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Selecting Worship Songs For Church Service

The selection of worship songs for a church service is a practice rooted in biblical precedent and developed through various theological traditions. Scripture frequently calls for singing in worship, emphasizing both individual and communal praise to God [3, 4]. For instance, Psalm 100:2 exhorts believers to "Come before his presence with singing" [4], and Ephesians 5:19 encourages "Joining with one another in holy songs of praise and of the Spirit, using your voice in songs and making melody in your heart to the Lord" [3].

Historically, the Psalms have formed the bedrock of congregational singing. The term "hymn" itself, as used in the New Testament, often referred to a collection of psalms, such as the Hallel (Psalms 113-118) sung by Jesus and his disciples at the Last Supper [5]. The Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion include numerous psalms and canticles as part of their liturgical structure, indicating their central role in worship [6, 12, 14]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, notes that Psalm 149:1's call to "sing unto the Lord a new song" can refer to "the new song of redeeming grace through Jesus Christ," distinguishing it from older songs of deliverance [7]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, interprets calls to sing in Psalms like 96:1 as an invitation to honor God with "pious and devout affections" [8].

The purpose of congregational singing extends beyond mere vocalization; it is intended to engage the heart and mind. John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, commends singing, "provided the feeling of the mind goes along with them," as a means to keep "the thought of God... alive on our minds" and to display God's glory [10]. Charles Hodge, in his Systematic Theology, includes singing as a key element of public worship alongside prayer, reading the Word, and preaching, emphasizing that these elements should be preserved in due proportion [9].

While the Psalms provide a foundational repertoire, the concept of a "new song" in scripture (e.g., Psalm 149:1) suggests an openness to fresh expressions of praise [2, 7]. Matthew Henry observes that singing the praises of God was sometimes called "prophesying" in the Old Testament, indicating its edifying and God-glorifying purpose [15]. Instruments like the trumpet, psaltery, and harp were also used in divine worship in the Old Testament, as noted by John Gill on Psalm 150:3, symbolizing the joyful and varied ways God can be praised [13].

The selection process for worship songs often involves discerning what aligns with "true doctrine" and avoids opposing it, as Augustine noted regarding various church customs [11]. The challenge for worship leaders is to select songs that facilitate genuine worship, engage the congregation, and faithfully reflect biblical truth, while also considering the context of the worshiping community. The question of "How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a foreign land?" (Psalm 137:4) highlights the importance of context and authenticity in worship, even when circumstances are challenging [1].

Sources

  1. Psalms “Psalms 137:4 (Webster) — How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a foreign land?”
  2. Psalms “Psalms 149:1 (BBE) — Let the Lord be praised. Make a new song to the Lord, let his praise be in the meeting of his saints.”
  3. Ephesians “Ephesians 5:19 (BBE) — Joining with one another in holy songs of praise and of the Spirit, using your voice in songs and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”
  4. Psalms “Serve Yahweh with gladness. Come before his presence with singing. -- Psalms 100:2”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hymn — Occurs only Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16. The verb to "sing an hymn" occurs Matt. 26:30 and Mark 14:26. The same Greek word is rendered to "sing praises" Acts 16:25 (R.V., "sing hymns") and Heb. 2:12. The "hymn" which our Lord sang with his disciples at the last Supper is generally supposed to have been the latter part of the Hallel, comprehending Ps. 113-118. It was thus a name given to a number of psalms taken together and forming a devotional exercise. The noun hymn is used only with reference to the services of the Greeks, and was distinguished from the psalm. ”
  6. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), 1  A Song of God’s Glorious Name (part 1): 1 A Song of God’s Glorious Name 2 A Song of God’s Descending 3 A Song of the King’s Glory 4 A Song of God’s Light 5 A Song of Trust in God 6 A Song of Penitence 7 A Song of God’s Praise 8 A Song of God’s Blessing 9 A Song of Mercy and Truth 10 Venite – A Song of Triumph 11 A Song of God’s Splendour 12 Jubilate – A Song of Joy 13 A Song of God’s Righteousness 14 A Song of God’s Compassion 15 A Song of God’s Greatness 16 A Song of Worship 17 Verses from Psalm 141 –A Song of the Evening Sacrifice 18 A So”
  7. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 149:1: Praise ye the Lord,.... Or "hallelujah"; the title of the psalm, according to many; sing unto the Lord a new song; for a new mercy received, a new victory obtained, or a new salvation wrought; more particularly the new song of redeeming grace through Jesus Christ, the song of the Lamb, in distinction from the old song of Moses and the children of Israel at the Red sea, on account of their deliverance, which was typical of salvation by Christ, the oldest, being the first song we read of; but this is a new one, which none but the redeemed of the Lamb can sing; a song”
  8. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 96:1: These verses will be best expounded by pious and devout affections working in our souls towards God, with a high veneration for his majesty and transcendent excellency. The call here given us to praise God is very lively, the expressions are raised and repeated, to all which the echo of a thankful heart should make agreeable returns. I. We are here required to honour God, 1. With songs, Psa 96:1, Psa 96:2. Three times we are here called to sing unto the Lord; sing to the Father, to the Son, to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, when the morning stars sang”
  9. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 73: a custom when the grounds on which it was introduced no longer exist; or to make a church ordinance the substitute for a divine institution. 707 Public Prayer. The public services of the sanctuary are designed for worship and instruction. The former includes prayer and singing; the latter, the reading the word of God and preaching. These elements should be preserved in due proportion. In some churches instruction is made entirely subordinate to worship; twice the time being devoted to the latter that is allotted to the former. This seems ”
  10. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid,” ( Isa. 29:13 ). Still we do not condemn words or singing, but rather greatly commend them, provided the feeling of the mind goes along with them. For in this way the thought of God is kept alive on our minds, which, from their fickle and versatile nature, soon relax, and are distracted by various objects, unless various means are used to support them. Besides, since the glory of God ought in a manner to be displaye”
  11. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 1: Augustine — Confessions, Letters — CHAP. XVIII.--33. As to the feet-washing, since the Lord recommended this because of its being an example of that humility which He came to teach, as He Himself afterwards explained, the question has : 34. I am surprised at your expressing a desire that I should write anything in regard to those ceremonies which are found different in different countries, because there is no necessity for my doing this; and, moreover, one most excellent rule must be observed in regard to these customs, when they do not in any way oppose either true doctrine or so”
  12. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Psalms 1 - 5: Psalms 1 - 5 Psalms 6 - 8 Psalms 9 - 11 Psalms 12 - 14 Psalms 15 - 17 Psalm 18 Psalm 19 - 21 Psalms 22 - 23 Psalms 24 - 26 Psalms 27 - 29 Psalms 30 - 31 Psalms 32 - 34 Psalms 35 - 36 Psalm 37 Psalms 38 - 40 Psalms 41 - 43 Psalms 44 - 46 Psalms 47 - 49 Psalms 50 - 52 Psalms 53 - 55 Psalms 56 - 58 Psalms 59 - 61 Psalms 62 - 64 Psalms 65 - 67 Psalm 68 Psalms 69 - 70 Psalms 71 - 72 Psalms 73 - 74 Psalms 75 - 77 Psalm 78 Psalms 79 - 81 Psalms 82 - 85 Psalms 86 - 88 Psalm 89 Psalms 90 - 92 Psalms 93 - 94 Psalms 95 - 97 Psalms 98 - 101 ”
  13. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 150:3: Praise him with the sound of the trumpet,.... Which was used in calling the assembly together, for worship and on other occasions; and at the feast of blowing of trumpets, and in the year of jubilee, Num 10:1; and by the priests in temple service, Ch1 16:6; and was typical of the Gospel, which gives a certain and joyful sound, and is the cause and means of praising God, Isa 27:13; praise him with the psaltery; to which psalms were sung; and harp; which were instruments of music, both used in divine worship under the former dispensation; and in which David was wel”
  14. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), A Gathering and Greeting: A Gathering and Greeting B Penitence C Liturgy of the Word D Psalms and Canticles E Creeds and Authorized Affirmations of Faith F Prayers G Praise and Thanksgiving H The Peace I Action and Movement J Conclusion Resource Section Themes Sample Services”
  15. 1 Chronicles (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Chronicles 25:1: Observe, I. Singing the praises of God is here called prophesying (Ch1 25:1-3), not that all those who were employed in this service were honoured with the visions of God, or could foretel things to come. Heman indeed is said to be the king's seer in the words of God (Ch1 25:5); but the psalms they sang were composed by the prophets, and many of them were prophetical; and the edification of the church was intended in it, as well as the glory of God. In Samuel's time singing the praises of God went by the name of prophesying (Sa1 10:5; Sa1 19:20), and perhaps”
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