MUCH THEOLOGY IN OLD HYMNS

 

Monday, January 2, 2023

 

MUCH THEOLOGY IN OLD HYMNS

 

Col 3:16

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

          Hymnody should teach and gently reprimand because that is the idea presented by Paul when he said, “teaching and admonishing one another.” He offers three categories of “church songs.”

 

          Psalms are portions of Scripture put to music. The Book of Psalms is the hymn book of the Bible. You may already be singing psalms in your church and not know it. For example, the hymn “All People that on Earth Do Dwell” is a direct paraphrase of Psalm 100. “All Creatures of Our God and King” comes from Psalm 148.

 

          Hymns are songs with which we address the Lord. Here is an example that I suspect is not familiar to you.

 

Almighty Father, Bless The Word

 

Almighty Father, bless the Word,

Which through Thy grace we now have heard.

O may the precious seed take root,

Spring up, and bear abundant fruit.

 

We praise Thee for the means of grace,

As in our lives Thy love we trace.

Grant, Lord, that we who worship here

May all, at last, in heaven appear.

 

          Spiritual songs are hymns are songs by which we address each other. They communicate the wonderous things of God and the wonderful relationship we enjoy as spiritual brothers and sisters. Amazing Grace by John Newton has thirteen verses! Most are abandoned and ignored but the hymn is a song of personal testimony. “I once was lost but now I’m found.”

 

Amazing Grace

 

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

 

          As a genuine old guy, I like to think I am balanced and reasonable, but I am convinced that many of the songs sung in church today do not teach doctrine or gently reprimand. Music often defines a church and occasionally divides some.

 

          Facing a lifetime of pastoral ministry, my wife and I chose this as one of our wedding songs in 1968.

 

Savior, like a shepherd lead us

Much we need Thy tender care

In Thy pleasant pastures feed us

For our use Thy folds prepare

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are

 

Blessed Jesus may our hymnody be such that you would want to sing along. AMEN