16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing
one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts
to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him. Colossians 3:16-17
I am not musically inclined at all. I can’t sing, play an
instrument, or even read music. I’m a wordy book girl. I love to dig into the Bible,
read old sermons online, listen to podcasts. But there is something about music that stirs my soul, especially in a
worship setting, like nothing else.
I used to think of music in a church setting as a kind of add-on
thing to the main thing. Something to warm people up and kill time waiting for
latecomers to arrive before getting to the good stuff, and then something to
wrap the service up. I’m not sure when, but a shift occurred where I realized
worship was an integral part of a Christian community coming together (I’m a
slow learner!). The music isn’t for us
as the recipient. God is the recipient…it is an act of worshiping God. We sing
to Him. We lift our voices in unison – as a united people – in praise to
God. It gets our soul in sync with Him
in preparation to study His holy Word. And we end service in response to
the study of the Word, again praising and thanking Him.
Think about it…some people love to read, some hate it. Some people
love to write, some hate it. Some people like to speak in front of crowds, some
hate it. But everyone loves music. Not necessarily the same kind of music, but
everyone likes music. In God’s
creativity and love of order, God created music. Melodies and rhythms with
endless combinations to tell stories, remember God’s Word, praise God. And God
sings over us…
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with
gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud
singing. Zephaniah 3:17
When I focus on the lyrics, so often I am moved to tears as I join
in worship at church. And to glance over and see someone with their eyes
closed, hands up, clearly moved by worship just gets me. I actually used to
pray that I wouldn’t cry because I was embarrassed what those around me would
think. A friend once told me she thought it was the holy spirit’s presence that
brought her to tears. I like that thought. Our reaction to worship is a result
of the spirit of God showing Himself and moving in and around us as we come together
in joint worship. It is a beautiful thing to be in active worship to our God.
Now when I am overcome by emotion in response to workshop, it causes me to
pause and thank God for revealing Himself to me in such a special, personal
way. I feel like God is close and I can’t help but express gratitude to Him.
King David, of whom God called a man after His own heart, is
constantly singing, playing instruments, worshiping. In fact, when his predecessor
Saul was still king, David was summoned to play music for him.
And whenever
the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it
with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit
departed from him. 1 Samuel 16:23
Or how about that one time when Paul and Silas were in prison…
25About midnight Paul
and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were
listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was
a great earthquake, so that the
foundations of the prison were shaken. And
immediately all the
doors were opened, and everyone's
bonds were unfastened.
Acts 16:25-26
At midnight, in prison, Paul and
Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. And the jailer watching guard over
them was converted and baptized following this miraculous event in response to
the prayers and worship of these two men.
I think
there is more power in music, especially hymns and worship music than we
normally give thought to.
Music also
helps commit things to memory. In Biblical times there wasn’t a wide range
of written documents available. Instead, God’s Word was passed along from
person to person, family to family. Words were set to song to help people
remember them. There is something about putting words to music that make them
so much more memorable.
Through hymns and worship music, God’s Word is set to melodies
that help teach and admonish us in wisdom. We
get to join corporately with one voice in united worship. And we do it all in
the name of Jesus, with thankful hearts.
Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Sing to
the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation
from day to day. Psalm 96:1-2
I will sing to
the Lord as long
as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. Psalm
104:33
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
**
My former pastor posted this video yesterday about the origins of the song Amazing Grace. THIS just might be what worship in heaven might sound like. These verses about singing follow Paul’s message of oneness and unity, ”here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all”(Col 3:11). AMAZING Grace. For all.
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