Essays
Making Melody With Our Hearts
MAKING MELODY WITH OUR HEARTS
William Barclay succinctly notes that, “the early Church was a singing Church”. In his letter to the church at Ephesus, the apostle Paul exhorts: be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…”
(Eph.5:19). The first-century Church, born in the cradle of Judaism, sang psalms (from the Old Testament Psalter). They also sang hymns of praise derived from a variety of Old Testament writings. They were also charged to sing spiritual songs. These spiritual songs were comprised of words given to them by the Holy Spirit. cf. 1Cor.14:15 & 26. Dietrich Bonhoeffer has written these helpful thoughts: “The heart sings because it is over-flowing with Christ…WHERE THE HEART IS NOT SINGING THERE IS NO MELODY…Our song on earth is speech. It is the sung Word…Thus the music
is completely the servant of the Word. It elucidates the Word.” While singing can often be inspirational, its primary intent is to be instructional. It flows forth when the Word of Christ richly dwells within us, and provides much-needed teaching and admonition to one and all (Col.3:16a).
We are also directed to sing with thankfulness in our hearts to God (Col.3:16b). One more point - - perhaps a lesser point, but a point that can have significant ramifications. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN AN ASSEMBLY WHERE THE CONGREGATION APPPEARED TO BE SINGING HALF-HEARTEDLY? While such may be depressing to us, it must be rather insulting to God our Father. We are to shout joyfully (Ps.100:1). At whatever volume level we choose to sing, our singing needs to be both audible and generated by a grateful heart (Eph.5:20). This rules out both mumbling and grumbling.
Whenever we gather as a church to worship, let us serve the Lord with gladness (as we) come before Him with joyful singing (Ps.100:2).
Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ
