Songs Put Into The Mouths Of The People

The songs of the church are unique from the prayers and preaching of the church. Only the songs of the church are words "put into the mouths" of the people:

"Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel" (Deuteronomy 31:19).

This verse serves as the standard for what the songs of the church are to be and to accomplish.

1. They are to be prophetically inspired, the very words of God as given through and by his prophets.

2. They are to be songs! The songs of the church are prophecies dedicated for the purpose of singing.

3. They are to accomplish Deuteronomy 31:19-20 and Deuteronomy 32:44-47; Colossians 3:16; and 2 Timothy 3:16.

Therefore, the songs of the church can only be the inspired and inerrant words of God. 

Only the songs of the church are words put into the mouths of the people of God. Prayers (apart from the reciting of Scripture as prayer) and preaching may be listened to and weighed. Only the one praying aloud or preaching is responsible for what he has said. But when something is put into the mouths of the people it is binding upon all the people. This can only be the Scripture, the very words of God through his prophets.

The Book of Psalms for Worship

                                 



This is a video on the reasoning behind singing the Psalms, and was occasioned by the creation of a new Psalms translation, the Book of Psalms for Worship.

A cool thing is that this Psalter is available as an app for iPhone, Android, and Windows. I have it on both Windows and iPhone and am learning to make use of it. It includes the words to all 150 Psalms and a selection of tunes fitted for each one. It's also available in print from Crown and Covenant.

Let's sing God's praises from his Book of Praises, the Psalms.