Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs September 6 2020

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs September 6, 2020 San Angelo, Tx

Ephesians 5: 18 -21 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Purpose of Singing in Worship • Singing has been commanded to be part of the worship of the Church. • As we sing, we should be teaching and learning! • If our singing ever loses this purpose, we are not fulfilling our obligation to God.

1 Corinthians 14: 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. It is very important that we sing with the understanding! That is the goal of this month’s study!

Pliny – 1 st Century Roman Official After hearing suspicious reports about the practices and meetings of Christians, he made an inquiry and found that they “were in the habit of meeting on a certain fixed day before it was light, when they sang in alternate verses a hymn to Christ, as to a god” (Letter 10. 96).

Categories of Worship Songs • Psalms • Hymns • Spiritual Songs

Colossians 3: 16 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. Some believe that these three categories ALL apply to the Psalms we read of in the Old Testament. I do not agree with this viewpoint.

PSALMS • The Psalms we read of in the Old Testament were written as songs of public worship in the Temple. • The word psalm means “praise”. • Many of our current songs of worship are based on these ancient songs.

PSALMS • This is the Day that the Lord Hath Made • The Lord is My Shepherd • By the Waters of Babylon

Acts 13: 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. ’ (Psalm 2: 7)

HYMNS • Hymns are typically described as songs that are directly addressed to God. • Hymns are songs that give praise, honor or thanksgiving to God. STRONGS NT 5215: ὕμνος In Greek writings from Homer down, a song in praise of gods, heroes, conquerors in the Scriptures of God; a sacred song, hymn: plural, Ephesians 5: 19; Colossians 3: 16

HYMNS • • • How Great Thou Art Holy, Holy It is Well With My Soul Great is Thy Faithfulness To God Be the Glory

DIVINE INSPIRATON • The major difference between a Psalm and a hymn is that we take the Psalms to be of divine inspiration, while hymns are not. • Hymns usually are based upon Scripture and incorporate doctrinal truth.

Matthew 26: 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. The actual hymn that Jesus and Apostles sang is not specifically mentioned.

SPIRITUAL SONGS The term “spiritual songs” is more general in nature. Spiritual songs are typically thought to be hymns that speak about the Christian experience. STRONGS NT 4152 pneumatikós, non-carnal, a spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious: —spiritual. STRONGS NT 5603 ōidḗ, a chant or "ode" (the general term for any words sung; - a song.

SPIRITUAL OR NOT? • We must be sure that any song led as part of worship to God meets this requirement – it must be spiritual! • The song can communicate a wide variety of sacred themes, but it MUST BE SPIRITUAL! • A song might be emotional, but that does not mean it is spiritual.

Spiritual Songs • • • Amazing Grace Blessed Assurance At the Cross I’ll Fly Away What a Friend We Have in Jesus

New Testament Hymns • • • Colossians 1: 15 -20 Philippians 2: 5 -11 1 Timothy 3: 16 Hebrews 1: 1 -3 1 Peter 2: 21 -25 These are widely agreed upon by Bible scholars to be ancient hymn (or fragments of old hymns). Unfortunately, this is often lost in translation.

Colossians 1: 15 -20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Colossians 1: 15 -20 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Hebrews 1: 1 -3 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the ]worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

Conclusion • As Christians, it is our duty and privilege to sings songs of praise to God. • Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs are three categories of songs of worship. • We must sing with the understanding. • Singing has a purpose – to teach and uplift the congregation.

Revelation 5: 9 -10 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood. Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth. ”