Sinclair B. Ferguson

And that's the first thing we should ask when we read a hymn, isn't it?

Yes, we know hymns are poetical, and that can involve a special kind of use of language.

But we also need to be just as discerning about what we sing as about what we hear.

So we should always be asking, is this song biblical?

Is it profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness?

That's a fundamental issue.

The second thing to notice is that Paul is showing us here that our singing is actually part of the whole congregation's ministry of the Word.

It's a ministry that we exercise towards each other.

We may not be using our own words, but we need to understand that when we all sing the same words, we're really meant to be thinking and praying, Lord, help us to learn what this hymn is saying.

Help us through the singing of this song to teach one another.

Help me to minister to my brothers and sisters about Yourself, about Your Son, about Your Spirit, about ourselves, about our church, about our needs.

and about the ways in which you will meet them.

And then there's a third lesson here, and it's an important one too.

We are to sing with thankfulness to God in our hearts.

Paul makes the same point in the parallel passage in Ephesians 5, 19, when he talks about making melody to the Lord with all your heart when you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

We're to lift up our hearts to God when we lift up our voices in praise.

What He's listening for is the melody in our souls.

That's why Paul writes in 1 Corinthians chapter 14 verse 15, what am I to do?

I will sing praise with my spirit as well as sing praise with my mind.

Well, it's Friday and Sunday's coming.