PSALMS, HYMNS, AND SPIRITUAL SONGS

Music and singing has been part of God’s plan for His followers since the beginnings of worship.  One of the earliest mentions of songs in the Bible was when Laban scolded Jacob for leaving without saying goodbye. We see this in the following verse:

Genesis 31:27 (NKJV) “Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp?”

After successfully crossing the Red Sea, Moses led the singing with all of Israel joining in.

Exodus 15:1 (NKJV) ‘’Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea.”

During the time when the Judges ruled in Israel, Deborah was one of those judges, and she had a general named Barak. After a major military victory they rejoiced with music.

Judges 5:1 (NKJV) “Then Deborah and Barak … sang on that day…”

King Saul appointed David as one of his Captains, and when they returned from defeating the Philistines they were honored by a ladies choir:

1 Samuel 18:6-7 (NKJV) “So the women sang as they danced, and said: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.’"

(This made Saul furious, and he turned against David after this.)

Of course, the Psalms have been called “The Hymnbook of Israel” and the summary of their value in worship is found in the final chapter of the book.

Psalm 150:1-6 (NKJV)

“Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.”

Paul instructs the Church and all believers as follows:

Ephesians 5:19 (NKJV) “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

Colossians 3:16 (NKJV) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

And when we all get to Heaven there will be abundant, non-ending music and worship.

Revelation 15:3 (NKJV) “They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints.”

Compare this to the music primarily used in churches today. We have classic, traditional hymns, which like the psalms are often scripture set to music. We also have praise and worship songs, mostly from the last 70 years. And finally we have the newer spiritual, contemporary songs, often reflecting our feelings and our relationship with Christ. All these may or may not be used with instruments, such as is the case in Psalm 150.

The important thing is to be able to sing all types of music in worship. Not everybody likes all kinds of songs in church, or excessive volume of instruments and singers, but if you don’t like one type of music, then find a church in which you personally are in sync with the worship style.