In the Bible, God the Holy Spirit has given many songs for his people to sing in worship, specifically the Book of Psalms. Historically, Reformed Churches have understood the Psalms to be the only/primary songbook of the church. Sadly this is no longer the case and it is necessary to reflect once again on the reasoning and theology behind this conviction. Sing a New Song (edited by Joel R Beeke & Anthony T Selvaggio) is a recently published book which does exactly that. A chapter by chapter summary of the book is available on URC Psalmody.
In another helpful book, Singing the Songs of Jesus, Michael Lefebvre highlights aspects of Psalms that make them especially suitable for use in worship. A summary of his argument is presented below:
1. Psalms were inspired for use in corporate worship
The Bible teaches us that Old Testament worship songs were divinely inspired. In 1 Chronicles 25:1-7 we are told no fewer than four times that prophetic inspiration was a prerequisite for writing worship songs in David’s workshops. Elsewhere in Scripture we have additional confirmation that Old Testament worship songs were divinely inspired (e.g. Exodus 15:1; Deuteronomy 31:19; Psalm 40:3; 2 Samuel 23:1-2). This is one feature that sets apart the Psalms from all others songs composed in the church – they are the only songs which have been divinely inspired by God the Holy Spirit for use in corporate worship.
2. Psalms are king-led
The song writers of the Old Testament needed to have the king’s approval on each of the songs which they composed for use in corporate worship. King David oversaw and directed their work (1 Chronicles 25:2). Even though the Book of Psalms contains songs from many different authors, the whole collection is generally called the ‘Psalms of David’ because they all speak in the king’s voice.
This requirement (kingly approval) accords with the Biblical pattern whereby it is the king who leads the congregation into worship, and it is the king’s own songs that the congregation sings with him. We see this pattern in worship songs being composed by leaders before the time of the monarchy (Exodus 15:1-21; Deuteronomy 31:30-32:47; Joshua 10:12-13; Judges 5:1-31), as well as the fact that the king led the people in worship processions (e.g. 2 Samuel 6:5-16; cf. 1 Chronicles 15-16). The king called the assembly to worship (2 Samuel 6:1; 1 Chronicles 15:3), he led the people in procession to God’s house (2 Samuel 6:15; 1 Chronicles 15:25-28) and he even led in certain sacrifices and prayers during major festivals in the temple (2 Samuel 6:17; 1 Chronicles 16:2). The king of Israel was thus (at times) a priestly king who also mediated between the LORD and his people (Psalm 110:4).
Though many songs of faith and joy appear throughout Scripture (e.g. 1 Samuel 2:1-10; Genesis 31:27; Amos 6:5), whenever the old covenant people of God gathered in public worship, it was always with the songs of the ruler (king) on their lips.
In the New Testament, Jesus frequently showed himself to be the true Son of David by taking the Psalms of David to his lips as his own songs (e.g. Matthew 27:46/Psalm 22:1; Luke 23:46/Psalm 31:5; John 2:17/Psalm 69:9). According to Mark 12:35-37, Jesus understood that David wrote his Psalms for a descendant who would be greater than himself – the coming Christ. In the Holy Spirit, David understood that his songs would ultimately be taken up by the Christ. The apostle Peter likewise tells us in Acts 2:25-31 that king David wrote the Psalms knowing that God had promised the greater Son of David (the Christ) would come from his line. The Psalms were born out of the experiences of David and his heirs, but they were written with an awareness of the coming Son of David who would ultimately take the Psalms to his lips as our perfect king and song leader.
This is the second feature that sets apart the Psalms from all others songs composed in the church – they are the only Christ-led songs. When we sing the psalms today, our divinely anointed leader, King Jesus, leads our praise. Jesus sings his own songs in his own words (composed prophetically for him). They are his praises of his Father which he calls us, as his subjects, to join him in singing. We must do so in conscious identification with Jesus as our Psalm leader, and with his experience of the cross and resurrection before us.
3. Psalms are commanded to be sung
There are several passages in the New Testament which relate to what we are to sing as Christians. Some passages give us examples of what was sung by individuals (e.g. Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; Luke 1:46-55; Luke 1:68-79; Luke 2:29-32), other passages record the songs of angels and the hosts in heaven (e.g. Luke 2:14; Revelation 4:8, 11; 5:9-10; Revelation 15:3-4; Revelation 19:1-8).
With regards to corporate church gatherings, there are two (three) passages that seem to directly concern what is to be sung: Ephesians 5:19 & Colossians 3:16 (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:26). In these two passages, the apostle Paul commands the church to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
Whilst there is debate amongst Christians on understanding what Paul meant with the phrase ‘hymns and spiritual songs,’ it remains undisputed that psalms must be sung in God’s church. They are the only songs which are truly catholic and accepted by all Christian believers.