Psalm 95:1-2
“Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”
Singing is another aspect of worship that has been highlighted by its absence recently, but there are many compelling reasons singing is normally an integral part of our corporate worship service.
Praise
Martin Luther famously said, “next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise.”[1] His high praise for music derives from his view of the reciprocal nature of gospel living. Anything given by a gracious God is inherently valuable and demands to be returned to the Lord as a sacrifice of praise.[2]
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was present at the Vienna Music Hall, when his oratorio The Creation was being performed. Weakened by age, the great composer was confined to a wheelchair. As the majestic work moved along, the audience was captured by the tremendous emotion of the piece. When the passage “And there was light! ” was reached, the chorus and orchestra burst forth in such power that the crowd could no longer restrain its enthusiasm. The vast assembly rose in spontaneous applause. Haydn struggled to stand and motioned for silence. With his hand pointed toward heaven, he said, “No, no, not from me, but from thence comes all!” Having given the glory and praise to the Creator, he fell back into his chair exhausted.[3]
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) was present at the Vienna Music Hall, when his oratorio The Creation was being performed. Weakened by age, the great composer was confined to a wheelchair. As the majestic work moved along, the audience was captured by the tremendous emotion of the piece. When the passage “And there was light! ” was reached, the chorus and orchestra burst forth in such power that the crowd could no longer restrain its enthusiasm. The vast assembly rose in spontaneous applause. Haydn struggled to stand and motioned for silence. With his hand pointed toward heaven, he said, “No, no, not from me, but from thence comes all!” Having given the glory and praise to the Creator, he fell back into his chair exhausted.[3]
Scripture
Congregational singing, choirs, and instrumental music were obviously common practices in the Old Testament Church (1 Ch. 15:22,27; 1 Ch. 15:16; 16:42; 23:5; 2 Ch. 5:13; 23:13; 34:12; Ps. 92; 98:1,4; 150). And while instruments are not mentioned in the New Testament, corporate singing is commended and commanded (1 Co. 14:15; Co. 3:16).
Participation
Like so many biblical worship practices, congregational singing disappeared from the Church of the middle ages. Therefore, one of the innovations of the Reformation was to lead the whole congregation in singing rather than to be lead passively by professionals. Children were the leaders of the song and men and women followed. This was the first time women’s voices had been heard outside the convent. Knowing God’s desire to hear praise from all his children, the Reformers unleashed the people to participate in worship rather than sitting as spectators.
Prayer
John Calvin particularly championed singing by the congregation. For him it was an act of prayer. Since the Psalms are the Word of God, Calvin viewed their singing as an activity in which the Trinitarian God was peculiarly present. Christ is the conductor of the song, God the author of the words, and the Holy Spirit is the one who prompts us to sing.[4] Calvin viewed music in general as one of the many gifts God lavishes in love on his people. For instance, he said of instrumental music, “it ought not to be thought of as superfluous” for “it may minister to our pleasure, rather than our necessity.”[5]
Expression
Singing is also one way we express the fullness of our emotions. While there are other ways to worship that are prescribed in this passage, singing is the best for expressing love.[6]
Truth
In our worship at 2PC, we aim for a variety of styles. I want to comment in this post, however, on the lasting value of hymns. There is simply no comparison between the quality of the poetry and theological depth in many of the great Christian hymns. I want solid theological concepts encased in beautiful poetic expression to be planted deep within the hearts of all of us, especially our young people. When our young people are tempted to impurity I want the words, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty” to come to their minds. When someone questions their faith in college I want, “My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me, love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be” to come to mind. And when they are afraid, I want them to hear, “A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing.”
Lord haste the day when we can again “make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.”
Lord haste the day when we can again “make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.”
[1] Martin Luther, “Liturgy and Hymns,” Luther’s Works (St. Louis: Concordia; Philadelphia: Fortress, 1958-1986), 53: 323.
[2] Miikka E. Anttilla, Luther’s Theology of Music: Spiritual Beauty and Pleasure (Berlin: de Gruyter, 2013), 173-94.
[3] Daily Bread, September 20, 1992
[4] Institutes 3.20.31-33.
[5] John D. Witvliet, “The Spirituality of the Psalter: Metrical Psalms in Liturgy and Life in Calvin’s Geneva,” Calvin Studies Society Papers 1995, 1997 (Grand Rapids: CRC Product Services, 1998): 93-118.
[6] Derek Kidner, Psalms 73-150, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (IVP Academic, 2009), “Psalm 95.”