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.
