Thought for Today
Exodus 15:1 Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: "I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.
Psalm 98:1 O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.
1 Corinthians 14:15 What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
I love to sing. I have no illusions about having any musical or vocal talent . . . but I love to sing. I was in the children’s choir when I was young. Now, I carefully step away from the pulpit microphone during hymns. Recently, we got a lapel microphone, so I have to figure out some new way not to subject the entire congregation to my singing. But, I love to sing. In church. In the car (when Greta’s not with me or when she is asleep on our trips).
What is it about music that proves the adage, “Music has charms to soothe the savage beast.” Interestingly, that adage has morphed from its original form, “The phrase ‘music has charms to sooth a savage breast’ sounds Shakespearian but in fact comes to us from The Mourning Bride, a poem by William Congreve, 1697: Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast/To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.” (www.phrases.org.uk) Irrespective of whether we use the original version or the more common, current version, music does have amazing power to calm, to inspire, to captivate.
Music has long been an important and integral part of worship. Various faiths and denominations express their music in different forms and formats. Greta and I have worshiped in congregations with large, semi-professional choirs and in congregations without choirs. We have worshiped in congregations with semi-professional orchestras (one even had a true orchestra pit). We have sung accompanied by piano and by organ. Although I know that some faiths sing a cappella, we have never worshiped with only a cappella singing. Every way we have sung in worship has proved to be a joyful experience.
The Bible commands us to make a joyful noise to God at least 6 times in the book of Psalms. Psalm 98 even includes both vocal and instrumental ‘joyful noise.’ “4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises. 5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.”
Previously, I have written about the wonderful summer tradition our congregation shares with a neighbor congregation of jointly worshiping together. August is our month to host. This year, their choir and director are joining with our choir to present choral music this coming Sunday and the last Sunday of August. This coming Sunday, they will sing a Choral Anthem of Invitation, I Believe, by Mark A. Miller. Many of us not in either choir will sing along with them. The title and the words are a simple and deeply theological statement of why we are gathered in worship. After the sermon and our prayer time, they will sing an Offertory Anthem, How Can I Keep from Singing, by Greg Gilpin.
For the remainder of my life, during worship, I will surely ask myself, “How can I keep from singing?” How can I? How can you? How can any Christian? “Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” How can we not sing?
Stay safe, make a joyful noise to God, trust God,
Pastor Ray