![]() ![]() ![]() Try setting and singing psalms in their entirety, or at least large sections of single psalms. We often isolate the “positive” sections of psalms for various reasons, losing indispensable biblical context. Widening our gaze of a passage-including surrounding verses and concepts-helps us frame our Scripture quotations in the appropriate biblical context.Ĥ. This narrow focus can produce some wonderful songs but is, in many ways, harder to do with excellence. Consider using large sections of Scripture rather than taking a short verse for inspiration. Too often, our personal Bible study habits lead us to reflect on a single verse or phrase, and so we naturally turn to elaborate on small sections of Scripture in our songwriting. After all, we are writing to serve the Lord and His church, not ourselves.ģ. Try not to get too attached to your work in any form. Share your songs with an open hand and a willingness to revise, refine, and clarify. Involve pastors and other trusted Christians in reviewing both your exegetical work and drafts of your lyrics. Those who preach and teach spend valuable time studying the Bible: their perspective is an indispensable help for us. Embrace the journey and be willing for your perception of a passage to be changed before you put pen to paper.Ģ. Take the same care when evaluating song lyrics that contain Scripture references. Afterward, read some reliable commentaries on your passage to check your work. Labor to arrive at a simple sentence which summarizes the main idea of your text’s passage, then see how the Scripture you intend to quote relates to that theme. Work hard to arrive at the biblical author’s intended meaning in the passage you’re studying. Take great care to study passages of Scripture before incorporating them into song lyrics. Read whole chapters-or, better yet, whole books of the Bible-before quoting Scripture in a song you’re writing. Here are a few thoughts on how you can include Scripture quotations with exegetical responsibility:ġ. The memorable quality of good music underscores the need to apply the same care to our songwriting that we afford our sermons. Songs often function as memorable sermons, serving the word of Christ in order that it might dwell richly in us. When we preach, we sense the immense care needed to handle God’s word with accuracy and integrity. I hope this article will challenge songwriters to write, pastors to select, and Christians to champion songs that treat passages in their original context with a renewed commitment to clarifying the biblical author’s intended meaning of a passage. Other songs distorts the true intent of the text by putting verses a new context, which does a tremendous disservice to the church and dishonor to God. Some songs quote passages without their context, leaving the exegetical work to the listener-which isn’t inherently wrong but also isn’t helpful. However, not all songs that quote Scripture are as responsible. I was so very grateful to re-discover that Steve Green’s simple song included a spoken introduction, explaining the context of Philippians 4:13. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” With this clarity, the meaning of Philippians 4:13 is clear: Christ enabled Paul to be content in all situations, even as he wrote the letter, imprisoned for sharing the gospel. In the preceding verse, Paul wrote, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. Paul was speaking not of superpowers, but of being content in all things. The problem, of course, with this application is that it ignores the biblical context of that single verse. From dunked basketballs to weight loss to CEO positions, Philippians 4:13 has been wrongly applied as a “be all you can be” message. Infamously taken out of context, it has been used erroneously to suggest that the believer can achieve his or her personal goals because Jesus affords his strength to believers. The verse, of course, is Philippians 4:13. But for some reason, the song I remember the most-particularly the final descending line sung by some cute young voice: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I was exhorted by a swirling melody to obey my parents in the Lord. I recall literally holding my tongue while learning to keep it from evil. These songs were formative for my sisters and me we memorized Scripture without trying. I grew up on Steve Green’s “Hide ‘Em in Your Heart” series. ![]()
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