3. The angels and glorified saints did not sing the psalms.
It is surely to be expected that these angelic and glorified creatures will sing perfect praise in their worship of God. Yet when we read of their praise of God in the Scriptures we do not find them singing from the book of Psalms.
The angels did not sing from the Psalter when they came to the shepherds on the hills of Judæa to announce the incarnation of the Son of God, Luke 2:13,14: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
These words are nowhere to be found in the Psalter. If the Psalter is the compendium of perfect praise you would surely expect the holy angels, on such a heavenly mission as this, to sing from the Psalter. Did the holy angels set a bad example to the Shepherds? Is it just permissible for the angels to sing words not found in the Psalter but redeemed souls on earth are not?
These words are nowhere to be found in the Psalter. If the Psalter is the compendium of perfect praise you would surely expect the holy angels, on such a heavenly mission as this, to sing from the Psalter. Did the holy angels set a bad example to the Shepherds? Is it just permissible for the angels to sing words not found in the Psalter but redeemed souls on earth are not?
The redeemed and glorified saints in heaven do not sing the 150 Psalms of David. The collective representatives of the redeemed in glory, in their worship of Jesus Christ, do not sing from the Psalter, Revelation 5:8-10: And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The four beasts and the four and twenty elders in these verses are connected with the redeemed of God as they specifically sing: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood….
Of the references to 'blood' in the Psalter none of them refer to the 'blood of the Lamb of God', which taketh away the sin of the world.
The saints who will yet overcome the Beast do not sing from the Psalter. They are said to sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb, Revelation 15:2-4: And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
The saints who will yet overcome the Beast do not sing from the Psalter. They are said to sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb, Revelation 15:2-4: And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Neither of these songs are to be found in the Psalter. You would surely expect the praise of heaven to be perfect praise. It is perfect praise without any doubt! This heavenly praise will come from the mouth of glorified, sinless saints. Yet on this occasion there is no content from the Psalter, that I can see.
On these occasions, in the Book of the Revelation, that songs are mentioned they are described as 'new songs'. This invariably means they are not in the Psalter.
According to exclusive psalmists you could never on earth employ any of these words which the holy angels and redeemed, glorified saints sing in heaven. This would be deemed to be contrary to their understanding of Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16.
It seems utterly bizarre and beyond comprehension that a redeemed soul on earth could never in a worship service sing such marvellous words as are found in these songs which are perfectly acceptable for the worship of God in heaven.
Previous posts on this subject:
1. The terms 'Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs' inEphesians 5:19 & Colossians 3:16 do not refer to the 150 Psalms of the Book of Psalms.
2. Old Testament and New Testament saints did not live by this exclusive psalmist rule.
Previous posts on this subject:
1. The terms 'Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs' inEphesians 5:19 & Colossians 3:16 do not refer to the 150 Psalms of the Book of Psalms.
2. Old Testament and New Testament saints did not live by this exclusive psalmist rule.
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