What Makes a Christ-Honoring Worship Song?
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Biblical scholars share a common agreement that Exodus 15:1-18 — the Song of Moses — is the first song recorded in Scripture. Since all Scripture is about the Lord Jesus, it’s a sure thing that this is a Christ-honoring song of worship. If you look closely throughout the Old Testament, you will see the gospel in its pages, and all the songs recorded in Scripture fit the description of Christ-honoring worship songs.
An interesting note about the Song of Moses. Not only is it the first passage of Scripture identified as a song, but it’s also echoed in Revelation 15:3-4 as the last song recorded in Scripture. The passage reads:
“And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire — and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb” (Revelation 15:2-3a).
The Bible’s narrative of God’s redemptive plan will come full circle, with Moses’ song as the first bookend (the Law), and Christ — the Gospel, Redeemer, and fulfillment of the Law (Ephesians 2:8) — as the grand finale of all human history.
What Are Some Examples of Songs in the Bible?
Having mentioned it, let’s look at the structure of worship in the Song of Moses from Exodus 15:1-18.
Verse 1 is the introduction, where we learn who is singing the song: Moses and the people of Israel. The introduction also includes the “why” of the song; they sing because the Lord “has triumphed gloriously” and has thrown the Egyptian pursuers and their steeds into the sea.
Verse 2 speaks of who the Lord is to the singer. To Moses, the Lord is his strength, his song, his salvation (a picture of our deliverance in Christ), and his and his father’s God. Moses declares he will praise and exalt Him.
Verses 3-10 proclaim what the Lord does and who the Lord is (Jehovah, the self-existent One, a Man of war). The verses also declare what He’s done, and brings more praise of His nature. Verse 9 is an interlude of what His arrogant enemy said, and verse 10 tells us how the Lord blew with His wind and buried the enemy “like lead in the mighty waters.”
Verses 11-18 once again proclaim the mighty works of the Lord, His majesty, holiness, His steadfast love and protection of the people He redeemed, the effect on His enemies, and the establishment of His people in the place of His choosing.
Verse 18 completes the song with, “The LORD will reign forever and ever.”
The Psalms (literally songs) present us with 150 songs to the Lord. King David — author of at least seventy-three psalms — generally follows the example set by the Song of Moses. Psalm 64, for instance, begins with David identifying himself as the one who sings the song. He follows with his prayer to the Lord for protection against the wicked who seek to do him harm. The wicked are always identified as those who are against the Lord and arrogant in their evil ways.
David then says “But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads.” King David exalts the Lord and His actions that cause men to fear Him, tell others, and “ponder what He has done.” The psalm ends with praise, “Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in Him! Let all the upright in heart exult!”
The Song of Moses, as re-stated in Revelation 15:3-4, proclaims, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, nand glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
This is a beautiful summary of what the Lord has done throughout history, and it exalts the Lord God and Christ, the Lamb — God Himself — Who is and was and is to come (Revelation 1:8; 4:8).
Components of a Christ-Honoring Worship Song
When the church gathers together on Sundays, part of our time is spent in joyful songs of praise to the Lord Jesus. No matter our skill as singers, the Lord hears and delights in the outpouring of our hearts in loving, thankful praise to Him (Psalm 22:3).
While much of the lyrics are biblical and Scripturally grounded, there are many modern worship songs (especially the ones beginning with the “Jesus movement” of the seventies) that focus more on what we are instead of exalting Christ. They are fueled by emotion and presented by worship teams in a manner that evokes a strong emotional response from those gathered for worship.
Music we sing with the church to the Lord should be about Him. It’s okay to infuse ourselves and our situation within worship songs (King David did), but exalting the Lord must be the cornerstone and majority of the songs.
Ephesians 5:19-21 gives us a glimpse into the delight of the Lord Jesus’ people as they praise Him, “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
This passage follows the pattern set by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians. According to Pastor Jeremiah Hurt of Reforming Truth Church, “Ephesians 1-3 are all about the glorious grace of God. Chapters 4-5 are about how then we are to live in light of everything God has done.”
Both chapters (4 and 5) begin with “therefore.” We need to keep looking back at chapters one, two, and three and remember what Paul has said. It’s because of what Christ has done, is doing, and will do that we obey Him in joyful response and thankfulness. We realize, as Pastor Hurt says, “The only way to live the Christian life is to realize Who God is and what He has done” (Titus 2:11). We can rest in Christ; He is the One about and to Whom we are to sing in joyful praise.
Aspects of a Christ-Honoring Worship Song
Based upon what we see in the song of Moses, the Psalms, and in other songs of the Bible, true Christ-honoring worship songs need only follow the templates seen in Scripture. The Song of Moses as recorded in Exodus 15 and its echo in Revelation 15 are wonderful models. When you read the Psalms, consider the full manner in which God is praised.
Christ-honoring worship songs are:
Based upon Scripture
What better way to praise the Lord than to voice what’s in Scripture back to Him, just like we can do with prayers.
Christ-centered
From Genesis 1 through Revelation 22, the Bible is all about Jesus. Christians will spend eternity with Him, and we will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). We can consider our praise songs now a foretaste of what’s to come.
Gospel Saturated
Just as Moses, King David, the Apostles Paul and John flooded their songs and words with the gospel, we honor Him when we do the same.
Speak of What He Has Done
When we recount His mighty works, we glorify Him for Who He is and for what only He can do. It humbles us and brings us before Him is awestruck wonder.
Not Exclusively Emotional
When we worship the Lord, we are expressing our love to and for Him. We are to do so as the Lord commanded, with all of our hearts, minds, souls, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5; Luke 10:27). Pure emotion neglects our minds. By the way, no one will ever love God like this until glory. And we surely won’t love our neighbor as ourselves. That’s why we rest in Jesus Christ and His grace.
Not Filled with “I”
We need to remember it’s all about Jesus. He loves us, and we bring all our praise to Him.
Meeting together to sing to the Lord on Sundays is a joyful experience. Our joy overflows as we thank the Lord for Who He is and for what He has done. The God of the universe, Creator of the heavens and the earth (and us) has revealed Himself to us in a most glorious way. He saved us from and for Him (Ephesians 2:8-10).
We honor Him and bring Him glory, for He alone is worthy of all blessing and honor and glory (Revelation 5:12-13; 7:12). As you gather with your church this week, sing before the Lord with all praise to Him.
“Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
praise Him in His mighty heavens!Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
praise Him according to His excellent greatness!Praise Him with trumpet sound;
praise Him with lute and harp!Praise Him with tambourine and dance;
praise Him with strings and pipe!Praise Him with sounding cymbals;
praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!”
(Psalm 150:1-6).
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