I love music,
always have. No, I am not a musician and
have little appreciation of the finer points of music. For me, music is an emotional, more than
intellectual, experience. A country
ballad evokes one kind of response; a soaring choir anthem quite another. A good Gospel sound can make me dance (you don’t want to see that) and a song
extolling the Majesty of God can open my heart to the Presence of the Spirit.
Since worship involves both my mind and my emotions, music is one of the
languages of my soul. And, I am not
unique in that. The Psalmist says, "Sing
a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. He has won a mighty
victory by his power and holiness. … Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break
out in praise and sing for joy! Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and melodious song, with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s
horn. Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!" (Psalm 98:1, 4-6,
NLT)
We need something
of the heart of a little child in this matter.
Ever watched a little one playing happily, singing to herself? She makes
up little lines as she goes. It’s not a performance. It’s an overflow of her
heart. As she gets older, she will
become more self-conscious and start to wonder if she is ‘good’ or if she ‘can
carry a tune,’ but when she is 4 or 5, it’s simply a heart thing. God, give us the heart of a child, a
willingness to let the song of our soul spill out before You!
Most of us watch a
TV drama or a movie and when we are drawn into the story, we forget about the soundtrack.
But, it’s there! Music becomes a way to
enhance the experience, to make us ‘feel’ the emotions portrayed by the
actors. It works. So, let me ask you, what is the soundtrack of
your life? Really, what do you play as
you go about the day; as you drive, when you read, while you work? It’s a question with real merit. What is playing into your head, will shape
how you think and respond. I grew up in
a home where sacred music played all day long.
Those songs shaped my understanding of the Lord, gave me a language to
use in praise and worship, and are a part of my spirituality even decades
later.
"Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new
song, his praise in the assembly of the saints." (Psalm 149:1, NIV) "Let
them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and
harp. For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with
salvation. Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.
May the praise of God be in their mouths." (Psalm 149:3-7, NIV)
And, should you
only think this directive is a ‘Psalm’ thing, here’s a word from the Word to
take to heart today. "Don’t be drunk
with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you will sing psalms
and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in
your hearts. And you will always give thanks for everything to God the
Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:18-20, NLT)
_____________
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive the dark of doubt away,
Giver of immortal gladness
Fill us with the light of day!
Thou art giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living,
Ocean depth of happy rest.
Thou our Father, Christ, our Brother,
All who live in love are Thine.
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals join the mighty chorus
Which the morning stars began!
Father love is reigning o'er us.
Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music lifts us sunward,
In the triumph song of life!
Edward Hodges |
Henry Van Dyke | Ludwig van Beethoven
Public Domain
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