Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs

 

Do you find yourself singing in the shower... while you do chores... or joining in when you hear a familiar song on the radio?  I love to hear one of our housekeeping staff as she sings while she works.  I remember vacuuming in the church one time, while wearing headphones. I was belting out the song, but not realizing anyone else was around. All they heard was my terrible voice, which is not even a joyful noise... it's just noise!  When you have the joy of the Lord, you just can't help but to sing.  He puts a new song in our heart and we can't keep it in.

Sadly, there is FAR too much conversation and controversy in today's churches regarding musical styles. Satan is using a beautiful tool designed for worship and using it to divide the Body of Christ.  The Bible is very clear about the music that should fill our hearts and help us bring glory to God. The Apostle Paul outlines this in his instructions to the Church at Ephesus. Listen to Eph. 5:19 - "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."  Let's examine what these types of songs are and the differences between them.

Psalms are inspired songs that were part of the Hebrew Scriptures and used to give praise to God in corporate worship.  In Mark 12:36, the writer quotes Psalm 110:1 -  "David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."  The Holy Spirit led David to write and this Psalm was included as part of the Holy Scriptures. So, Psalms are literally songs inspired by God.

Hymns is obviously not Paul's reference to the "hymns" that we have in our hymnals today.  Humorously, many of the hymns that religious zealots defend today were set to early bar-room tunes and not initially permitted to be sung in the churches.  The hymns Paul refers to were not inspired songs and were not included in the pages of the Bible, but they often taught doctrinal truths and were included in Jewish worship. Some of the great hymns of the faith also teach doctrine truths and should be included in corporate worship and taught to our children.  So, hymns are songs written and sung to God by the worshippers.  

Spiritual Songs communicate a wide variety of sacred themes. They may teach, encourage, prompt action, express the joy of salvation, revel in the grace of Christ, or exalt the greatness and power of God. These songs, praise choruses, worship music, etc. span various genres. These are the songs that are so often shunned by the older "religious" crowd, because they don't like the musical style, repetition, etc. The Apostle Paul said to include spiritual songs about God in our worship of God.

So, the Apostle Paul instructed the church to use psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Rather than arguing that God only likes "your" style of music, let us realize that God is the God of variety! Realize that music was part of Lucifer's anatomy (Ezekiel 28:13 KJV- ...the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.)  It only makes sense that Satan would use his strongest gift to divide the Body of Christ.  So, let's stop arguing and focus on worshipping. Let's each sing the song(s) the Holy Spirit places in our individual hearts. Just belt it out (psalms, hymns & spiritual songs) and let others know that you have the joy of the Lord -- even if you don't have a great voice.