KBM Psalms, Hymns, And Spiritual Songs

What a beautiful day to study God’s precious word as we continue looking at our theme on “Impact 3:16.” Having looked two weeks ago at the book of Philippians we turn our attention to the book of Colossians. The church at Colossae is one of the few congregations Paul did not establish nor had been present at when he wrote to them. He learned of the faith of the church through Epaphras, it would appear, while in prison (Colossians 1:4-8; Colossians 4:18).

In our specific chapter Colossians 3 we have the apostle Paul make a plea for those who “have been raised with Christ, seeking the things that are above, where Christ is” (Colossians 3:1). Paul goes on to point out those things we need to “remove from our lives” (Colossians 3:5-11) & then turns to what we need to fill the void of the removed unrighteous with those things that are righteous.

Colossians 3:12–15 NKJV

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

That brings us to our text and the following text what should be one of the most well known text in all the bible for the child of God. Let’s read Colossians 3:16-17…

Colossians 3:16–17 NKJV

16 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. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Verse 17 makes clear that in everything we do we must have authority for what we do. In the name of the Lord means by the Lord’s authority. When we sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs we are authorized by God to seek several things here in our singing and songs.

These songs are to be from God’s word, we are to understand them, and we are to let God’s word in song dwell within us.

These songs should be used to teach each other, admonish or warn each other of our behavior, and to be sung with grace or thankfulness through our hearts to God.

When we gather to worship in song to our God there are far more involved then just reading words to a melody. We are to purposefully sing up to God and out so each other hears, through us, God’s word in song.