Meditation for Monday
And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. Mark 14:26
The singing of a hymn, the ‘Hallell’ or song of praise, was the concluding part of the Passover supper. It is interesting that many of the details of that meal are not described in detail, or even mentioned. But of those things that are mentioned, the Hallell is referred to here. The Hallell was traditionally portions of Psalms 115, 116, 117, and 118. However, we do not know if this is what the disciples sang on this occasion. The Lord had just instituted His supper, so these Psalms would have been entirely appropriate. Appropriateness is the best rule for singing hymns today during meetings of God’s Assembly.
Most of the hymns that we sing during our meetings are very appropriate, although this is not always the case. It is very touching when an appropriate hymn lifts the hearts of the Lord’s people in worship. Such hymns form a very precious portion of our meetings. Godly men and women were surely motivated and guided by the Lord to write these hymns, so the people of God should exercise the same care when singing them.
So how do we know when a hymn is appropriate? How do we know to avoid a hymn that is not appropriate? How important is it that the hymn be appropriate? An inappropriate hymn is an irritant that can seriously affect the moving of the Holy Spirit during the meeting. <BR> Just being aware that a hymn should be appropriate will resolve most difficulties. In addition, a brother who gives out a hymn should do so only if he feels led of the spirit to do so. Hymns should never be given out simply to fill in a lag in the meeting or ‘because it is time for a hymn’.
Do you enjoy the hymns? You will if you pay more attention to the words than to the melody. The disciples sang a hymn because it was the right point in the passover to do so. Let us carefully do the same.
-Jim MacIntosh