Singing
Singing
See Praise.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
SINGING
An ordinance of divine worship, in which we express our joy in God, and gratitude for his mercies. It has always been a branch both of natural and revealed religion, in all ages and periods of time. It was a part of the worship of the Heathens. It was practised by the people of God before the giving of the law of Moses, Exo 15:1-27 : also under the ceremonial law. Under the Gospel dispensation it is particularly enjoined, Col 3:16. Eph 5:19. It was practised by Christ and his apostles, Mat 26:30. and in the earliest times of Christianity. The praises of God may be sung privately in the family, but chiefly in the house of God; and should be attended to with reverence, sincerity, joy, gratitude, and with the understanding, 1Co 14:15. Among the Baptists, during the early part of their existence, psalmody was generally excluded as a human ordinance; but some congregations having adopted it about the beginning of the 18th century, a violent controversy was excited. About the middle of the century, however, the praises of God were sung in every Baptist church. It is to be lamented, however, that this ordinance has not that attention paid to it which it deserves. That great divine, Dr. Jonathan Edwards, observes, that “as it is the command of God that all should sing, so all should make conscience of learning to sing, as it is a thing that cannot be decently performed at all without learning. Those, therefore, (where there is no natural inability) who neglect to learn to sing, live in sin, as they neglect what is necessary in order to their attending one of the ordinances of God’s worship.”
We leave those who are wilfully dumb in God’s house to consider this pointed remark! Much has been said as to the use of instrumental music in the house of God. On the one side it is observed, that we ought not to object to it, because it assists devotion; that it was used in the worship of God under the Old Testament; and that the worship of heaven is represented by a delightful union of vocal and instrumental music. But on the other side, it is remarked, that nothing should be done in or about God’s worship without example or precept from the New Testament; that, instead of aiding devotion, it often tends to draw off the mind from the right object; that it does not accord with the simplicity of Christian worship; that the practice of those who lived under the ceremonial dispensation can be no rule for us; that not one text in the New Testament requires or authorises it by precept or example, by express words or fair inference; and that the representation of the musical harmony in heaven is merely figurative language, denoting the happiness of the saints. We have not room here to prosecute the arguments on either side; but the reader may refer to p. 211. of the fourth volume of Bishop Beveridge’s Thesaurus; Stillingfleet’s and Bp. Horne’s Sermons on Church Music; No. 630 of the eighth vol. of the Spectator; Bishop Horne on the 150th Psalm; Theol. Mag. vol. 2: p. 427, and vol. 4: p. 333, 458; Biblical Mag. vol. 2: p. 35; Ridgley’s body of Div. ques. 155; Haweis’s Church History, vol. 1: p. 403; Williams’s Historical Essay on Church Music, prefixed to Psalmodia Evangelica, vol. 2: p. 56; Bedford’s Temple Music; Lyra Evangelica; Practical Discourses on Singing in the Worship of God, preached at the Friday Evening Lectures in Eastcheap, 1708; Dodwell’s Treatise on the Lawfulness of Instrumental Music in Holy Duties.
Fuente: Theological Dictionary
Singing
an ordinance of divine worship, in which we express our joy in God, and gratitude for his mercies. It has always been a branch both of natural and revealed religion in all ages and periods of time. It was a part of the worship of the heathen. It was practiced by the people of God before the giving of the law of Moses (Exodus 15); also under the ceremonial law. Under the Gospel dispensation it is particularly enjoined (Col 3:16; Eph 5:19). It was practiced by Christ and his apostles (Mat 26:30), and in the earliest times of Christianity. The praises of God may be sung privately in the family, but chiefly in the house of God; and should be attended to with reverence, sincerity, joy, gratitude, and with the understanding (1Co 14:15).
From the apostolic age singing was always a part of divine service, in which the whole body of the Church joined together; and it was the decay of this practice that first brought the order of singers into the Church. The Council of Laodicea (canon 15) prohibited singing by the congregation; but this was a temporary provision, designed only to restore and revive the ancient psalmody. We find that in after ages the people enjoyed their ancient privilege of Singing all together.
Among the Anti-Paedobaptists, during the early part of their existence, psalmody was generally excluded as a human ordinance; but some congregations having adopted it about the beginning of the 18th century, a violent controversy was excited. About the middle of the century, however, the praises of God were sung in every Anti-Paedobaptist church.
It was customary, early in the present century, for the precentor in the Church of Scotland to read the psalm line by line as it was sung., When the practice of continuous singing was introduced, it was a source of great and numerous congregational disturbances, and it was popularly stigmatized as an innovation. As to the use of instrumental music as an accompaniment to singing, SEE CHOIR; SEE MUSIC; SEE SINGER.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
SINGING
From ancient times to the present, singing has been used as a form of relaxation or amusement (2Sa 19:35; Amo 6:4-5), an expression of joy (Pro 29:6; Isa 16:10; Jam 5:13), a form of celebration (Jdg 5:1-2; 1Sa 21:11), and a means of praising God (Exo 15:1; Psa 30:4; Psa 66:4; Psa 95:1-3; Act 16:25; Rev 5:9; Rev 15:3). Singing has often been associated with music and dancing (Gen 31:27; Exo 15:20-21; Isa 5:12; see DANCING; MUSIC).
In the temple worship that David organized, there were groups of singers who sang under a conductor to the accompaniment of music (1Ch 15:16; 1Ch 15:22). This arrangement was followed by some of Israels later leaders (2Ch 29:30; Ezr 3:10-11). The psalms that these singers sang were sometimes divided into parts that individuals or sections of the choir sang in turn (Ezr 3:11; Psalms 118; see PSALMS, BOOK OF).
Singing is an important part of the life of the church (1Co 14:26; cf. Mar 14:26). It should be an expression of praise to God that arises from a heart filled with joy and thanks. However, the songs must be based firmly on the Word of God, and people must sing them with understanding, not just with a feeling of enjoyment. Only in this way will God be truly praised and the singers be truly built up in their Christian faith (1Co 14:15; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16).
In the early church, songs were an important means of summarizing Christian truth in a form that could be easily remembered and repeated. The New Testament contains what appear to be selections from early Christian songs (Php 2:6-11; Col 1:15-20; 1Ti 3:16; cf. also Luk 1:46-55; Luk 1:68-79; Luk 2:14; Luk 2:29-32; Rev 4:11; Rev 5:9-10; Rev 11:17-18; Rev 15:3-4.)
Fuente: Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
Singing
SINGING.See Music.
Fuente: A Dictionary Of Christ And The Gospels
Singing
In the O.T. we find there were courses of singers, and there were some who were ‘taught to sing praise.’ Instruments were also appointed for the singers. 1Ki 10:12. In Hab 3:19, at the end of the prophet’s poetical ‘prayer,’ it says, “To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.” “The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.” Psa 68:25.
Such organised choirs have no place in the N.T. They that worship God “must worship him in spirit and in truth.” This also applies to the singing: “I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” 1Co 14:15: cf. 1Co 14:26. “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody [or chanting] in your heart to the Lord.” Eph 5:19. “In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Col 3:16. There will be singing in heaven. Rev 5:9. Singing and PRAISE naturally go together. At the institution of the Lord’s supper they ‘sang a hymn,’ margin ‘psalm,’ . Mat 26:30. The same word is translated ‘sang praises’ unto God, when Paul and Silas were in prison, Act 16:25; and the Lord sings praise in the midst of the assembly. Psa 22:22; Heb 2:12.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Singing
See Music
Music