Criteria for Hymn Selection: “Sing praises with understanding” (Psalm 47:7b)

By Rev. Joel Brondos

This series is offered for consideration as objective criteria to address subjective concerns used in the process of selecting hymns for use in hymnals and services.

 “The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation” (Exodus 15:2; Psalm 118:14; Isaiah 12:2)

Where there is salvation, there is singing.

Singing springs forth from the lips of people who have been delivered from sin, death, the devil, the world and their own flesh. As Luther wrote in his preface to the Babst hymnal in 1545:

"For God has cheered our hearts and minds through his dear Son, whom he gave for us to redeem us from sin, death and the devil. He who believes this earnestly cannot be quiet about it. But he must gladly and willingly sing and speak about it so that others also may come and hear it. And whoever does not want to sing and speak of it shows that he does not believe and that he does not belong under the new and joyful testament, but under the old, lazy, and tedious testament." (AE 53:332-33)

Similarly, Robin Leaver writes,

"Music is the accompanying counterpoint to the Divine message and in all the mighty acts of God, music is never very far away. From eternity to eternity, from creation to judgment, from Genesis to Revelation, the sound of music is to be heard.” Even the heavens, the sea, mountain and forest break into singing." (1 Chron. 16:32-33; Is. 44:23)

For Lutherans, hymn singing is the corporate confession of God’s work in Christ. It is not primarily a clergy-manipulated attempt to elicit certain emotions from people. It is not essentially a human-centered effort obey a sovereign God who demands utmost praise according to His divine Law. The hymns, psalms and spiritual songs of God’s people are rather sung confessions of the works and gifts of Him who has obtained such deliverance as declared by the Holy Scriptures.

The Word of God begets the song of the Church.

Hymns recall and recount the promises and works of Jesus Christ among people who know their sin and their need before a righteous God. In this way, people learn to love hymns not for the sake of their melody, rhythm, childhood memories or sentimental phrases, but rather because they are people who cling to the saving work of God in Christ which is expressed in the hymns.