Tag: Music

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This Is Why We Sing

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 25-27

Daily Thought

To prophecy is to forthtell, to speak God’s Word for today, or foretell, to speak God’s Word for the future, but there must be more, because the sons of Heman, Asaph, and Jeduthun “prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals” (1Chronicles 25:1). Heman was the king’s seer (2Chronicles 25:5). He was also his director of music. King David selected the sons of Heman, along with those of Asaph and Jeduthun, to be the orchestra, exalting God and filling the house of the Lord with music. The music itself speaks God’s Word, not to the present or the future, but to the soul. It is the creature’s response to her Creator. Prophecy tells us more than what is or what will be, but it speaks to who we are and who is our Father. There is a power in beauty that declares the divine and opens our hearts to the wonders of Almighty God.

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. ~Psalm 96:1-6

Alongside the heavens and the earth, the majesty and mystery of creation, art and music touches our heart, sings to the soul, declares God’s glory, prophecies with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. This is why we sing.

Daily Prayer

Wonderful God, fill me with Your Spirit, with Your Words, with Your songs, that I might declare Your wonders and Your glory, the beauty and mystery of life. You touch my mind and I understand, but worship is more than what I simply think. There is language deeper than words, unlocked by the heavens, by music, by creation, by wonder, that express Your glory. Your grace and love and truth are displayed not only in what I do and what I say, but in what I sing. What a strange and wonderful thing is music. Thank You for it. Where words fail to express Your glory, music proclaims it to the world. What a wonderful God.

Amen

Daily Question

What is your favorite worship song, and why?

Posted on

This Is Why We Sing

Daily Reading

1Chronicles 25-27

Daily Thought

Heman was the king’s seer (2Chronicles 25:5).  He was also his director of music. King David selected the sons of Heman, along with those of Asaph and Jeduthun, to be the orchestra, exalting God and filling the house of the Lord with music. To prophecy is to to forthtell, to speak God’s Word for today, or foretell, to speak God’s Word for the future, but there must be more, because the sons of Heman, Asaph, and Jeduthun “prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals” (1Chronicles 25:1). The music itself spoke God’s Word, not to the present or the future, but to the soul. Prophecy tells us more than what is or what will be, but it speaks to who we are and who is our God. There is a power in beauty that declares the divine and opens our hearts to the wonders of our Creator.

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
~A Psalm of David 19:1-4

It is not the heavens alone, but the majesty and mystery of creation, of art and music touches our heart, sings to the soul, declares God’s glory, prophecies with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. This is why we sing.

Daily Prayer

Wonderful God, fill me with Your Spirit, with Your Words, with Your songs, that I might declare Your wonders and Your glory, the beauty and mystery of life. You touch my mind and I understand, but worship is more than what I simply think. There is language deeper than words, unlocked by the heavens, by music, by creation, by wonder, that express Your glory. Your grace and love and truth are displayed not only in what I do and what I say, but in what I sing. What a strange and wonderful thing is music. Thank You for it. Where words fail to express Your glory, music proclaims it to the world. What a wonderful God.

Amen

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The Songs We Sing

Daily Reading

Judges 8-9

Daily Thought

God delivers the Israelites from slavery to Egypt and Moses breaks out in song. Thirty-two verses begin with, “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!” (Deuteronomy 32). God destroys the Canaanites in Judges 4, and Judges 5 is another song, this time by Deborah and Barak, “Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the Lord I will sing; I will make melody to the Lord, the God of Israel.” God is great. God is good! But the next time, nothing. A mighty victory over the Midianites in Judges 7. Turn the page and nary a note. The songs we sing, or don’t sing, matter. There is one fleeting reference to God from Gideon, but rather than praise, it was an excuse to duck the anger of Ephraim. The Ephraimites accosted Gideon for not including them in the fight, but Gideon dodged, “God has given into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb” (Judges 8:3). This isn’t praise, it’s blame. God was in charge. Talk to him about it.

It matters what songs we sing, and don’t. Instead of praising God, the Israelites want to make Gideon king. To his credit, Gideon responds with a rare word of wisdom, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you” (Judges 8:23). But I will take your gold, thank you. Gideon proclaimed, “One nation under God,” but his actions speak louder. When leaders prefer the gold of the people to the goodness of God, there can be no surprise at the outcome; “the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals” (Judges 8:33).

Daily Prayer

Sovereign God, Maker of everything. Your Son, King of kings, Firstborn over all creation. You hold all things together. You not only made the planets, the stars, the suns, and the moons, You determined their path. Silly people worship the created rather than the Creator.

God, may I always keep You in my thoughts. May I always allow You to determine my steps. God, may I have the wisdom it takes to hear Your voice, know Your thoughts, follow Your lead.

Amen