"Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs."
Have you ever wondered why Paul bothered to list three different types of worshipful encouragement? He uses the same triplet in Colossians 3:16. (In fact, Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 are the only verses that use the Greek word "humnos", hymns.)
Here is Robert Morgan's explanation, "Experts debate the differences among the three terms, but it makes sense to think of them in epoch terms. Psalms are hymns from biblical history. Hymns are those from Christian history. Spiritual songs are expressions of worship that are more contemporary to our own generation. Ephesians 5:19 makes a case for what's often called 'blended worship'."
Kind of makes sense to me, does it to you? We are to come together as Christians and share psalms (biblically based songs), hymns (songs of our past, the great songs of faith, the "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "A Mighty Fortress is our God!" kind of songs), and spiritual songs (songs that come straight from our spirits - our songs). God wants us to share Him in all manner.
Then the other thing I notice is that we are to "speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs", but we are to sing and make music "to the Lord" in our hearts. So it seems to me that our actual, verbal, out loud singing is for the benefit of the congregation, while what is going on in our hearts is what God is gifted with.
Have you ever been in a congregation where everyone is joyously singing? It is beautiful! And it is SO encouraging, because you know that you are bonded together with everyone in that room. It is really a wonderful time of Christian unity as a spiritual family. Now that I have looked at this verse in this manner, it impresses upon me that this really is God-instructed for our benefit.
And how can you be in that type of worshipful atmosphere and your heart not absolutely be on fire for the Lord? That's what delights God...when He sees our hearts melted for Him with such love and devotion.
I love corporate worship. I love hearing the voices of my Christian brothers and sisters singing around me, verifying their faith in God Almighty, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit, three in One. And I love it when in those moments, I know my heart is 100% owned by Him.
Have you ever wondered why Paul bothered to list three different types of worshipful encouragement? He uses the same triplet in Colossians 3:16. (In fact, Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 are the only verses that use the Greek word "humnos", hymns.)
Here is Robert Morgan's explanation, "Experts debate the differences among the three terms, but it makes sense to think of them in epoch terms. Psalms are hymns from biblical history. Hymns are those from Christian history. Spiritual songs are expressions of worship that are more contemporary to our own generation. Ephesians 5:19 makes a case for what's often called 'blended worship'."
Kind of makes sense to me, does it to you? We are to come together as Christians and share psalms (biblically based songs), hymns (songs of our past, the great songs of faith, the "Onward Christian Soldiers" and "A Mighty Fortress is our God!" kind of songs), and spiritual songs (songs that come straight from our spirits - our songs). God wants us to share Him in all manner.
Then the other thing I notice is that we are to "speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs", but we are to sing and make music "to the Lord" in our hearts. So it seems to me that our actual, verbal, out loud singing is for the benefit of the congregation, while what is going on in our hearts is what God is gifted with.
Have you ever been in a congregation where everyone is joyously singing? It is beautiful! And it is SO encouraging, because you know that you are bonded together with everyone in that room. It is really a wonderful time of Christian unity as a spiritual family. Now that I have looked at this verse in this manner, it impresses upon me that this really is God-instructed for our benefit.
And how can you be in that type of worshipful atmosphere and your heart not absolutely be on fire for the Lord? That's what delights God...when He sees our hearts melted for Him with such love and devotion.
I love corporate worship. I love hearing the voices of my Christian brothers and sisters singing around me, verifying their faith in God Almighty, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit, three in One. And I love it when in those moments, I know my heart is 100% owned by Him.
1 comment:
I agree with everything you have said, and learned from it also. Songs expressed outwardly with others and the special songs in our hearts - all singing God's praises. I enjoy and God enjoys the hymns we sing at the beginning of our bible study each week. Another instruction given to us to follow - to follow God's teachings in song.
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