The Bible Edge
Everyone needs an Edge, Believers can have a Bible Edge
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.
The theme for these devotions for this month is “Random Thoughts of a Spiritual Nature.” Today’s thought takes a backseat to none. Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in a group setting is as old a practice as the Bible is old. After all, in Matthew 26:30, after the “Last Supper” it’s recorded And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. In fact, all the way back to Exodus there is Biblical evidence of singing unto the Lord as a group. Exodus 15:1. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Hey, as a side note, notice this. The first usage of the word sing and sang in the Bible is in the same verse Exodus 15:1. This has no known significance is just a bit of Bible trivia, but as with all else in the Word of God there is nothing trivial about any of it.
Back to the subject at hand. Singing songs in a congregational setting has two overriding purposes.
One: It teaches and admonishes others in the assembly. When in church, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs teaches and admonishes others. After all, how could they not? Consider just one verse of “How Great Thou Art.”
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed:
That is just one verse of one song that both teaches and admonishes.
Two: Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs in a group setting has an audience of One. The Lord God. For it is unto Him we sing first and foremost. Others may be edified, but the Lord is the One to whom we sing. In most hymnals there is a song commonly called the “Doxology.” This short chorus is aimed directly at our Lord in Heaven.
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
One day in Heaven we will all sing together, not songs to instruct, only to praise. To praise Him and Him alone for He is worthy of all praise.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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