Principle Four

THE PSALMS

 

The following are references made by the New Testament writers encouraging the Psalmic paradigm:

How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.   1 Corinthians 14:26  

 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…                                                 Ephesians 5:19  

 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.   Colossians 3:16    

Jesus and the Disciples

        And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.                                           Matthew 26:30  

The Hymns that Jesus sang were not stuffy old 19th century type hymns sung from a Hymnbook, written with many stanzas, and difficult to memorize. Hymns like Cornerstone or Rock of Ages.

The hymns Jesus sang with the disciples were simple songs of praise to God. A Psalm, an ode, or spiritual song much like the psalms that David sang in the tabernacle of David.

Tabernacle of David

Once David was established as king of Judah and Israel, he set up a tent, or tabernacle in Jerusalem. He then placed the Ark of the Covenant in the middle of the tent for all to look upon and worship. He instructed the Levites to praise the Lord with singing and instruments.

So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it:…And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel.                                                        1 Chron. 16:1-4  

The original tabernacle of Moses was in Gibeon at this time, which is about five miles northwest of Jerusalem. It is not clear why David did not set up the Tabernacle of Moses on Mount Moriah and resume worship prescribed in the law of Moses. There is no explanation why, or what his reasoning was behind the action.

This became an unprecedented period of grace and mercy. God would never authorize King David to take this action otherwise.

This period of grace lasted at least forty years until Solomon completed and dedicated the Temple building. Also, this worship was continual. It went on twenty-four hours per day for the duration of the forty years.

The Ark was a symbol of God’s power, presence, and glory. Yet they had open and orderly worship before the Ark in the presence of God with no fear of punishment or penalty.

This is significant to born-again believers because we also take the same liberties. In the New Covenant we do not sacrifice animals, Jesus became our sacrifice. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and we worship without fear or intimidation. We stand in His presence with confidence, knowing we are his very righteousness.

The Tabernacle of David becomes our standard of worship in the New Testament. We may also stand before God without guilt or fear of punishment. It is with this model we have the liberty to worship God just as it was in the tabernacle of David.

The basic setup of the Tabernacle of David is not only singing and playing instruments. It is also an overall, complete attitude of the heart. Without the heart being compliant to the order of worship, it is nothing more than mouthing words, again, an empty sing-along.

I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.        Psalm 9:1  

There were nine physical methods of praise and worship in the Tabernacle of David. The Church should follow these methods as well. There is also the involvement of the spiritual and emotional which encompasses spirit, soul, and body.

There are nine physical actions responding to Psalmic praise:

Three with the Mouth

Speaking — Singing — Shouting

Three with the Hands

Lifting hands — Instruments — Clapping

Three with the Body

Standing — Bowing — Dancing

All nine bodily postures or actions are legitimate forms of worship. We understand that all methods are acceptable, but not always required in each Worship Service. For example, if we stand and sing or clap our hands, without bowing or dancing, that is not a problem.

The idea is, if someone dances or bows or does the “holy hop”, it is acceptable. We don’t frown upon them. But ‘all things’ are done decently, and in order, right?

Sometimes in church, we get uncomfortable if something out of the ordinary occurs. I don’t have a problem if an individual, or even the entire congregation, is dancing or hopping up and down, or shouting. I don’t like it when things get out of the Psalmic order. Swinging from the chandeliers? Barking like dogs? I don’t think so! Yes, I have heard of, but not seen, deluded people barking, thinking they are ‘in the spirit’, praising God.

Now, let’s look at each physical action.                                

To begin with, don’t forget, our tongue is connected to our spirit, so we are responsible for every word that proceeds from our mouth!

Speaking

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edgedsword in their hand;                      Psalm 149:6

And 

my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.                                                    Psalm 35:28

 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.                             Matthew 12:34

 But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment.                                                   Matthew 12:36   

Angels speak Praise:  

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.                           Revelation 4:8

   The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.  Revelation 4:10-11

The elders also speak praise: we should take note, they are not singing or shouting.

Worshipped Him Saying

It is not required that praise and worship must be singing or playing instruments. Listen to these examples of folks extolling God by saying something.

And, behold, there came a leper and worshiped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.          Matthew 8:2

 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.                                                                   Matthew 9:18 

 We can praise, worship, glorify, and honor God by every word from our mouth, not just singing.

Singing

I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Psalm 104:33   Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.    Psalm 47:6  

The word sing appears four times in this Psalm, in case you missed it.

I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy          name, O thou most High.                            Psalm 9:2  

New Testament

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.  1 Cor. 14:15 

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;                                                          Ephesians 5:19  

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Act 16:25  

When Paul and Silas sang sacrificial praise, the Jail shook.   

Shouting

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.                         Psalm 5:11

 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.            Psalm 35:27  

And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb   Rev. 7:10

This may be a stretch, but the phrase “loud voice” is very close to being a shout. The Greek word for loud is Mega. Like our megaphones today.

It can be a very great or loud voice. Interestingly, God likes loud singing and shouting.

Lifting Hands

I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting  1 Timothy 2:8

 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in                  thy name                                                    Psalm 63:4 

 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.                                                                                     Psalm 134:2

Instruments

Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Psalm 33:2  

Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. Psalm 92:3

 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.  Praise him with the timbrel and  dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the   high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.    Psalm 150:3-6 

Clapping

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the          voice of triumph.                                         Psalm 47:1  

 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.     Psalm 98:8  

Surprisingly, clapping is the least mentioned in the Psalms, but can we deny it is included and encouraged?

Standing

 Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.                                 Psalm 135: 2

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.   Psalm 4:4

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?                                            Psalm 24:3 

Dancing

And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.          2 Samuel 6:14

 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.  Psalm 149: 3

 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.  Psalm 150: 4 

Bowing  

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before                  the LORD our maker.                                 Psalm 95:6 

 And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshiped the LORD, and the king                          1 Chronicles 29: 20 

 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord                  Jesus Christ,                      Ephesians 3:14  

 There are Six Bowing Postures  

Your head — Bow at the waist — On your knees

Prostrate — Stoop (one knee) — kneeling with head to floor

How We Respond with the Whole Heart:  

Praise the Lord — Keep his testimonies — Seek him

Observe the law — Intreat His favor — Keep precepts

Cry out (with a passion)