The Art of Seeking, Part 5

In Colossians 3:15, we learned how seeking the heavenly together is by the rule of Christ’s peace in our hearts, individually and corporately.

In Colossians 3:16-17 we will learn that this peace is established through dwelling in the word of Christ, teaching and admonishing the word of Christ practically in the form of a variety of music sung with hearts of grace-filled gratitude to God.

This prepares us to live for Jesus, with his peace in everything, and by his power have attitudes of gratitude.

Colossians 3:16 .

Colossians 3:16 ESV

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” This command can be broken into three sections:

The content of the command: “the word of Christ”.

The action of the command: “dwell”.

The nature of the command: “richly”.

What is meant by “the word of Christ”?

It is the word of God, both OT and NT, viewed and understood through the redemptive work of Christ’s death and resurrection.

The church at Colossae might have had this in scroll form for the OT, and in circulating letters for the NT. They definitely had Paul’s teaching of the OT passed to them from Epaphras .

How do we have the word of Christ dwell in us?

We get some clues from the tense of the verb, which is present, active, imperative.

“Present” communicates that we are to be having Christ’s word dwell now.

“Active” communicates that we are to continue to have it dwell into the future.

“Imperative” communicates that “let Christ’s word dwell in us” is a command not a suggestion, and therefore not optional to the art of seeking the heavenly.

We gain further insight from the etymology of the Greek word (ἐνοικέω enoikeō). It is comprised of the two Greek words ἐν (en) and οἰκέω (oikeō).

ἐν e(n) indicates position by implied instrumentality. οἰκέω (oikeō) means to live, to inhabit, to dwell. The noun is οἶκος (oikos), meaning a house, a dwelling.

The idea is that we actively make Christ’s word at home in our lives. He is to be ever present, living with us, informing our thoughts and actions.

To do this we must know the Word. Psalm 119:9-16 emphasizes the importance of knowing the Word. It also give us seven disciplines on how we have the word of Christ dwell in us.

Psalm 119:9–16 ESV

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! 13 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. 14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

First, to have the word of Christ dwell in us requires a whole-hearted commitment, a commitment to spend time in the Word. In the context of Colossians 3:16, this would be in the form of music.

Second, to have the word of Christ dwell in us, we need to memorize the Word. Music is an easy way to memorize the word of Christ.

Third, to have the word of Christ dwell in us, the Holy Spirit must teach us the Word. We need to have ears to hear what he is teaching us.

We should not let the methods of his teaching deter us from learning. In Colossians 3:16 the method is in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs.

We are all guilty of letting the style of music distract us from the content of the lyrics, or allowing style to matter more than the lyrics, thus not allowing the Spirit to teach us . This can happen with any presentation of the Word, not just music, though music seems to fall prey to this more often.

Fourth, to have the word of Christ dwell in us, we need to speak the Word. We speak the word by singing, by teaching, and by admonishing ourselves and others.

Fifth, to have the word of Christ dwell in us, we need to delight in the Word as much as we delight in having wealth. Christ’s Word should be a delight, bringing excitement into out lives, because it shows us what Christ has done and what he will do.

Sixth, to have the word of Christ dwell in us, we need to fix our focus on it through meditating on it. This meditation is not Eastern Meditation of emptying one’s mind. It is a mediation that ponders and considers the word of Christ, and at appropriate times, speaks it forth in praise or in lament.

Seventh, to have the word of Christ dwell in us, we must not forget his Word. It must be ever before us. We are so quick to forget. The way we handle forgetfulness is to be quick to remind ourselves of the word of Christ.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” The nature of Christ’s Word dwelling in us is one of abundance.

It is not shabby or just enough to get by, which can often be the case if we have not been practicing the seven disciplines above and are just engaging in the Word of God on Sunday mornings.

Christ’s Word should be rich and plentiful, permeating every aspect of our lives.

When we have Christ’s Word dwell in our hearts richly, we are not to keep it to ourselves.

We are to “teach and admonish one another in all wisdom” through the method of spiritual psalms, hymns and songs.

What does it mean to teach each other?

It means that we are to instruct each other in Christ’s words. The instruction is to bring understanding to the church concerning the Word. It also means that our music should be instructive as well.

What does it mean to admonish one another?

It means that we are to hold one another accountable to Christ’s Word; that at times we are to encourage each other, and at other times we are to warn or correct each other concerning choices that are being made.

It also means that the music we sing needs to encourage and correct us.

These are to be done in all wisdom. Wisdom is knowledge applied. Our teaching and admonishing of Christ’s Words through singing needs to have a practical application to day-to- day life.

Why does Paul give three descriptions of “Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual (“spiritual” can also apply to all three, not just songs) Songs” for music in the church?

There is no definitive clarity to the style or structure of these three categories of music. Here is what we do know.

“Psalm” is indicating the striking of the chords of a musical instrument, especially a stringed instrument such as a harp.

“Hymn” is indicating a song sung in praise to a deity. In our context and the Colossae context, it would be a sung in praise to Yaweh.

“Song” is generic for all music. This is why some translations attach “spiritual” to this word, although each of these words have usage in the sacred and secular world, so it would be better to attach spiritual to all three.

Paul is clearly teaching that we are to sing a variety of spiritual music with the purpose of teaching and admonishing Christ’s words in practical ways with thankfulness from the heart, equipping us to dwell in Christ’s Word richly, thus resting in Christ’s peace.

It is in this state that we are able to carry out the command in Colossians 3:17 .

Colossians 3:17 ESV

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

When we have the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts because our lives are permeated with Christ’s Word, our actions will be done for Jesus, and our hearts will overflow with thanksgiving to God, all because of the presence of Jesus.

In learning the art of seeking the heavenly, I encourage you to pick just one of the seven disciplines we looked at and apply it to your life this week. Make it a goal to slowly build these disciplines into your daily walk.

In learning the art of seek the heavenly, I also have a warning. Music is a powerful tool to teach and admonish us. Make sure that the music you are listening to glorifies God and helps you dwell in Christ’s Word.