For the Joy of Sacred Music: Christian Hymns and Hymnody: The Psalms

Music in the Christian church is as old as Christianity itself. The Bible provides multiple examples of singing the praises to and for God and offers examples of songs of praise. Hymns are evident in the New Testament through passages such as Revelation 5:9-10 and Revelation 15:3-4, and in passages where New Testament authors quote poetic material of the Old Testament, such as Mary’s Magnificat, Zechariah’s Benedictus, Simeon’s Nunc Dimittis, and the Psalms.

Psalms most likely found their way into this early Christian worship through the first Jewish converts to Christianity. While there is no first-century description of Psalmic activity in the Temple, there is ample discussion in the Old Testament regarding the use of musical events in Solomon’s First Temple.

While some scholars assert there is no known musical connection between Solomon’s First Temple and the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus, 130 years after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi compiled the Mishnah, the first major collection of the Jewish oral tradition, and included descriptions of how the Psalms were used within the Second Temple. Certain Psalms were recited on particular days at the hours of prayer/ sacrifice. Frequent Temple goers would have been acquainted with the widely used Psalms. (Day 1: Ps 24; Day 2: Ps 28; Day 3: Ps 82; Day 4: Ps 94; Day 5: Ps 81; Day 6: PS 93; Day 7 (Sabbath): Ps 92)

Psalms are an integral part of the modern church, as they were of the early church. The early church from AD 30 (Pentecost) to AD 476 (fall of Rome) was shaped in an improvisatory manner. Jesus’ followers first preached his resurrection at Pentecost (fifty days after Passover), when the Holy Spirit fell on them (Acts 2). The New Testament writers quote the Psalms sixty-nine times, more than any other ancient source! (Peter’s sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2: 25–35), quoted Ps 16:8–11 and 110:1.)

Psalms shaped the understanding of early Christians and their worship, and even shape our worship today. “The Psalms comprised the very DNA of the early church, dramatically celebrating both the Who of God (his nature) and the What (his actions).” Psalms provide an impact on theology, and Paul assumed that song should be a normal part of Christian worship, as well as James’ admonition to express joy through song. The Psalms incited the development of the Monastic Offices, which would lead to the Roman Mass. Take a glance through our hymnal. How many of the hymns are based on Psalms? Every time we sing one of these, we are following in the steps of the early Christians in proclaiming the Word of God through song.

Lamport, Mark A., Benjamin K. Forrest, and Vernon M. Whaley. Hymns and Hymnody: Historical and Theological Introductions, Volume 1. Oregon: Cascade Books, 2019.