LESSON FIVE – SINGING HYMNS

Eph. 5:18-19 — Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with your heart to the Lord.

THE DIRECTION OF A HYMN

Toward God

Most hymns are directed toward God. The object of this poetry is God. Most of the psalms in the book of Psalms are poetry directed toward God. Psalm 51 is a famous psalm of prayer to God. All hymns of praise, thanksgiving, and prayer are sung to God.

Toward Men

Other psalms are directed toward men. Psalms 37 and 133 are examples of such psalms. This kind of hymn either preaches to men or encourages men to go to God. All the gospel hymns and hymns of admonition are sung to men.

Toward Oneself

There is still a third kind of hymn in the Bible—those that we sing to ourselves. Many passages in the book of Psalms include the phrase O my soul! All these hymns are directed toward oneself.

Toward One Another

Both Colossians 3:16 and Ephesians 5:19 speak of the matter of mutual singing. In mutual singing, after one brother sings, another brother responds by singing. The first brother may sing again, and the other brother may respond again. Or several brothers can sing and another group of brothers responds in singing. (CWWN, vol. 48, “Messages for Building Up New Believers,” pp. 241-243)

EXERCISING OUR SPIRIT BY SINGING TO BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

You need to exercise your spirit. When you exercise your spirit and use your spirit, the Holy Spirit will fill your spirit. The best way to exercise the spirit is by praying and singing. (CWWL, 1985, vol. 4, “Meeting to Speak the Word of God,” p. 279)

SPEAKING CHRIST IN PSALMS, HYMNS, AND SPIRITUAL SONGS

In Ephesians 5:18-19 Paul says, “Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with your heart to the Lord.” We are to be filled with the Triune God as the all-inclusive, consummated Spirit in our spirit. This filling occurs not by our speaking in the common, worldly language but by speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. In our hymnal there are many good hymns full  of the truth. Every hymn, especially those written by us, is a good message full of the riches of Christ. For example, Hymns, #501 describes how Christ was the infinite God in eternity who, as God’s radiant expression, became a finite man, limited in time. As the very expression of God, He died for us to accomplish redemption in His f lesh. Then He became a life-giving Spirit to be one with us. We must learn to speak Christ with the hymns. (CWWL, 1985, vol. 3, “The Divine Speaking,” p. 287)

According to the New Testament, psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are good not only for singing but also for speaking. Sometimes we are inspired by singing. But on other occasions, speaking that is filled with pneuma may be more inspiring than singing. If we are flat, short of pneuma, then our speaking will afford no inspiration. But if we are full of pneuma, then our speaking will have impact and will inspire others. This is not eloquence; it is utterance with impact. (Life-study of Ephesians, pp. 434-435)

References: CWWN, vol. 48, “Messages for Building Up New Believers,” lsn. 15; CWWL, 1985, vol. 4, “Meeting to Speak  the Word of God,” msg. 3; CWWL, 1985, vol. 3, “The Divine Speaking,” ch. 2; Life-study of Ephe- sians, msg. 51; CWWL, 1987, vol. 2, “Words of Training for the New Way,” msg. 11

WE WILL SING TO THE LORD WITH OUR SPIRIT

Experience of Christ—In Spirit – 1141

• We will sing to the Lord with our spirit,
  We will sing to the Lord from within,
  We will sing hallelujah to Jesus;
  And be blent into oneness with Him.

• We have been many years in religion,
  We have been many years in our mind,
  We have been many years in emotions,
  Always seeking, but never to find.

• Now we’re learning to turn to our spirit,
  Now we’re learning to take Christ as life;
  Now we’re learning to feed upon Jesus
  And be freed from all struggling and strife.

• Hallelujah for life in the Spirit,
  Hallelujah for newness within.
  When we turn from our mind to our spirit,
  We enjoy all the riches of Him.