Over a dozen reasons why the argument for Exclusive Psalmody doesn't stand up, Part 7

7. The Exclusive Psalmist's position requires them to reject ever singing the 'very best song' in public worship. 

The 'song of songs' is the wonderful title given to the book of Song of Solomon, ch 1:1. There are a number of ways of expressing the superlative in Hebrew. One of those ways is to speak of the: song of songs or King of kings or Lord of lords or holy of holies. When this type of expression is employed in the Scriptures then it is indicating the highest quality or degree of something, that is, the superlative. 

However, an exclusive Psalmist, in public worship at least, can never use this very best of songs to praise the Lord and extol Jesus Christ. By limiting their public praise to the Psalter they can never sing a paraphrase or a hymn based upon this superlative song of songs. 

Ralph Erskine penned a delightful paraphrase of this song. The first five stanzas read:

1. This Song of Solomon the wise

As penman fam'd belongs; 

And justly for its sacred rise,

Is nam'd the Song of Songs. 

2. With kisses of thy mouth divine,

O let me favour'd be;

For better than the richest wine

Thy love appears to me. 

3. Thy name like ointment sweet pour'd out

Doth all perfumes excel;

Hence virgin-souls, the sacred rout

Of saints do love thee well.

4. O draw me with thy loving cord;

We will run after thee:

Lo! to his chambers deck'd, my Lord,

The King hath handed me. 

In thee we'll joy; this love of thine

We'll mind, with more delight

Than all the blessings of the vine:

Thou'rt lov'd by the upright

There are also many hymns based upon the words of this supreme song. 

Yet the words of this superlative song, as defined by God Himself, can supposedly never ever be uttered in public praise. Exclusive Psalmists often tell us that the Psalter is to be the preeminent songbook of the Church. This argument is fatally flawed as it necessitates the rejection of that which God Himself defines as the superlative song in the Scriptures. How can this be? The irony is compounded all the more by the repeated claim of exclusive psalmists that it is their praise that is the best and purest. 

An ideology that necessitates not singing the very best of songs is simply ill thought through.

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.
3. The angels and glorified saints did not sing the psalms.
4. There are possible remnants of hymns/canticles/doxologies quoted in the New Testament.
5. Progressive Revelation argues against Exclusive Psalmody.
6. Exclusive Psalmody leads to different levels of worship.