Psalmody and Worship

[JohnGill]

John Gill on "New Song"

Psalms 33:2

Ver. 2. Praise the Lord with harp,.... An instrument David was well skilled in the use of, the inventor of which was Jubal, Ge 4:21;

sing unto, him with the psaltery; the name of this instrument is in the Hebrew language "nebel": the account which Josephus {w} gives of this, and of the former, is,

"the harp is extended with ten strings, and is plucked with a quill; the "nabla", or psaltery, has twelve sounds, and is played upon with the fingers;''

some make this and the next to be the same:

[and] an instrument of ten strings; and read them together thus, "with the psaltery of ten strings": and so the Targum, Septuagint, and other versions {x}: but it seems from Josephus that it was not a stringed instrument, but had holes, and those twelve; and besides it is distinguished from the instrument of ten strings, Ps 92:3; it was in the form of a bottle, from whence it had its name.

{w} Antiqu. l. 7. c. 12. s. 3. {x} Vid. Jarchium in loc. & R. Mosem in Aben Ezra in loc.


Psalms 33:3

Ver. 3. Sing unto him a new song,.... One newly composed on account of recent mercies received; and as the mercies of God are new every morning, there ought to be a daily song of praise to him; and so a new song is a continual song, as Christ is called the "new and living way", Heb 10:20; because he is the everliving way; or the constant and only one, which always was, is, and will be. Or it may denote some famous and excellent song, as a new name is an excellent name, an unknown and unspeakable one; see Re 2:17; compared with Re 14:2; or respect may be had to the New Testament dispensation, in which old things are passed away, and all things become new; a new covenant is exhibited, a new and living way opened, and new ordinances instituted, and at the end of it there will be new heavens and a new earth; and so here is a new song made mention of, as suited to it;

play skilfully with a loud voice: either with the quill upon the harp, and the instrument of ten strings; or with the fingers upon the psaltery, at the same time, vocally, and aloud, expressing the new song.

 

[dcomin]

Doug, dear brother - I know we have agreed to disagree, but you should at least link to your rationale - the brother is working through it and should see your and other's good work, so he can "test everything".

I did link to my rationale. It's in my signature.

Worship From Genesis to Revelation

 

[panta dokimazete]

- so sorry! That YELLOW is hard to see!

 

[N. Eshelman]

I don't think we have ever discussed exclusive psalmody on this board before, have we?

 

[JohnGill]

I don't think we have ever discussed exclusive psalmody on this board before, have we?

Exclusive Psalmody? What's that?

 

[N. Eshelman]

I don't think we have ever discussed exclusive psalmody on this board before, have we?

Exclusive Psalmody? What's that?

And I am RPCNA! And I love singing psalms exclusively.

I am glad that we can help a brother that is working through these issues though.

 

[larryjf]

I like this part of John Gill's commentary on Ps 33:3

Ver. 3. Sing unto him a new song,.... One newly composed on account of recent mercies received; and as the mercies of God are new every morning, there ought to be a daily song of praise to him; and so a new song is a continual song, as Christ is called the "new and living way", Heb 10:20; because he is the everliving way; or the constant and only one, which always was, is, and will be. Or it may denote some famous and excellent song, as a new name is an excellent name, an unknown and unspeakable one;

I also like what Matthew Henry says about Ps 3:3

Sing unto him a new song, the best you have, not that which by frequent use is worn, thread-bare, but that which, being new, is most likely to move the affections, a new song for new mercies and upon every new occasion, for those compassions which are new every morning.

 

[larryjf]

Wouldn't a Psalm that commands the singing of a new Psalm be speaking of itself, since it is being newly written to be added to the Psaltery?

 

[blhowes]

I recently attended a service where the pastor sang a song (he's part of the worship team as well as the preacher) that he hoped others could relate to as he had, which was about a person struggling between two positions - portraying the struggle between the flesh and the spirit. Kind of reminded me of music you might hear at a coffee house.

Allowing whatever the particular church leaders approve of may be good in most/many/some instances, but when I hear songs like this during a worship service, I tend to like the idea of EP more and more (that from a person who really loves singing the great hymns of the faith)

 

[panta dokimazete]

Not to be argumentative, but one could just as well use the same rationale for preaching and praying only Scripture.

Truth is - until we are in Heaven, there will be imperfect worship done by well-meaning, but imperfect people here on the earth.

That's not to say we give up striving, just be careful not to embrace extreme principles out of contra-reaction.

 

[FrielWatcher]

I recently attended a service where the pastor sang a song (he's part of the worship team as well as the preacher) that he hoped others could relate to as he had, which was about a person struggling between two positions - portraying the struggle between the flesh and the spirit. Kind of reminded me of music you might hear at a coffee house.

Allowing whatever the particular church leaders approve of may be good in most/many/some instances, but when I hear songs like this during a worship service, I tend to like the idea of EP more and more (that from a person who really loves singing the great hymns of the faith)

Music can be poorly made, have flat theology, horizontal equivalence in lieu of vertical holiness and adoration - I don't buy it, never have. You know when a song is praise to men and not praise to god.

EP is great because the psalms are entire in their praise and petition to the Lord in all moods a person can have, probably some we haven't even thought of yet. I am having a hard time believing, right now, that every hymnal should be kicked to the curb and recycled into the next eco-mega-church's eco-friendly insulation.

 

[larryjf]

Not to be argumentative, but one could just as well use the same rationale for preaching and praying only Scripture.

Truth is - until we are in Heaven, there will be imperfect worship done by well-meaning, but imperfect people here on the earth.

That's not to say we give up striving, just be careful not to embrace extreme principles out of contra-reaction.

I agree that contra-reaction is a slippery slope to go down.
But there are fundamental differences between prayer, preaching, and singing the Psalms.

We are to use "reason" in preaching...
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. (Act 17:2-3)


How can we pray for those who "dispitefully use us" (Mat 5:44) if we are restricted to pray from the Scriptures only?
How would we confess our particular sins to God if we were restricted to pray the Scriptures?

 

[panta dokimazete]

And how would we sing new songs if we were constrained only to the Psalms?

 

[FrielWatcher]

And how would we sing new songs if we were constrained only to the Psalms?

With new songs, just as with biblically sound and doctrinally sound preaching, can't we discern between a song that is error and one that is not, just as we do with preaching. Or with church discipline - what is in line and what is not in line with biblical obedience? Are we not given wisdom to know what is Godly and ungodly? What was made for good and what was made for garbage?

 

[panta dokimazete]

But there are fundamental differences between prayer, preaching, and singing the Psalms.

I would agree that there are fundamental differences between, preaching, praying and psalmody (note the small "p" - referring to the term more generically) - particularly in application, but a fundamental similarity is that each element has some degree of "uninspired" composition. Once this is understood, then it simply becomes a matter of degree and regulation.

 

[larryjf]

Again, when a Psalm speaks of singing a new song...wouldn't it be referring to itself since it is just being written?

 

[panta dokimazete]

And how would we sing new songs if we were constrained only to the Psalms?

With new songs, just as with biblically sound and doctrinally sound preaching, can't we discern between a song that is error and one that is not, just as we do with preaching. Or with church discipline - what is in line and what is not in line with biblical obedience? Are we not given wisdom to know what is Godly and ungodly? What was made for good and what was made for garbage?

1 Thess 5:21

 

[larryjf]

I would agree that there are fundamental differences between, preaching, praying and psalmody (note the small "p" - referring to the term more generically) - particularly in application, but a fundamental similarity is that each element has some degree of "uninspired" composition. Once this is understood, then it simply becomes a matter of degree and regulation.

But you would have to show that this statement is true. I don't see the Scripture as giving authority to write songs to worship God, i do see them as giving authority to pray and preach with uninspired content.

 

[panta dokimazete]

Again, when a Psalm speaks of singing a new song...wouldn't it be referring to itself since it is just being written?

If it said "sing to the Lord this new song", sure...

 

[larryjf]

1 Thess 5:21

Do you take that verse, in context, to refer to the regulated elements of worship?

 

[larryjf]

Again, when a Psalm speaks of singing a new song...wouldn't it be referring to itself since it is just being written?

If it said "sing to the Lord this new song", sure...

Technically it says "new song", not "a new song"

 

[FrielWatcher]

Again, when a Psalm speaks of singing a new song...wouldn't it be referring to itself since it is just being written?

If it said "sing to the Lord this new song", sure...

Technically it says "new song", not "a new song"

Technically - boy, when that word comes out aren't we starting to walk a fine line?

 

[Grace Alone]

I understand obedience and glory to God and why we should be in line with the commands of God. Is not "A Mighty Fortress" God-honoring and exalting?

Man can't decide what brings honor to God, we must follow God's directions to bring Him honor.

The very act of choosing a hymn written by man rather than a Psalm written by God, thereby setting up man's composition in the same place as God's, brings glory to man and not God.

I understand that the psalms cover everything. I don't know, it seems a bit legalistic and that when proper God-exalting hymns are sung by faith to honor the creator God, would it be a foul stench in His nose? Please help me.

Legalism is one of two things...

• Adding man-made commands to God's
• Believing that works themselves help to save us

But following a command that God gives us is certainly not legalism.

Okay, then if you follow that line of thought to jusify psalms singing only, then it logically ends with the preacher reading scripture only rather than a sermon written by man since everything we need is written in scripture.

(I missed reading that Panta has already made this point. I still don't understand why we can only sing psalms when scripture clearly says "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs".)

 

[FrielWatcher]

1 Thess 5:21 - why could you not use it as regulatory BECAUSE we are given a spirit of discernment to find what is good and to hold fast to it. Our expounding on the scriptures in pulpit - why not just get up and read the scriptures and say "Amen." Could not a lyrically written sermon be turned into verse with music accompaniment?

I just don't see how we can see one aspect under one precedent but another not? Why is the the sermon given up to fallibility and interpretation and okay yet the music has to be the psalms? Music has to be the psalms but the liturgy and the sermon is not held to the same precedent - purely biblical.

 

[larryjf]

I understand obedience and glory to God and why we should be in line with the commands of God. Is not "A Mighty Fortress" God-honoring and exalting?

Man can't decide what brings honor to God, we must follow God's directions to bring Him honor.

The very act of choosing a hymn written by man rather than a Psalm written by God, thereby setting up man's composition in the same place as God's, brings glory to man and not God.

I understand that the psalms cover everything. I don't know, it seems a bit legalistic and that when proper God-exalting hymns are sung by faith to honor the creator God, would it be a foul stench in His nose? Please help me.

Legalism is one of two things...

• Adding man-made commands to God's
• Believing that works themselves help to save us

But following a command that God gives us is certainly not legalism.

Okay, then if you follow that line of thought to jusify psalms singing only, then it logically ends with the preacher reading scripture only rather than a sermon written by man since everything we need is written in scripture.

Except that the point is that God commands how to bring Him glory.
We are told in His Word to use reason to preach, and we are told to pray for things outside of the scope of Scripture. I'm not sure why folks keep bringing up parallels between preaching, praying, and singing...they're regulated differently in Scripture.

I still don't understand why we can only sing psalms when scripture clearly says "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs".

Because those are titles to different psalms in the Book of Psalms.
If you look at the Greek that is used in the NT for "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" and you look at the Greek OT (Septuagint)...you will find that these exact same words are the titles for different types of Psalms.

 

[larryjf]

1 Thess 5:21 - why could you not use it as regulatory BECAUSE we are given a spirit of discernment to find what is good and to hold fast to it. Our expounding on the scriptures in pulpit - why not just get up and read the scriptures and say "Amen." Could not a lyrically written sermon be turned into verse with music accompaniment?

I just don't see how we can see one aspect under one precedent but another not? Why is the the sermon given up to fallibility and interpretation and okay yet the music has to be the psalms? Music has to be the psalms but the liturgy and the sermon is not held to the same precedent - purely biblical.

The Scripture regulates all of these elements...and as written in an earlier post (found here), Prayer is regulated to include things outside of Scripture, and Preaching is regulated to include using our reason to make Scripture clear.

 

[larryjf]

If it said "sing to the Lord this new song", sure...

Technically it says "new song", not "a new song"

Technically - boy, when that word comes out aren't we starting to walk a fine line?

Yes, when someones argument stands on the word "this" or "a"...and that word is not even in the original language text, it should not be used as an argument for their position.

 

[FrielWatcher]

1 Thess 5:21 - why could you not use it as regulatory BECAUSE we are given a spirit of discernment to find what is good and to hold fast to it. Our expounding on the scriptures in pulpit - why not just get up and read the scriptures and say "Amen." Could not a lyrically written sermon be turned into verse with music accompaniment?

I just don't see how we can see one aspect under one precedent but another not? Why is the the sermon given up to fallibility and interpretation and okay yet the music has to be the psalms? Music has to be the psalms but the liturgy and the sermon is not held to the same precedent - purely biblical.

The Scripture regulates all of these elements...and as written in an earlier post (found here), Prayer is regulated to include things outside of Scripture, and Preaching is regulated to include using our reason to make Scripture clear.

But when a harp is added in, the default leads us back to the psalms like a mandatory hyperlink? I understand you POV yet I am just asking about precedent and what I am gaining from this is that once music begins, one hammer of the keyboard, interpretation is ceased.

 

[panta dokimazete]

1 Thess 5:21 - why could you not use it as regulatory BECAUSE we are given a spirit of discernment to find what is good and to hold fast to it. Our expounding on the scriptures in pulpit - why not just get up and read the scriptures and say "Amen." Could not a lyrically written sermon be turned into verse with music accompaniment?

I just don't see how we can see one aspect under one precedent but another not? Why is the the sermon given up to fallibility and interpretation and okay yet the music has to be the psalms? Music has to be the psalms but the liturgy and the sermon is not held to the same precedent - purely biblical.

The Scripture regulates all of these elements...and as written in an earlier post (found here), Prayer is regulated to include things outside of Scripture, and Preaching is regulated to include using our reason to make Scripture clear.

Granting the synonym useage for the Psalms (grudgingly - I still think Paul was referring to 3 forms common to the culture), the EP'er continues to overlook that we are commanded to be taught by the Psalms, that the Psalms teach us to sing a new song, so we must understand what that means in context for the NT priesthood of believers worshipping apart from the temple in spirit and truth.

In the OT - the new songs were written by David and others in priestly office, compiled and closed for that covenant period. So the command to sing an entirely new song was closed to the OT worshiper, except in the sense that the Psalms themselves contained "new songs" written for the Davidic type of OT temple worship.

In the NT - the Psalms - just as the entire OT - are renewed and refreshed in light of the revealed (and named!) Messiah. We are commanded to worship in spirit and truth freed from the requirement of temple worship, but not from the commanded elements that remain (preaching\teaching, praying and singing) and the new ordinances.

So, in context, we, the NT, new covenant church, are commanded to be taught by the Psalms. The Psalms command that we sing a new song. So, just as preaching and praying may have "uninspired" yet regulated content, so may our song.

 

[Beth Ellen Nagle]

Not to be argumentative, but one could just as well use the same rationale for preaching and praying only Scripture.

Truth is - until we are in Heaven, there will be imperfect worship done by well-meaning, but imperfect people here on the earth.

That's not to say we give up striving, just be careful not to embrace extreme principles out of contra-reaction.

JD,

One significant difference between prayer, preaching and singing is that in singing the content is immediately professed by all. You cannot withhold your "amen". This is one among other reasons to distinguish between the elements in worship. The Psalter is a canon of songs given to the Church to be professed by all in singing and it is all "amen".

Just my little 2 cents in this long discussion.