Why We Sing only Psalms

I hear the response loud and clear. You maintain Christ sets aside Old Testament ceremonial worship. The Israelites sang the Psalms in that era as part of the temple worship. Since that ceremonial worship is abrogated, why do we continue to sing those same old songs?

The question involves a significant principle of biblical interpretation. We continue the commands of the Old Testament in the New when they are not set aside or altered in the in the New Testament. For example, the God commanded Abraham to apply the sign and seal of the covenant to infants (Genesis 18:12). The New Testament does not set aside this command. However, the New Testament does alter it. Baptism replaces circumcision (Colossians 2:11-12).

With regard to worship, although the coming of Christ fulfills and then sets aside the ceremonial worship of Israel, the thread of Psalmody continues. How so? The apostle Paul gives a specific command to continue such singing in Colossians 3:16. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hears to God."

Let's briefly look at this text. We must deeply drink from the Word. We must immerse ourselves in it. Why? All our teaching and counseling of one another must reflect our knowledge of Christ through His Word. According to Paul, all our teaching and counseling must be biblical.

As our teaching and admonishing in public worship must be biblical, so must our singing. Singing is one of the places we learn the great truths of Scripture most firmly. At this point Paul is more restrictive. He not only tells us our singing must be biblical in content, Paul prescribes the exact content of our singing. He commands us to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. To what is Paul referring? Paul has in mind the Psalms of the Old Testament. How do we know this is true?

The Bible calls the Psalms of the Old Testament both hymns and songs. For example, when Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn after the first Lord's Supper, that hymn consisted of Psalms 116-118. In addition, the inspired titles to many of the Psalms call them songs. See Psalms 65 through 68 and Psalms 120 through 134. Because the Holy Spirit inspired these songs they are spiritual. They are songs fit for the special dwelling place of the Spirit, the church.

The Greek version of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, was popular during the days of Paul. He quotes this Greek Old Testament extensively in his writings. This version calls the first 72 Psalms "the hymns of David." And Psalm 6 is titled a Psalm of David among the hymns. This Greek version also calls Psalm 75 a psalm and a song among the hymns. Here the Psalter denotes a Psalm a song and a hymn. We are very close to the words of Colossians 3:16.

Paul was very familiar with the Psalter. Unquestionably he knew how the popular Greek version of the Old Testament designates the Psalms. As a servant of Christ, Paul's thinking followed Scripture. We therefore say without reserve when Paul speaks of "psalms, hymns and spiritual songs" in Colossians 3:16 he has Old Testament Psalms in mind. This is why the ancient church sang only Psalms. In fact, singing only Psalms a cappella is the historic position of the Christian church. Why not? The Psalms give us truly inspired songs and hymns with which to adore God.