Sinclair B. Ferguson

Yesterday I said that secular songs have a horizontal direction.

We sing about ourselves, or what's around us, or we sing to each other, and there's nothing wrong with that.

But there's a whole missing dimension.

And by contrast, even when a Christian sings in a horizontal direction, even sings the very same songs, there's always a vertical direction.

And the reason is, as I said, because we live before the face of God and in His presence.

We know that when we're singing, He's listening.

When we're singing, we're singing to Him and about Him or for Him or in His presence.

So all of the Christian singing is different.

And when we sing specifically Christian praise, psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, it's very different.

I said yesterday I'd say a little more about this today.

I was actually thinking about Paul's words in Colossians 3, verse 16.

It's one of the most important New Testament verses about singing, isn't it?

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your heart to God.

There's a whole theology of singing in this verse.

And since it's Friday today, I hope you'll reflect on it not only today, but also tomorrow and as you go to worship on Sunday.

What is Paul teaching us?

First, that our singing needs to be informed and directed by the Word of Christ, by the teaching He gives us in Scripture.

Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness to equip us for every good work.

And this is true when we sing the truths Scripture teaches us, as well as when we hear the preaching of these truths.

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