What is a Psalm?
A Psalm is a song. When used in a general sense, the word song refers to al kinds of sung music. It has has a folk quality to it, in that it is more testimonial and experiential than a hymn. More closely related to the vernacular of the current culture, a psalm or song is generally simpler and often carries high emotional value. This song form would include what we call choruses.
What is a Hymn?
In contrast to a song, a hymn has a more formal, literary character to it. Hymns are generally more content oriented and require a more thoughtful process to fully appreciate. Usually having more verses, hymns are more theological and poetic. They often deal with the character and work of God above human experience. Because they are less tied to contemporary trends, they usually have a longer life span than songs.
What is a Spiritual Song?
The spiritual song is even more a song-of-the-moment than a psalm or hymn. This "less rational" song form consists of improvised melodies and words, inspired by the H0ly Spirit and sung around a chord or slowly moving chord progression. This song form has been referred to as "the song of angels" because of its mystical, otherworldly quality.
Classification in Contemporary Terms
Psalms, or songs, make up the pop music of worship.
The hymns provide much of what you reach for when you experience the majesty of lofty, snowcapped mountains. They make up the classical music of worship.
The impulse behind spiritual songs is the same impulse children on the playground experience when they make up a song to the rhythm of the seesaw. It is behind what makes us want to hum or whistle a random melody. Spiritual songs are the jazz of worship.
All Three Together
The genius of these three song forms is that each is uniquely appropriate to express a different dimension of God's nature.
We cannot just pick the aspects of God that we like and ignore the rest. He is God.
There are times He rebukes, times He defends and times He inspires. There are times that He seems like your best friend, and you can say anything in the world to Him. There are other times when it seems more as if you are in a courtroom standing before a Judge. Therefore in worship, there are times to show respect, times to speak like friends, and times to revel in God's prophetic nature. That is why we need hymns and songs and spiritual songs.
A Call To Greater Flexibility
What would worship be like if the Holy Spirit Himself was the worship leader at your church? That idea is something to consider.
We need to be prepared to put aside our prejudices with regards to various styles of worship. Left to ourselves, we almost always will choose a view of worship that is much narrower than the view the Holy Spirit will choose.
Practicing songs, hymns and spiritual songs enlarges our worship.
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