Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs


“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16 NIV
     Music paints a picture; it tells a story. Music can trigger emotional memories and moments. Caregivers have observed for decades that Alzheimer's patients can still remember and sing songs long after they've stopped recognizing names and faces. Music is powerful. I love music. There is a song for every occasion, and there is a genre for every musical preference. I particularly love the Psalms. A psalm is a song of praise.
     The Book of Psalms, as is all Scripture, is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16). In reading the psalms, I'm often comforted, yet still wonder, why the Holy Spirit would inspire the psalmist to pen emotions so raw, so human, with moments you are almost embarrassed to admit you can relate to. The Psalmist, so consumed by their current situation, cried aloud, “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13:1-2).
     Have you ever been there? A common perception of people of faith is that we are never sad, we never experience periods of doubt, uncertainty, or failure, and are never discouraged or confused. But through the Psalms there is a human expression that's real and relatable. But even more significant than our ability to relate to the human anguish of the psalmist, the psalms provide the revelation of a Faithful God. Psalm 13 ends with confidence and hope in God, “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me” (verse 5-6).
     Any form of art allows the composer or artist to create a sense of order out of chaos. Penning the beginning, middle, and end of a thing allows you to see the end, while still in the middle, and rejoice because somehow, someway you know what you’re going through has come to pass! I, for one, am so glad that troubles don't last always. No matter how your beginning or middle looks, praise God for your good ending. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”