Form in Worship - Vivien Hibbert
II. Forms of Worship Using the Mouth
1. LAUGHING
Job 8:21; Ps. 2:4; 37:13; 59:8 126:2; Eccl. 3:4
In some of these scriptures, it is the Lord who is laughing at His enemies. There are times in the context of worship, where the Lord fills our mouths with laughter. This is both an expression of joy, and a weapon of derision and scorn against the enemy.
2. SHOUTING
Josh. 6:5-20; 1 Sam. 4:5-6; 2 Chron. 13:15; Ezra 3:11-13; Ps. 5:11; 32:11; 35:11; 47:1, 5; 65:13; 132:9, 16; Is. 12:6; 42:11; 44:23; Jer. 31:7; 50:15; 51:14; Zeph.3:14; Zech. 9:9; Acts 12:22; 1 Thess. 4:16
Shouting is often linked with joy and triumph against the enemy in scripture. We even see that the Lord shouts as He manifests Himself amongst His people: Ps. 47:5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. (NIV) 1 Thess. 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout...
3. LOUD NOISE/LOUD VOICE
Gen. 39:14; Deut 27:14; 1 Ki. 8:55; 2 Chron. 15:1420:19; Ezra. 3:12-13; 10:12; Neh. 9:4; 12:42; Ps. 98:4; 33:3; 81:1; 150:5; Matt. 27:46, 50; Mark 15:34, 37; Lu. 17:15; 19:37; Jo. 11:43; Acts 14:10-11; 16:28; Rev. 5:12; 6:10; 7:2, 10; 8:13; 14:7, 9, 15, 18
"loud" (Strongs 1419) gâdôwl - from 1431 great in any sense, high, long, loud, mighty, more, much.
4. SINGING
There are over 120 references in the Bible to singing. This is one of the key forms of worship. Any mood of the hearts of man, or the Spirit of God can be expressed in song.
Three Key Scriptures in the New Testament about Singing:
1 Cor. 14:15-16 ..."I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks....."
Eph. 5:18b-19 ..."be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord."
Col. 3:16 ..."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."
From these three Scriptures, we find the following principles in groups of three:
1. We must be filled with the Spirit so that we may:
Pray with the spirit
Sing with the spirit
Bless with the spirit
2. We must be in right relationship with one another:
Speaking to one another.
Teaching one another.
Admonishing one another.
3. We must have the Word of God in our hearts:
The Word must dwell in us.
The Word must be rich in us.
The Word must be wise in us.
4. We must sing to the Lord:
With singing in our hearts.
With melody in our hearts.
With grace in our hearts.
5. We must sing:
Psalms
Hymns
Spiritual songs
Each of these three forms of song (psalms, hymns, spiritual songs) express the nature and character of God. The psalm speaks of the past: God’s acts over all the years and His work among men. Hymns speak of the present. They talk about His character and extol His nature and work among us now as believers. The hymns were the new form of song that was adopted by the early Church in order to sing of the life and resurrection of Christ. Spiritual songs speak of the things to come. They are, by definition, prophetic. Spiritual songs call us to the ongoing work and character of God in our lives. They teach us of the revelation of God for today and beyond.
One of the most common forms of singing in Biblical times was responsive, or antiphonal singing: Hebrew–anah means to answer; bear witness; cry; shout; testify; speak; lift up. This was a fundamental form of singing in Israel. It appears that the reason for the use of this form, is to teach (Ps 145:4) and to accentuate the words of a song. The repetition causes the hearers to 'hear' the message twice, and if a response is required, then there will be a need for greater concentration, and more intelligent and thoughtful expression of worship.
There are 7 different kinds of responsive singing in scripture. We can use these forms to help our congregation participate in worship:
—Two companies or choirs Neh. 12:31, 40, 42; Ezra 3:11
—One singer to another 1 Sam. 18:7; 21:11; 29:5; Is. 6:3–4 It is possible that the whole Song of Solomon was set to this form
—One singer to a group Ex. 15:21 The Psalm headings of Psalms 44, 47, 99 indicate that these may have been written by the sons of korah who then responded to the chief musician.
—Leader to congregation Pss. 107; 136 where the response is written into the Psalm. Also Psalms 106 and 118 where the response is written at the beginning of the Psalm. Sometimes the singers used traditional folks songs where the melodies were known by the people.
—Singer to dancers Ex. 15:21 The dance probably interpreted the song, or even replied to the song.
—Singers to instruments Is. 38:20 Instruments accompanied singing in Old Testament times, but they might also have responded to the song. Many Psalms are also written with the word selah at the end of a section. Most likely, this means that the instruments play in response to the song while everyone else meditates on the Lord.
—One generation to another Ps. 145:4 This is a good way to teach children to participate in praise and worship.
5. THE NEW SONG (PROPHETIC SONG)
Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Is. 42:10; Rev. 5:9; 14:3
Themes of songs and prophetic songs in Scripture:
* The Song Of Deliverance
1. Psalm 32:7
2. Exodus 15:1-21—The Song of Moses
Although this song is after the fact, it's prophetic overtones set the stage for future songs of deliverance.
3. I Sam. 16:14-23 - David ministering to Saul with music.
* The Song Of War II Chron. 20:21-22:
We learn from this song that the song of war can be:
- Militant, marching like an army
- Demonstrative (e.g. halal)
- Anointed with God's power (tehillah) to the "pulling down of strongholds." - Preceded and followed by praise. Ps. 149 - A war song need not be directed at the enemy, but may be a song of praise.
* The New Song
Ps. 33:3; Ps. 98:1; Ps. 144:9; Ps. 149:1; Rev. 5:9; 14:1-8
Isaiah 42:10,11 A song that has never been heard in the heathen world. "Kedar" - darkness, in Arabic this word means: to be able; mighty.
Psalm 40:3 "Fresh, new thing."
- Involves revelation - comes out of lifestyle.
- Speaks to those in darkness.
- How can people "see a song?" Our walk provokes the questions.
- It is a song that glorifies God.
* The Song Of Healing
James 5:13 "...Is any merry? Let him sing psalms."
- The joyful singing heart has the power of healing. One word in Greek for "worship" is therapeuo, meaning to cure and to heal.
* The Song Of Praise And Thanksgiving
Ps. 69:30; 95:1-2; 104:33; 108:1-3
The Song of Praise involves:
- Entrance into His presence - Ps. 100:4
- The sacrifice of praise/thanksgiving - Ps. 50:23
- Magnifying God Ps. 105:2 - Jeremiah 30:19
* The Song In The Wilderness/Night
Hosea 2:14-15; Ps. 23; Ps. 42:8; Ps. 77:6; Job 35:10; Is. 30:29
* The Song Of The Bridegroom And The Song Of The Bride
Song of Solomon; Is. 5:1; Jer. 33:11
* The Song Of Moses
Ex. 15:1; Deut. 31:19-32:44
It is interesting to note that Moses wrote one song just before the Children of Israel entered the wilderness, and one song just as they were about to leave the wilderness. The victorious saints will sing the song of Moses in Heaven - Rev. 15:2-4
* The Song Of The Lamb
Rev. 15:2-4
* The Songs Of Zion
Ps. 137:3; Is. 35:10
6. WHISTLING (This is not necessarily a form of worship that is shown in the Bible to be a form of worship for the congregation. I have included it, however, as an example of a "sound" that comes from God.)
God whistles for the nations
Is 5:26— "He lifts up a banner for the distant nations, he whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Here they come, swiftly and speedily!" God whistles for worshipers
Zech. 10:8—God whistles for His people (Judah)
-Vivien Hibbert-