Psalmody has fallen on hard times. Here are some brief reasons why I believe the practice is important and ought to be revived in our churches. This is specifically geared toward the OPC, but can apply to other communions (and even independent churches) as well.

I. The Superiority of Inspired Praise

A. The Psalms and Scripture songs are inspired. 

Doubtless, this is the chief reason to use the Psalms and other Scripture songs (hereafter “inspired praise”) frequently in public worship. “All Scripture is breathed out by God, and is profitable,” says Paul (2 Tim. 3:16). Being from the mouth of God, inspired praise has all the benefits of  inspiration—infallibility, inerrancy, authority—and none of the drawbacks of hymnody. Hymns, however well-crafted, orthodox, or pious, will never be God-breathed. 

B. Inspired praise is both ecumenical and Reformed. 

“Reformed Catholicity” is much in vogue in our circles, but little attention is drawn to the paradoxically catholic and sectarian nature of inspired praise. In singing Scripture, we at once join our voices with the Church catholic throughout all ages, and vigorously lay claim to our own Reformed identity. We neglect inspired praise to the detriment of both. 

C. Inspired praise teaches doctrine and devotion. 

Christ is present in the Psalms, to a far greater extent than many realize. He is their grand object and theme, the focus of their praise. Through the Psalms we can learn of Christ, especially his person and work, just as the early Church did (see Acts 2-4). 

As with doctrine, so with devotion. Writing in a preface to an edition of The Psalms of David in Metre, several Puritan divines said it best: 

Surely singing, ’tis a delectable way of instruction, as common prudence will teach us… And surely singing of Psalms is a duty of such comfort and profit, that it needeth not our recommendation: the new nature is instead of all arguments, which cannot be without thy spiritual solace. Now though spiritual songs of mere human composure may have their use, yet our devotion is best secured, where the matter and words are of immediately divine inspiration; and to us David’s Psalms seem plainly intended by those terms of “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,” which the apostle useth (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). 

The Psalms are unmatched in their piety, providing godly expression and outlet to the range of human responses to God’s revelation in Christ. Those taught at the school of psalmody learn to speak in phrases like, “God, be merciful to me,” “How long, O Lord?”, “Remember me, Lord, when you favor your people,” and “Praise the Lord!” Scriptural piety is better than man-made piety (cf. the Pharisee and the publican). 

II. Liberty of Conscience

The Reformed faith makes a big deal out of liberty of conscience, that Christians be set free from any and all worldly influence in matters of faith or practice, whether contrary to the Word of God or beside it (WCF 20.2). What better way to preserve liberty than to limit ourselves to God’s inspired, sufficient Word in public worship? When the matter of our song is of divine inspiration, Christian consciences remain safe from being trampled by unbiblical hymns. 

The preponderance of hymns has its drawbacks. Participation in divine service is minimized unnecessarily for those whose conviction it is to only sing or say in public worship what is inspired. For their conscience’ sake, let there be more inspired praise. 

III. Pragmatic Questions

A. The OPC has not historically been a Psalm-only or inspired-praise-priority denomination.

One need only look at the previous denominational hymnals for evidence for that assertion, though the 1946/47 study report by the Committee on Song in Worship bears mentioning. Trinity Hymnal and its 1990 revision, though containing a fair number of metrical psalms and paraphrases, were selective in their choices and freely mixed psalms and hymns, leaving them undifferentiated except in small print at the bottom of the page. With this in mind, the current majority practice of near-exclusive hymnody is not unusual, and is even expected.

But neither would it be unusual if we were to more frequently sing inspired praise. Our DPW says, “Congregations do well to sing the metrical versions or other musical settings of the Psalms frequently in public worship” (DPW II.B.2). And with the new Trinity Psalter Hymnal, one no longer has to hunt and peck to find inspired praise; the majority is right up front. 

B. Inspired praise is unfamiliar. 

As others have noted, we live in arguably the most Psalm-less age in Christian history. Restoring inspired praise to its proper place of primacy is no small task, a fact to which we are sensitive. The TPH is helpful in its use of familiar hymn tunes for many of the Psalms and other inspired songs (for example, the Song of Zechariah, #294, to the tune “Nettleton”). Unfamiliarity, of course, can only be changed through repeated exposure. Until inspired praise becomes a regular part of worship, the problem will persist.

C. Psalmody (in particular) is difficult to understand.

The Psalms are great literature. Without a firm grasp of how to read (sing) and interpret them, their meaning will remain obscure, their depths unexplored, their treasures unmined. For example, what is meant when a Christian sings, “Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem” (Ps. 51:18)? Is this a prayer that Jerusalem’s physical walls be edified? Not according to the author of Hebrews, who would insist this be read typologically: Zion and Jerusalem are the heavenly city, God’s dwelling place, and its citizens the Church. With these words, the Christian prays, “Thy kingdom come.” Such a redemptive-historical reading can be caught, but is better taught. 

The shadowy nature of the Psalms is sometimes used as an argument for their neglect, but the reverse is true. At the time in redemptive history when the shadows have been most clearly brought to light in Christ, we would be foolish to leave off this portion of God’s Word as though it remained dark and mysterious. We should follow the example of Hebrews instead. 

Conclusion

Public worship is no small thing. Worship wars have been waged off and on for centuries. However, I am persuaded by Scripture that our worship is best when we offer to God that which he has given us, namely, inspired praise. So go forth and sing Psalms!