“Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.”
1 Corinthians 14:15-17 NLT
With all the tongue-speaking going on, interlaced with the use of other gifts such as interpretation of tongues and prophecy, Paul was trying to teach the Corinthians about the proper application of the Holy Spirit’s gifts. The believers there were obviously making good use of the gift of tongues, but previously Paul had pointed out, “ …If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space” (1 Corinthians 14:9). So, Paul introduced the thought that some degree of balance might be appropriate. Don’t neglect the gift of tongues, he said, but also pray in a language people understood. Paul also introduced another use of tongues that might have caused some confusion – singing the tongues rather than speaking them. This was perhaps also adding to the confusion in their public meetings, because it introduced another dimension – the melody used to support the tongues themselves. Imagine if the minister or worship leader starts the next song or hymn only to find that several people are singing their own song with a different melody, different harmonies, and in a different language. Discordant chaos would be the result. Again, Paul introduced the logic that one person’s spiritual song – good though it might have been for them, being full of praise and gratitude – would have been pointless for everyone else who would not have been able to join in because they wouldn’t have known the lyrics.
There has to be order in the church meetings because otherwise they disintegrate into chaos, losing the impact that love and unity between believers is supposed to convey. So in some denominations, we end up with a pre-written liturgy that is religiously followed each service, with the only differences being the hymns chosen, and the prayers specifically allocated for a particular day or occasion. Even in other churches, not bound to a prayer book, there can be the freedom of new songs and spontaneous prayers, but there is still an absence of the spiritual gifts and singing in the spirit. Where is the balance? Well, that was what Paul was trying to teach the Corinthians. Not an easy process for Paul because of his remoteness from what was happening at the time, but it perhaps explains why he was taking such pains to write about the spiritual gifts and how they should be used.
“Sing a new song of praise to Him“
Singing in the spirit is a spontaneous and corporate time of singing in a meeting with a basic melody over which each person’s tongues can be supported. There is also room for singing a new song, with new lyrics and melodies, with words that are understandable and simple enough for the congregation to pick up. The Psalmist in Psalm 33 wrote, “Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy” (Psalm 33:3). David wrote a Psalm that contains the verse, “He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:3). In these verses, tongues, a New Covenant gift, would not have been available then, so the “new song” would have been in the psalmist’s native language.
God has blessed most of His children, if not all, with a gift of music. We pilgrims might be too embarrassed to sing out in public. We might lack the musical ability to construct melodies and harmonies, but we can start with a well-known tune and apply our own words and syllables expressed in our Heavenly language of tongues. That’s all it takes. Perhaps we need to find a private place to practice. Perhaps we need to wait until our worship leader on Sunday provides a musical platform for our new song. But once the effort is made, blessings will follow. Paul said to the Corinthians, “I will sing in the spirit“. For Paul, it wasn’t an optional extra to be enjoyed when he felt like it. It was an act of his will. When problems abound and threaten to overwhelm us, sometimes a simple song in tongues will connect us to the One who cares for us.
Dear Heavenly Father. We know You love us and care for us. Please help us as we take some faltering steps in praying and singing in our Heavenly language, Your gift of tongues. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 