"There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God." --Psalm 46:4

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Serving God with His people at Faith OPC has been a great joy and blessing. When I grow up, I want to umpire Little League Baseball. I will revel on that day when I can say to a 10-year-old boy after four pitched balls, "Take a walk in the sunshine." My wife of 30+ years, Peggy, consistently demonstrates the love of Christ and remains my very best friend. Our six children, our four lovely, sweetie-pie daughters-in-law, and our four grandchildren serve as resident theologians.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The Sequence of Narrative and Song

Lessons Based on Lyrics

The sequence of narrative story and then lyrical poetry, the songs of the saints, should get our attention in the Bible. There’s Exodus 14, narrative; Exodus 15, lyrics; then, Judges 4, narrative; Judges 5, lyrics. You get the same in Luke 1-2; likely you have it at Philippians 1:12-2:4 and Philippians 2:5-11, and then with Revelation closing out the New Testament, there is the lyrical emphases of 5:12-13; 7:12; 11:17; 14:3; 15:3.


Do you see the tag-you’re-it sequence? First, story and then song; the singing provides the interpretation, commentary and explanation of the story. Do you want to learn theology? Then learn to sing the songs of the psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).

We have the tendency to see the narrative—and didactic—as the stopping place for theology. The Bible rightly points us to lyrics, poetry and figures in song to drive home the lessons of the story.


G. Mark Sumpter

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