How Can I Keep From Singing: Episode 2

Episode 2: Biblical Songs & Ancient Hymns

The people of God are a singing people, and the Bible is replete with songs in both the Old and New Testaments. The early Christians drew on the Judaic heritage of music and worship, and grafted onto it principles of music and notation developed by the Ancient Greeks and Romans, contributing to a new body of hymns for the early Church.

We briefly mention Old Testament Songs, and then we move on to the Psalms, the hymnbook of the old testament if you will, designed to be sung.

There are numerous types of Psalms (laments, praise, prophetic and royal, thanksgiving, etc.), and we discuss the range of authentic emotion they display. 

We also briefly mention of New Testament Canticles – Mary (Magnificat), Angels (Gloria), Simeon (Nunc Dimittis), Zechariah (Benedictus).

Some Early Church hymns in our hymnal:

• O Gladsome Light (UMH 686)
• O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright (UMH 679)
• Of the Father’s Love Begotten (UMH 184)
• The Day of Resurrection (303)
• O Come, O Come Emmanuel (211)