What
are hymns? What is the value of hymns in worship?"A hymn is a song of praise. In ancient Greek culture, a hymnos was musical praise directed to the gods or heroes of the day.
In Christianity, hymns are directed to the one true God, of course.God’s people have sung hymns in honor of the Almighty since the time of Moses and before (Exodus 15:1).
David sang the “new song” God gave him and taught
others to sing “a hymn of praise to our God” (Psalm 40:3).
Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn together at
the Last Supper (Mark 14:26).
The early church sang hymns as part of their
regular gatherings (1 Corinthians 14:26).
Paul and Silas, with their feet in stocks in a
Philippian jail, were “praying and
singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25).
Technically, a hymn is a stanzaic, metrical poem meant to be sung. A traditional meter for hymns in English is 8.6.8.6., called common meter, which corresponds with ballad stanza.
Technically, a hymn is a stanzaic, metrical poem meant to be sung. A traditional meter for hymns in English is 8.6.8.6., called common meter, which corresponds with ballad stanza.
The subject matter of a hymn is what
distinguishes it from the “psalms”
and “spiritual songs” mentioned in Ephesians 5:19.
- A psalm
can be thought of as Scripture set to music—usually from the book of Psalms.
- A spiritual
song can be any song with a spiritual theme, including songs of testimony
and admonition.
- A hymn
addresses and celebrates God and has the purpose of praise and adoration.
Ephesians 5:18-19 says there is a direct connection between being filled with the Spirit and singing: “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.”
Ephesians 5:18-19 says there is a direct connection between being filled with the Spirit and singing: “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.”
A Spirit-filled Christian
is a singing Christian.
Music is the natural overflow of a heart in
fellowship with the Lord. The songs the church sings are not to be simply a
musical exercise - they must be in the heart and not just in the mouth.
The hymns the Spirit prompts are a means by which
believers edify, encourage, and teach each other (see also Colossians 3:16).
Hymns are a valuable aid to worship because they help to focus our attention on the goodness and glory of the Lord.
Hymns are a valuable aid to worship because they help to focus our attention on the goodness and glory of the Lord.
The hymn “How
Great Thou Art,” for example, reminds us of God’s majesty revealed in
creation, His perfect sacrifice on the cross, and His coming return for His
own—all matters of praise.
The classic hymns of Martin Luther, Isaac Watts, Fanny Crosby, Charles Wesley, and many others have blessed millions of Christians through the centuries.
The classic hymns of Martin Luther, Isaac Watts, Fanny Crosby, Charles Wesley, and many others have blessed millions of Christians through the centuries.
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| Twila Paris |
Modern hymn writers such as Twila Paris, Keith
and Kristyn Getty, Graham Kendrick, Stuart Townend, and
many others, continue
to put biblical truth in poetic form and turn our attention to the Lord who is
great and “most worthy of praise” (Psalm
96:4).
Related Posts:
“HOW GREAT THOU ART”
Lyrics
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonderConsider all the *worlds thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the *rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:
Refrain
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:
Refrain
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Refrain
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then *I shall bow in humble adoration,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then *I shall bow in humble adoration,
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