Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. Ephesians 5:19 KJV
In this verse, Paul writes about psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as if they were three friends. Sadly, in our modern age we have chopped these neatly up and then stored them on separate shelves in our pantry. But what a great joy it can be for those of us who call ourselves poets to attempt a reunion and invite all three to our kitchen table.
For example, when we use the word “Psalm,” most of us think only of the one hundred and fifty of them written in the Bible. But the Greek word, simply means a verse of any sort that is accompanied by stringed instruments. Stranger still, the phrase “spiritual song” was not a song as we know it, but more of a rhythmic chant, (a bit closer to what we call a poem). Last of all, the word hymn, meant a musical celebration, and was what Jesus sang with His disciples before they went out from the Last Supper. It might surprise you to learn that many of the hymns we sing today were not initially written as songs. Just to give one example, “How Great Thou Art” by Carl Boberg, was originally written in Swedish as a ten-stanza poem, titled “O Store Gud.” Somewhere along the way it was paired with a folk melody and then later translated into Russian. After that Russian version began to become popular in Ukraine, it was heard by a British missionary, named Stuart Hine. Stuart loved the song so much that he translated the first two of the verses into English, and then added the third and fourth verses which we sing today.
I won’t go into detail, but similar stories lie behind, well known songs such as “My Jesus I Love Thee” “Jesus Loves Me” and “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” One precious memory I have as a nursing home chaplain is of my friend Davonne – now singing with Jesus. Anytime our song service, if I would ask to sing only the first, second and last verse. Davonne would exclaim, “NO Pastor Peter! That song has a story and if we skip any of the verses, we will be missing part of it!” So, maybe it will help you the next time you are laboring away trying to tell a story with a poem, to close your eyes, then imagine the melody of your favorite hymn playing in the background and let it set a rhythm to your words and make a melody in your heart!
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The reference to “spiritual songs” is more likely referring to speaking (or rather singing) in tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance. πνευματικαῖς is the same root word used by the apostle in 1 Corinthians 12 regarding spiritual gifts. While used in slightly different ways in other places to indicate someone with a priority on that which is immaterial vs the material world, it is most often referring back to the Holy Ghost (or the Holy Spirit in modern vernacular) as He who was poured out in Acts 2.
Remember, Paul claimed to “speak in tongues more than all of you” to the Corinthians in 14:18. While this is in a warning about only speaking in tongues in worship venues, it is noteworthy that he also said in verse 39, “Do not forbid speaking in tongues.”
❤️&🙏, c.a.
I am not against tongues as part of our worship, but the phrase itself in the Greek has a wider application. Without the kinds of printed material, not to mention digital information, this corporate kind of worship was a way to not only instruct younger family members, but also to pass down from generation to generation, the praises of God.
The story of Davonne touched my heart! And precious Madeline joining you! Yes, let’s praise him in all 3–together! Often, when I memorize verses, I put them to music. God bless you, Pastor Pete! Thank you for sharing!
You’re more than welcome. Thanks for starting the conversation.
🙏🎶
The little girl singing with you is precious! Blessings, Pastor Pete!
Thanks Cindy. That’s my favorite granddaughter. But when I tell her that, Madeline always reminds me, “Poppy, I’m your only granddaughter!”
Davonne understood the richness the entirety of a song brings. Thank you for sharing her wise words, Pastor Pete.
Especially precious words now that she is with Him and we are still here. She is singing new songs while we look for treasures in the oldest hymns. Thanks for commenting Beth. God Bless you and your family.