EPHESIANS 5:19

“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord;”

I have been singing in choirs since @ 1975. That’s almost 50 years. I have sung in youth choirs and ensembles, college choirs, barbershop quartets and choruses, church choirs, praise teams, quartets and solos. I love to sing. Since moving to Knoxville back in March of this year, I have been relegated to being a part of the congregational singing. I have enjoyed that. I even break out in song some mornings on my morning walks as I listen to praise songs. I am sure my neighbors love that at 5:30 a.m. lol

Paul knew the importance of singing praises with other believers. He lists “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” in today’s verse. I don’t think the type of song was as important as “singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord.” Paul didn’t say that only the gifted musicians should sing. This command was given to all believers. You may be the most tone deaf person in the crowd, but the Lord takes pleasure when you sing to Him.

APPLICATION

The psalms were literally Scripture set to music. These psalms were sung in the temple and in the early church. They speak of God’s love, protection, and redemption. David wrote between 73 and 80 of the psalms in our Old Testament. Some of the psalms give instructions to sing with a musical instrument. There is just something about singing the words of God in worship.

I love the hymns. Unfortunately, many churches have disregarded the hymns in favor of more contemporary songs. I am not writing this to start a debate about hymns. I am simply pointing out that Paul saw the value in singing hymns. HELPS Word studies says this about this word. “Hýmnos (“hymns”) is used only of praising the triune God, manifested in the flesh in Jesus Christ, the God-man. It occurs twice in the NT (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16), pointing to well-known songs of praise to God that became established hymns for the early Christians.”

And what are these “spiritual songs” Paul references? These are more spontaneous songs of praise to God. I love what it says in Revelation 5:9-10. “9 And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slaughtered, and You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation. 10 You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.’”

Whatever and however you choose to sing, make it a celebration of our one true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Just sing!

I love to sing unto You, O God, my Rock and Salvation!