Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 1. A duty prescribed, and that is, "singing of psalms." 2. It is amplified, and set forth in its parts or necessary branches, outward and reward. (1) The outward part; there we have — (a) The subject matter, "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." (b) The actions conversant about it — (i) Speaking; (ii) singing. (2) The inward part, "Making melody in your hearts to the Lord."Doctrine: That singing of psalms is an ordinance of God's worship under the gospel. I. Before I come to prove it, let me observe something out of the words, to fix and state the duty. Observe that singing of psalms is made to be a fruit of being filled with the Spirit. II. Having thus stated the duty as it is here recommended to us, I shall here prove — 1. That it is a clear and unquestionable duty. 2. That it is a delectable duty. 3. That it is a very profitable duty. It is a profitable ordinance. (1) It subdueth the lusts and passions of the flesh by diversion, or directing us to a purer and safer delight. Spiritual joy is the best cure of carnal, for we keep our joy pure, and our delights are safe and healthful. (2) It inspireth us with fortitude, courage, and constancy in wrestling for the truth; for singing of psalms is our exultation in God. (3) It is profitable, as the psalm not only holdeth forth what the word read doth, but it stayeth and fixeth the heart upon the sweet and lively meditation of what we sing.Use 1. To show us what a good God we serve, who hath made our delight a great part of our work. God is much for His people's pleasure and holy joy.Use 2. To show how much we overlook our profit when we deal slightly in this ordinance. It is a means, as other duties are, not a task; and a means to make our lives both holy and comfortable; therefore let us not contemn it. The same graces which are necessary for other parts of worship, which we make greater reckoning of, are necessary here also. (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; |
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