In His perfect wisdom, God has provided us with 150 perfect songs in His inspired hymnal, the book of Psalms. Of those 150 perfect songs, God teaches us that 55 of them are eminently suited for church choirs because the Psalm either begins with the words “To the chief Musician” (54x) or has those words later in the first verse (1x):
Ps. 4:1 <To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.> Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
Ps. 5:1 <To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.> Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
Ps. 6:1 <To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.> O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
Ps. 8:1 <To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.> O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Ps. 9:1 <To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.> I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
Ps. 11:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
Ps. 12:1 <To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.> Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
Ps. 13:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
Ps. 14:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Ps. 18:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,> I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.
Ps. 19:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Ps. 20:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
Ps. 21:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
Ps. 22:1 <To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.> My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Ps. 31:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
Ps. 36:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD.> The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
Ps. 39:1 <To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.> I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.
Ps. 40:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Ps. 41:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
Ps. 42:1 <To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.> As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Ps. 44:1 <To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.> We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
Ps. 45:1 <To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.> My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Ps. 46:1 <To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.> God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Ps. 47:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.> O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
Ps. 49:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.> Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Ps. 51:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.> Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Ps. 52:1 <To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.> Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.
Ps. 53:1 <To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David.> The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
Ps. 54:1 <To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?> Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.
Ps. 55:1 <To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.> Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
Ps. 56:1 <To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.> Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
Ps. 57:1 <To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.> Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.
Ps. 58:1 <To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David.> Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?
Ps. 59:1 <To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.> Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.
Ps. 60:1 <To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.> O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.
Ps. 61:1 <To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David.> Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
Ps. 62:1 <To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.> Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.
Ps. 64:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
Ps. 65:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm and Song of David.> Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
Ps. 66:1 <To the chief Musician, A Song or Psalm.> Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
Ps. 67:1 <To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song.> God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
Ps. 68:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David.> Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
Ps. 69:1 <To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David.> Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
Ps. 70:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.> Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.
Ps. 75:1 <To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.> Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.
Ps. 76:1 <To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.> In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
Ps. 77:1 <To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.> I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.
Ps. 80:1 <To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph.> Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
Ps. 81:1 <To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.> Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
Ps. 84:1 <To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.> How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
Ps. 85:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.> LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.
Ps. 88:1 <A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.> O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
Ps. 109:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
Ps. 139:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Ps. 140:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
Because God has directed these 55 songs explicitly to the chief musician, we understand that they have direct, vital application to the choir directors of every adult church choir because it is only fitting that the chief musician in a church would be leading the adult choir of a church.
Because all 55 of these Psalms are divinely inspired songs, they are therefore 55 perfect songs that every adult church choir should learn to sing and should minister regularly to God in the corporate worship of every church!
Copyright © 2011-2024 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.
