The Educational gift of Hymns and Psalms
I often reflect on the privilege that I had of being a chorister from the age of six years old. Just a bit of history: I sang in the Choir of my home parish of St Hugh’s Church, Newton Park. We were blessed with extraordinary choir masters and mistresses and had a full program of singing through the week with at least one practice and two full services on a Sunday – along with weddings and even funerals. Over my seven years as a chorister I was given the most wonderful grounding in my spiritual journey as I learnt from the lyrics of the hymns and the psalms, the substance of our faith in God, through Jesus Christ.
The ancient hymns and sung Psalms of the church hold deep theological value for us and serve as powerful tools for teaching and spiritual formation for they are all based on Holy Scripture. They can be enormously significant in pointing us to the Father and shaping our understanding of faith. Hymns are more than just music—they are doctrinal confessions, prayers, and expressions of faith that shape our hearts and minds toward God. They ground us in the truth, remind us of our heritage, and lead us into worship that is both deep and lasting.
Even as a child and young person I remember being overcome with emotion at the big hymns and the profound Psalms. Indeed, the seed for my calling into the ordained ministry was without doubt the words of Psalm 84. Look at selected verses below:-
1. O how amiable are Thy dwellings, Thou Lord of Hosts.
2. My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord, my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
4. Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, they will be always praising Thee.
10. For one day in Thy courts, is better than a thousand elsewhere.
11. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness.
We sang this psalm often and it became very significant in my faith journey. I quoted it at the Vocational Direction Conference leading to my acceptance as an ordinand for ministry and I regularly sing it to the actual chant which is found in the Parish Psalter.
Then it was the hymns of Creation that gave me a deep and lasting reverence for the earth as God’s creation shared with us. All creatures of our God and King and How Great Thou Art are just two hymns that are rich with phrases of learning and admiration for God’s gift of creation to us.
Way before my interest in the theology and spirituality of the Ancient Celtic Christians, my favourite hymn was: Be thou my vision – a prayer for God’s guidance in daily life.
The great beauty of Hymns and Spiritual songs, is that when you want to consider the gifts of God and the glory of our Saviour Jesus Christ you can call back a hymn or a psalm on whatever is in your mind and just sing to God with the lyrics that are born on the beautiful chants and pieces of music that are down there in your minds! John 14:26 “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
I have the Parish Psalter and the hymn book Ancient and Modern alongside my Bible on my bookshelf. You should put them there as well.
Of course, I also love the new spiritual songs but perhaps Claire will graciously invite me back to offer some thoughts on that beautiful and powerful new gift to the Church – Contemporary Worship!
Prayer: “Lord, be my vision. Let me see through Your eyes, walk in Your wisdom, fight in Your strength, and treasure You above all else. Let my heart be fully Yours. Amen.”
With love in Christ,
Rob Penrith