Not Only Hymns, but Psalms

Last updated on: March 30, 2015 at 4:04 pm by D. G. Hart

Not Only Hymns, but Psalms 2015-03-30T16:04:52-04:00 D. G. Hart

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Our good editor here encouraged posts about “what good is religion, anyway.” In my neck of the Protestants woods, Presbyterians (Orthodox Presbyterian Church) are breaking bread with Reformed Protestants (United Reformed Churches) to produce a Psalter-Hymnal that both communions can use for corporate and private worship. This is either remarkably historic or unbelievably kooky.

The historic significance may be for one wing of American Presbyterians (the OPC) to return to a complete Psalter for public worship. Ever since the First Pretty Good Great Awakening, Presbyterians in North America have preferred singing Charles Wesley and Isaac Watts to King David. The Psalter had been the pattern for most English-speaking Protestants — the Church of England still produces some of the loveliest Psalm-singing imaginable. But the Psalms were no match for the emotions that Watts and Wesley could produce, feelings that went with the kind of dramatic conversions for which George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards were calling. Ever since then, the experience of the singer has been far more determinative for Protestant congregational singing than biblical content. But with a new Psalter-Hymnal, these two groups of Calvinists could correct church history.

The kooky part of this effort is to think that anyone in their right mind these days would sing in worship out of a book. Doesn’t everyone sing off a wall? In point of fact, everyone may sing off a wall but singing is better out of a book than off a wall. What is especially important to notice about psalmody and hymnody is that the older tunes were far more singable by congregations than the tunes that today support congregational singing. If you already know the contemporary melody, fine. But if you don’t, and since the the projection on the wall doesn’t include music (nor can most singers sing the kind of syncopation that informs most modern melodies), most contemporary Praise & Worship music leaves the uninitiated cold. And I thought this was supposed to be seeker-friendly.

The other blessing of Psalm singing is that teaching opportunity it provides to pastors and church officers. Imagine what you need to explain to people who have just sung Psalm 87:

Zion, founded on the mountains,
God, thy Maker, loves thee well;
He has chosen thee, most precious,
He delights in thee to dwell;
God’s own city, God’s own city, God’s own city,
Who can all thy glory tell?

Heathen lands and hostile peoples
Soon shall come the Lord to know;
Nations born again in Zion
Shall the Lord’s salvation show;
God Almighty, God Almighty, God Almighty,
Shall on Zion strength bestow.

When the Lord shall count the nations,
Sons and daughters he shall see,
Born to endless life in Zion,
And their joyful song shall be:
“Blessed Zion, Blessed Zion, Blessed Zion,
All our fountains are in thee.”

You have the chance to explain that this reference to God’s own city is not about Washington, D.C., or even to modern day Jerusalem but is about the heavenly city that all believers, contemporary and traditional, look for, just like Abraham:

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10 ESV)

(Image)

Psalms

First Pretty Good Awakening

hymns

Orthodox Presbyterian Church

Psalm-singing

religious experience

United Reformed Churches

what good is religion anyway

Previous Post

March 26, 2015

Now Apocalyptics All

Next Post

April 3, 2015 A Psalm for Frank Sinatra and Mitzi Gaynor?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2016 Presidential Election 2020 Presidential Election Apocalypse Bible in American Life Biblical authority Books and culture Calvinism Church Life Civil Religion Culture Wars Doctrine evangelicalism Gullibility Heaven and Hell Intellectual life Jesus Ministry modernity moralism Nationalism New Testament Old Testament Otherworldiness Otherworldliness Paul Peter Piety Popular culture Protestantism Psalms Puritans Race Roman Catholicism sacred/secular distinction Sex Shameless Self Promotion Sports Ten Commandments U.S. politics Uncategorized vulgarity worship

Select a Month January 2022 October 2021 August 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Proverbs 22:6 say about training a child?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Teach a child discipline, and he will live in wisdom. Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Guide the young, and they will not stumble. Children should be seen and not heard.

Related posts from Putting the Protest in Protestant