PHSS101-- The "Prime Directive" Explained

 

With the publication of PHSS-101's "Syllabus", you likely noticed something that might appear to demonstrate a possible fandom as a "Trekkie", and that something would be the listing of a Prime Directive. It is as follows:

"Prime Directive: to let the Word of Christ richly dwell in us in all wisdom; teaching, admonishing, and speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing with grace and making melody in our hearts to the Lord (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16) in a decent and orderly manner (1Co 14:40)."

As you can see, this Prime Directive is simply a restating and a compilation of three verses of Scripture: Ephesians 5:19; Colosians 3:16; and 1 Corinthians 14:40. But what does this mean? Well, considering I have taken the task of spewing commentary on the songs from Praise for the Lord, I should have more than opinion to write about the songs; at the same time, having this Prime Directive can provide some background (even backbone) to arguments over whether or not a song should be sung (e.g.-- are we singing to God or to each other? If to each other, are we teaching or even encouraging?).  So let's analyze this Prime Directive to see what we can learn.

• "...[L]et the Word of Christ richly dwell in us in all wisdom....": as will be seen in the next point, while we teach, admonish, and speak to each other, what better content could we have for our songs, hymns, and spiritual songs than the word of Christ?  And the more of His word that dwells in us, the more of His word and wisdom that will come out (in song as well as our speech and conduct).  Besides, as will also be seen in future commentaries, we have to take care that what we sing is in line with Scripture. So of course, it does one good to "study to show [oneself] approved unto God" (2Tim 2:15).
• "...teaching, admonishing, and speaking to one another....": this phrase combines what is said in both Col. 3:16 and Eph 5:19 (to which we shall refer, from here out, as "The Singing Verses"!).  We have a command of what we are to do, while singing, and of whom we are to carry out the command to and with, in this case, to each other (thus we are all to sing, not just a select group or choir of people).  Further analysis of each individual command demonstrates:
•  Teaching: "to impart knowledge or skill"
• Admonishing: "to caution, advise, or counsel against something; to reprove or scold, especially in a mild and good-willed manner; to urge to a duty; remind"
• Speaking: "to utter vocally and articulately; to express or make known with the voice; to make known, indicate or reveal"
• [These definitions are compiled from dictionary.com]
• The command in the Ephesian verse is to speak.  Although the dual command of teaching and admonishing is given in the Colossian verse, one can see that imparting knowledge, cautioning, or reproving are all covered by vocal utterance, expression, making known, etc.
• "...in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs....": with this phrase we see what we are commanded to teach, admonish, and speak to each other with. As such, there is further analysis of each part:
• Psalms: "Psalms are songs devoted to the praise of God, extolling [H]is name, power, character and works."
• Hymns: "Hymns are songs of praise, thanksgiving, and supplication, teaching our dependence on God and [H]is willingness to bless."
• Spiritual Songs: "Spiritual songs are those intended to inspire and cultivate feelings of spiritual devotion and to bring the spirit of man into harmony with, and under the control of, the Spirit of God."
• [These definitions come from A Commentary on the New Testament Epistles, vol 4, Ephesians, Phillippians, and Colossians by David Lipscomb (c. 1969)]
• "...singing with grace and making melody in our hearts to the Lord....": here it's not only reiterated what action is commanded, but we are also instructed as to Whom this action is taken: we are not only singing to one another, but to the Grand Composer of all eternity, the Lord! This is perhaps a greater reason to be well acquainted with what we are singing; if we are going to praise the Mighty Maker, we better be certain we are praising Him for Who He truly is and what He has truly done ("Little Drummer Boy"? Wrong answer!).
• "...in a decent and orderly manner.": Paul's command to the Corinthians was in response to the random methods by which they were conducting their worship.  One congregant would be prophesying; one would be speaking in tongues (likely without a translator); as some of our number today seem to be prone, it is likely a group in one corner may have started spontaneously singing from 117th Psalm; etc.  Although our worship is usually much more subdued, consisting simply of singing, preaching, and prayer at any service, as well as our communion and offering solely on Sundays, we would do well to heed Paul's commandment also [correction: God's command through His servant Paul].  In other commentaries, I hope to discuss certain conventions that can be used during our worship in song in particular as well as some other methods that are being tried and possibly found wanting.

So there we have a checklist of sorts for our look into the songs from Taylor Publications' hymnal Praise for the Lord (along with a graphic presentation of it as seen below; hopefully this will help with the future commentaries). Let's get ready....

--jab