We see an example of worship music early in the New Testament, when the virgin Mary learns that she will give birth to the Messiah.  She bursts into praise in a passage that Luke records in depth, which has come to be known in Church tradition as the “Magnificat.”

It’s cool to see that, by reading New Testament canticles (hymns and hymn fragments written into the New Testament) as well as the psalms and other lyrical passages in the Old Testament, we are given a taste of the depth and breadth of subject matter we are to sing about, in declaring, through song, God’s revelation and our response.  Some of the passages are extended and touch on many of God’s attributes and works in history, while some are much simpler, like “Holy, holy, holy.”  But the one thing they have in common is that they’re all true.  We must make sure that the songs we sing about God and to God are true, infused with biblical teaching and guided by the Holy Spirit.

from Luke 1:46-55 (The Magnificat)

“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me-
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers.”

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