Musicing with Spirit and Understanding

               Musicing with Spirit and Understanding

          1Corinthians 14:15 has this admonition for Christian musicians, “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”  Along the same thought, Psalm 47:7 states, “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding (sakal 7919).”  Some exegetes of Scripture render “with understanding” as or, “every one that hath understanding”,

          Albert Barnes made these comments about 1 Corinthians 14:15, I will sing with the spirit. It is evident that the same thing might take place in singing which occurred in prayer. It might be in a foreign language, and might be unintelligible to others.  The affections of the man himself might be excited, and his heart engaged in the duty, but it would be profitless to others. Paul, therefore, says that he would so celebrate the praises of God, as to excite the proper affections in his own mind, and so as to be intelligible and profitable to others.” 

          He went on to explain. “The words should be so uttered as to be distinct and understood. There should be clear enunciation as well as in prayer and preaching, since the design of sacred music in the worship of God is not only to utter praise, but it is to impress the sentiments which are sung on the heart, by the aid of musical sounds and expression, more deeply than could otherwise be done. If this is not done, the singing might as well be in a foreign language. Perhaps there is no part of public worship in which there is greater imperfection than in the mode of its psalmody. At the same time, there is scarcely any part of the devotions of the sanctuary that may be made more edifying or impressive. It has the advantage--an advantage which preaching and praying have not--of using the sweet tones of melody and harmony to impress sentiment on the heart; and it should be done.”

          The FBN states, “With the understanding; with the right use of it, in words which the hearers understand. The object of a wise and good minister is not to display himself, but to impart instruction, and thus be useful to those who hear him.”

          Thought for the Day

It is one thing for a Christian musician to understand the intent of what he or she musics, but is another thing for that musician to music in such a way that the hearers are made clearly aware of what the musician’s musicing means.