Worship in the Melting Pot by Dr Peter Masters Why not also listen to Dr Peter Masters speak on this subject? Four sermons are available here. These sermons may also be downloaded from our RealAudio page. Is True Worship Intelligent or Ecstatic? Leading and Formulating Harmonious Worship Biblical Rules for Instruments and Dancing The Right Ingredients of Every Act of Worship These articles are taken from 'Sword and Trowel' magazine No.3 & 4, 1998 and No.1 1999. © Copyright Metropolitan Tabernacle, London. Used by permission.

All psalms except five convert into paraphrases or hymns of at least five verses in short or common metre. Most psalms are much longer than this. Only five psalms are shorter (3%). These cannot be regarded as choruses for the following reasons: 

• Psalm 117 (2 verses). Obviously a closing doxology, either for singing at the end of other psalms, or the Temple services. 
• Psalm 123 (4 verses). This is still too long and has too much matter for a chorus. Lyte's 'Unto Thee I lift my eyes' tracks this psalm in four verses. 
• Psalm 131 (3 verses). A very personal psalm to be uttered in great humility. Designed to be sung annually by pilgrims going up to Jerusalem, it is utterly unlike a modern chorus. 

• Psalm 133 (3 verses). Another annual pilgrimage song, this has the character of a 'grace' for meals, or for times when relations gather in reunion. 
• Psalm 134 (3 verses). Last of the pilgrim songs, this is an antiphonal blessing. In verses 1-2 the people bless the priests and Levites, and in the verse 3 the latter reply.