Short url to this post: https://wp.me/p8DawH-uP
Music Opens the Heart to Receive the Word
By Dahni
© 2023, all rights reserved
Music is beautiful and important to all people. But what is its purpose biblically or spiritually?
“And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick [music] of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth [endures] for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.”
II Chronicles 7:6 King James Version
“…the singers with instruments of musick [music], and such as taught to sing praise.”
II Chronicles 23:13
One purpose of music, instrumental and/or the voice (which technically is also an instrument), we read from just two verses (there are many, many more), is for “praise.” And we read it was made to “praise the Lord.”
These songs though instrumental, but especially the lyrics, should never contradict the scriptures. They should always be accurate. Why? “Because God Magnified His Word above all His Name.” – Psalm 138:2b
Whether figurative (comparison), or literal (actually singing the scriptures), look at this next verse from Psalm 119.
“Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.”
Psalm 119:54
It is interesting that in every verse of Psalm 119 (and it is a long Psalm with 176 verses), in some manner, God’s word appears in every verse. Did the Psalmist actually sing the scriptures? I do not know. Were the songs accurate according to the Word? Yes. Could they have been sung? Yes, absolutely! Now in just one verse of scripture we will see the other purpose of music.
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”
Ezra 7:10
The other purpose of music biblically and spiritually is to “prepare” the heart to receive the Word, to “do it” and “teach” others. . Hint hint, “praise” and “preparation” may be to us, one and the same, as both “prepare” us to “praise” God for his Word, which He magnified above His name!
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Colossians 3:16
Perhaps familiar to many is a tune to sing around Psalm 100.
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
Psalm 100:1-5 KJV
The Psalm, song or hymn I recall singing was as follows. I apologise I could not find a video of how this sounds that I was happy with.
Make a Joyful Noise
Verse:
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord,
All ye, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord, the Lord with gladness:
Come before his presence with singing.
Chorus:
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God
Know ye that the Lord he is God:
It is he that hath made us,
And not we ourselves;
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Chorus:
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God
Verse:
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
And into his courts with praise:
Be thankful unto him,
And bless, bless his name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting;
And his truth endureth
To all generations.
Chorus:
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God— hallelujah, glory hallelujah,
Praise God
Now enjoy the following YouTube videos.
First — ‘Savior Redeemer of My Soul’. This is just a beautiful song. What more could a heart desire than beautiful scenery, beautiful people playing beautiful sounds with beautiful instruments, beautifully dressed and adorned. Some are in tuxedos. The lead vocalist is wearing a suit. His voice, is it not a beautiful instrument? Well, of course it is! All the musicians, yes all of them are musicians, blend together. Their individual parts together make a whole and beautiful harmony. I’m sure you may have grown tired over my incessant use of the root word “beautiful,” but are not the following videos not unlike what many think of as— the outside Church of God? 🤗
I love how this first video closes…
“…I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
John 11:25 King James Version
The Second video (also outside), features the same vocalist we heard above and his wife (singing; also playing the piano), and their young daughter – the Crosby Family.
The song or hymn they are singing is, ‘Come, thou Fount of every blessing.’ The hymn was written by Robert Robinson (1735-1790), who as a barber’s apprentice, was powerfully influenced by the preaching of George Whitefield.
A favorite line in the last stanza, “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love,” is thought to be particularly autobiographical, referring to Robinson’s early life, when his mother sent him to London to be an apprentice. It was during this time, according to hymnologist Kenneth Osbeck, that “he associated with a notorious gang of hoodlums and lived a debauched life” until he he was changed by God. This song is a reflection of this change that God wrought in Robinson’s life.
The lyrics, which dwell on the theme of divine grace, are based on 1 Samuel 7:12, in which the prophet Samuel raises a stone as a monument, saying, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us” (KJV). The English transliteration of the name Samuel given to the stone is Ebenezer, meaning Stone of Help. The unusual word Ebenezer commonly appears in hymnal presentations of the lyrics.
I want to note that beginning with my 69th birthday last December 13th, 2022, I set out to try and find to do things which mattered or make a difference in the lives of others. I looked at my age and looking at the treasure within me, I felt so far below what God has wrought in me. So, each week I set out to do ‘Acts of Kindness’ for 52 weeks, for as many people as possible. One of those weeks was about “preparing” and from that time, just a few short weeks ago, until Christmas Day 2023, I am preparing what is actually called a Dickensian Christmas. You know, Charles Dickens, ‘A Christmas Carol’ and Ebenezer Scrooge and all that stuff from those times. Interesting. I hope our Christmas will be interesting to those that will be here and memorable and “prepare” their hearts to “praise” God, just like Ebenezer was raised, to understand and keep the true meaning of Christmas.
Few may write songs as powerful or more powerful than this one, but those who have had the joy unspeakable as this, can appreciate the lyrics and the music, just as if, they had written them and sung them themselves! They are like the unspoken words of heart filled of joy, by the divine and unmerited grace of God!
“Prepare” your heart to “praise” God!
Now if you want to dispute any of this, my outpouring or Bible quotations, Go for it, but I did not write the Bible, I was in deep internal and eternal joy or I am just…
…a witness!
Dahni
Pentecost 