51-2. In singing the praises of God, we are to sing in the spirit of worship, with understanding in our hearts.

DIGEST: The current PCA text, with its deletion of the final sentence previously found in texts 1894-1973, dates to the 1975 adoption of a recommendation from the Constitutional Documents Committee (M3GA, 3-69, p.81).

BACKGROUND AND COMPARISONS :
1. PCA 1973, Adopted text, DfW, 4-2 (M1GA, Appendix, p. 156).
2. Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text, p. 64.
3. PCUS 1933, DfW, IV, § 313.
4. PCUS 1929, DfW, IV, § 313.
In singing the praises of God, we are to sing in the spirit of worship, with understanding in our hearts. There should be a sufficient number of books to enable the whole congregation to join in this part of the worship.

1. PCUS 1925, IV-2 [§ 315.]
2. PCUS 1894, IV-2
In singing the praises of God, we are to sing with the spirit, and with the understanding also, making melody in our hearts unto the Lord. It is also proper that we cultivate some knowledge of the rules of music, that we may praise God in a becoming manner with our voices, as well as with our hearts. The whole congregation should be furnished with books, and ought to join in this part of worship.

COMMENTARY:
Morton H. Smith, Commentary on the Book of Church Order, 6th edition, 2007, p. 416.
This paragraph indicates that the use of song is to be done as a spiritual act of worship. It is to be done with understanding, which means that we should read and understand what it is that we are singing.