“Praise Ye the Lord”: Psalm 147 A Capella from the Scottish Psalter (1650)
Posted by deangonzales on July 18, 2009
The book of Psalms provides God’s people with some of the most glorious hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God Almighty. Below is a beautiful rendition of Psalm 147 A Capella from the Scottish Psalter of 1650. Meditate upon the words as they are put to song, and may your heart be lifted up in adoration to the Creator and Redeemer.
Bob Gonzales, Dean
Reformed Baptist Seminary
5 Responses to ““Praise Ye the Lord”: Psalm 147 A Capella from the Scottish Psalter (1650)”
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July 18th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
amazing! Thanks Robert!
July 18th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
How good to concentrate on the beautiful words of the psalter done in song without the distraction of instruments that often take more than they give. Praise our Sovereign Lord for His Word to the hearts of spiritually hungry men.
July 18th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
David and Jim,
Glad the hymn was edifying. I agree that a capella singing has its benefits in that we get to focus on the human voice and lyrics. I also think that musical accompaniment can be overdone.
On the other hand, we have to remember that many if not most of the Psalms were written to be sung with musical accompaniment (including a variety of musical instruments) with God’s own authorization. Accordingly, I don’t think musical accompaniment of necessity need distract from the message. Otherwise we’d have to question God’s wisdom in authorizing the use of instruments in worship.
I suspect you agree. Just thought I’d add a qualifying thought to your comments.
Bob Gonzales
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Amen Dr. Gonzales. After all doesn’t Psalm mean “to play upon the string”?
And yet it seems that among reformers, what the Regulatory Principle entails seems to vary. Some have argued that instruments and choirs should be done away with during worship since it was part of the OT “temple worship” when sacrifices were still offered. But now that Christ has come and that the sacrificial ceremonies have been done away with (and so should the temple worship and everything involving that it seems), it has no part in the church. I have a little trouble with this because clearly the Psalms states instruments to be played to the Lord. So should parts of the Psalms be abrogated as well because it involved instruments? Even Revelations mentions the playing of harps and instruments in the heavenly worship.
What are your thoughts on this?
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Jade,
I fixed the link you embedded above.
Regarding your question above, I believe (1) that the RPW is simply sola Scriptura applied to worship, (2) that both the Old and the New Testaments are the rule to direct us how to glorify and enjoy God as a way of life and in corporate worship, and (3) that the Scriptures warrant the use of musical instruments in the worship of God both inside and also outside the context of corporate worship. Accordingly, I believe God’s people may praise the Lord with or without instruments in a way that is pleasing to God and edifying to the saints.
I understand that some Reformed brothers differ and argue for exclusive a capella worship. However, I haven’t found their arguments compelling.
Thanks for the input.
Your servant,
Bob Gonzales