Hymns that heal

WILLIAM E. MOODY

Hymns to God have encouraged, comforted, and inspired people even from early Bible times. A heart singing praise and gratitude helps lift human thought from self-centered moorings. Special joy and freedom can be felt when voices join together to actively express a genuine love for God.

The New Testament relates that Christ Jesus and his disciples closed the holy occasion of the Last Supper with the singing of a hymn. Matthew's Gospel states simply, "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives."^{Matt. 26:30.} Here was certainly a moment of reverent unity shared by the Master and his closest friends.

The Old Testament contains an entire book of what might be considered hymns. In explaining the purpose of Psalms, one Bible commentary suggests, "The Hebrew title of this book is Tehilim, 'praises' or 'hymns,' for a leading feature in its contents is praise...." Many of the biblical psalms are traditionally ascribed to David, and he must have viewed these songs as one way to uplift the religious worship of his day. The same commentary observes that David appointed nearly three hundred Levites to sing and to perform the music: "He used great efforts to beautify the worship of the sanctuary."^{Robert Jamieson et al, Commentary Practical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1961), p. 405 .}