April 9, 2010

10 Reasons To Sing The Psalms In Worship

…Brian Cochran offers 10 reasons why he believes “it is vital to the Christian life that we sing the Psalms in worship”.

  1. They are inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21).
  2. It is an excellent way of hiding God’s word in your heart and letting the word of God dwell in you richly (Ps. 119:11; Col. 3:16).
  3. The Psalms present the Biblical pattern for properly balancing the objective and the subjective aspects of the Christian life.
  4. The Psalms give us a comprehensive presentation of Christian emotion.
  5. The Psalms give us hope by anticipating the return of Christ and the age to come.
  6. The Psalms are a great way to express our unity with God’s people from thousands of years ago.
  7. The wisdom of church history.
  8. The Psalms will help you understand the New Testament better.
  9. The Psalms are Christ-centered (Luke 24:27, 44).
  10. You will come to know the heart and mind of Christ better (e.g. Matt. 27:46; cf. Ps. 22).

Brian has expounded his first reason and will continue to do so at his blog.

HT: The Heidelblog

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October 23, 2009

Calvin & Worship Worthy of God

Consider the following quote by John Calvin and ask yourself whether your worship is “worthy of God”?  This should be a jolt to the many Reformed churches today who practice almost exclusive hymnody:

Moreover, that which St. Augustine has said is true, that no one is able to sing things worthy of God except that which he has received from him. Therefore, when we have looked thoroughly and searched here and there, we shall not find better songs nor more fitting for the purpose, than the Psalms of David, which the Holy Spirit spoke and made through him. And, moreover, when we sing them, we are certain that God puts in our mouths these, as if he himself were singing in us to exalt his glory.

Quote by John Calvin taken from John Calvin: Pilgrim and Pastor by W. Robert Godfrey.

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September 9, 2009

William Ames on Singing Imprecatory Psalms

Quest. 4. How may we sing those Psalms aright, which contain dire imprecations in them?

8. A. 1. We may upon occasion of those imprecations meditate with fear and trembling, on the terrible judgments of God against the sins of impenitent persons.

9. 2. We may thereupon profit in patience and consolation, against the temptations which are wont to [habitually] arise from the prosperity of the wicked, and affliction of the godly.

10. 3. We may also pray to God that he would hasten his revenge (not against our private enemies but) against the wicked and incurable enemies of his Church.

—Conscience with the Power and Cases Thereof, 4.19.8–10. English modernized.

via meetthepuritans.com

Some helpful words by William Ames on how Christians can still sing the imprecatory Psalms in light of Christ’s words in Matthew 5:44 “”But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you…” and the apostle Paul in Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”

Read the whole article (and the ensuing comments) at Meet The Puritans.

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