SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/22/2019
10:24 AM
My Worship Time Focus: How do
Believers Sing?
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Ephesians
4:19
Message of the verses: “19 speaking to one
another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with
your heart to the Lord;”
When
believers are filled with the Holy Spirit they will fulfill what is written in
verse 19. The word “speaking” from this
verse includes any sound offered to God from a Spirit-filled heart. MacArthur adds “The music from an organ or
choir is no more acceptable to God than the sounds of a guitar or home-made
flute. The sound that pleases Him is the
sound that comes as a result of a heart submissive to His Spirit and that sings
or plays to His glory.”
When
we see the word Psalms it refers mostly to the Old Testament Psalms that are
put to music, however the term was also used of vocal music of any sort including
solos and anthems. I mentioned in our
last SD that the early church and even some churches today used the Psalter put
to music for their worship services.
This is not as prevalent in our churches today. In studying the Psalms I can see that they
bring glory to the Lord which is what our singing and worship is to do.
When
we look at the word “hymns” it speaks of songs other than that came from the
Psalter which exalted God. MacArthur adds “Many biblical scholars believe that
various New Testament passages (such as Col. 1:12-16) were used as hymns in the
early church. ‘Spiritual songs’ were
probably songs of testimony that covered a broad category that included any
music expressing spiritual truth.”
More
from MacArthur: “In the church today we
could classify renditions of Psalms 23 and 84 as psalms, ‘A Mighty Fortress is
Our God’ and ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ as hymns and ‘O How He Loves You and Me’
and ‘I’d Rather have Jesus’ as ‘spiritual songs.’ The intent of the writer here, however, is
simply to give latitude for all kinds of musical expression to exalt the Lord.” Martian Luther is who wrote “A Might Fortress
is Our God” and that songs comes from the 46th Psalm. He would often say to his partner in ministry
“Let us sing Psalm 46.”
The
word “singing” is from ado and this
simply means to sing with the voice.
However in the New Testament it is always used in relation to praising
God as seen also in Col. 3:16; Rev. 5:9; 14:3; 15:3.
I
have never had a good voice for singing, however when I sing praises to the
Lord I believe that the Lord hears me singing in a better voice than I sing
with here on earth.
MacArthur
adds “Psallo (‘making melody’) is
related to the term from which we get psalm
and literally means to pluck on a stringed instrument, particularly a harp, with
the fingers. The word, however, come to
represent the making of an instrumental music.
The Spirit-filled heart expresses itself in any sort of vocal or
instrumental music, in both ‘singing and making melody.’”
I
want to close this section with Hebrews 2:12 “He says, "I will declare
your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your
praises’” (NIV). This verse tells us
that one day we will hear the Lord sing to us.
I am looking forward to that very much.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: Singing is good for the soul, and I have
always enjoyed good music, and since I became a believer I enjoy different
kinds of music that brings honor to the Lord.
Gospel music has always appealed to me.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Humility is
still something that the Lord is teaching me.
Psalm 51:10 is the verse that goes with
Billy Sunday’s quotation from yesterday:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast Spirit within
me.”
7/22/2019 10:53 AM
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