherd I’ll not want: He makes me down to lie, In pastures green, He leadeth me in pastures green He leadeth me the quiet waters by.”  But do you know this ‘contemporary’ song from Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, but not I, but Christ lives in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  So a ‘Psalm’ is song we sing almost directly from scripture.

Personally, the hymn is my favorite of the ‘songs’ when compared to the other three song definitions.  To understand the definition of a hymn, I have found it is easiest to relate this simple analogy;  ‘A hymn is a song that is sung to HIM’.  Many examples are available, but one of my favorites is a sung written by Annie Hawks in 1872…“I need Thee every hour, most precious Lord; No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.  I need Thee, O I need Thee; every hour I need Thee!  O bless me now, my Savior; I come to Thee!”  No one can refute the fact that this song (hymn) is directed to HIM.

A Spiritual Song is more basic in that it can encompass anything that is Biblical (spiritual) in nature.  If I sing a song that comes from God’s word or is contemplating Godliness, it could be classified as a spiritual song.  An example might be “Walking Alone at Eve”.  Consider the chorus to this ‘spiritual song’; “O! for a home with God, a place in His courts to rest, sure in a safe abode with Jesus and the blest (Biblical in thought); Rest for a weary soul once redeemed by the Savior’s love, where I’ll be pure in whole and live with my God above.”

Next time you stand with the saints to sing praises, or sit alone and singing a song of prayer, ask yourself; “Are we (Am I) singing a Psalm, a Hymn or a Spiritual Song?”