The Standard September 14, 2024
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
Throughout history people have sung to God in adoration, and we see examples throughout the Bible. After God rescued the Israelites from the Egyptians by parting the Red Sea through Moses, the Jewish people were full of praise. “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: ‘I will sing to the Lord for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.’” Exodus 15:1-2
After God subdued the Canaanite king, Jabin, before the Israelites their leaders Deborah and Barak sang, “When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves- praise the Lord! Hear this you kings. Listen, you rulers. I will sing to the Lord, I will sing; I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel. O Lord, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth shook, the heavens poured, the clouds poured down water.” Judges 5:2-4
Before the birth of Jesus while visiting her relative Elizabeth, Mary sang, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name.” Luke 1:46-49
The Book of Psalms is filled with praise and thanksgiving. “Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name – he is holy. The King is mighty, he loves justice – you have established equity.” Psalm 99:2-4 “O Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy.” Psalm 99:8-9 “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100: 1-3
Some Dutch Reformed and Presbyterian denominations sing only biblical psalms in their worship services. This practice is called “exclusive psalmody.” Martin Luther used psalms and hymns during the Protestant Reformation. John Calvin preferred biblical psalms to be sung in Geneva, although he did not oppose hymns being used in other churches or appeal to Scripture to make a case for his preference.
Whatever Christians decide to sing, our worship should be God-focused and rooted in biblical truth. Children will be brought up repeatedly hearing and singing, then coming to understand the solid foundation of grace through faith. Theologically sound lyrics go far in letting the word of Christ dwell richly in all of us.
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