How somber our lives would be if the Creator had not placed music in the earth. The fact that the Lord enjoys music is made apparent to me every time I hear a bird’s exultant song. I can easily imagine the same notes blending with the rich harmony of a gentle wind, caressing a dense forest, with all united by a clear brook’s rhythmic gurgling. I do not believe any music mankind can create could rival such rich, melodious harmony. The Lord must love us very much indeed to fill His earth with such beauty for us to enjoy. But, more importantly, we must realize He created it for His pleasure. The Lord loves beautiful music. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power:
for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and
were created." (Rev. 4:11)With sounds so melodious and sweet ringing through the air, one could nigh believe that all nature sings to the Lord His due praises. However, no soul participates in the rapturous sounds of the earth, and therefore God cannot possibly receive glory from such. The duty of praising the Lord with music belongs solely to those He has redeemed.
Songs of praise are a natural product of Christian growth. The singing of spiritual songs from a full heart is but one of the many evidences of a soul marvelously saved and transformed by Christ’s atoning blood. Music is one of the few forms of worship we can take part in on earth which will be in Heaven also. By worshiping the Lord in accordance to His Word, we can catch a glimpse of the exceeding great glory that awaits us in the heavenly courts.
After we have worked diligently on a project or assigned task, hearing words
of praise and appreciation always makes us feel warm inside. We love to receive praise from others. At times, when we don’t receive the
praise the feel we deserve, we can become quite unpleasant toward the negligent parties -- true? That attitude is a result of the sinful flesh, of course, and is very displeasing to the Lord. Rather, we should be glad when we do not
receive praise from men because God will praise us instead when we receive our rewards. That is
far better. "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Heb. 6:10)
Since we so much love praise for the little, unimportant things we do so, it is not difficult to understand how much God loves praise for the "great and mighty things" that He does (Jer. 33:3). Just try to magnify your enjoyment of praise a million times -- that is how worthy our great God is, and that is how much He loves to receive it from a grateful heart! Wow!
Yet, how little do we offer Him? How small is the sacrifice of our lips? Rightly ashamed we should be for not thanking Him for the goodness He pours into our lives every single day. He is so worthy! He is "greatly to be praised"! (Ps. 145:3) We need to praise Him more and more!
Since we so much love praise for the little, unimportant things we do so, it is not difficult to understand how much God loves praise for the "great and mighty things" that He does (Jer. 33:3). Just try to magnify your enjoyment of praise a million times -- that is how worthy our great God is, and that is how much He loves to receive it from a grateful heart! Wow!
Yet, how little do we offer Him? How small is the sacrifice of our lips? Rightly ashamed we should be for not thanking Him for the goodness He pours into our lives every single day. He is so worthy! He is "greatly to be praised"! (Ps. 145:3) We need to praise Him more and more!
Praise is powerful. We read in II Samuel 7 that, when David had finished building a house for himself in Jerusalem, he realized that the ark of the covenant, through which God revealed Himself to His people, dwelt within the mere curtains of the tabernacle. David knew that the LORD deserved so much more honor, therefore he desired to build a house for God. However, God refused to allow David to do this because he was a man of war and bloodshed. The LORD wanted David's son Solomon to build Him a Temple, and so Solomon did when he became king.
After seven years of meticulous building, all according to the precise blueprints God had given Solomon, the Temple was completed. At the dedication of the Temple, Solomon prayed, "Will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!" (II Chron. 6:18) He could not conceive how the LORD JEHOVAH could stoop to take knowledge of His people, how He could humble Himself to fill the Temple with His holy presence. However grand the structure of the Temple, however rich its gold and ivory, it was completely unworthy of the majesty of the LORD of hosts, the King of glory! After Solomon finished praying, he commanded that sacrifices be made to dedicate and hallow the house of the LORD. It was no small sacrifice: "he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep." (I Kings 8:63) Then the priests carried the ark of the covenant into the Holy of holies. When they came out, "the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." (II Chron. 5:13-14)
There is something very wonderful to glean from this sacred event, the dedication of the Temple of God. We see that every detail that God gave was followed without deviation; the LORD was delighted with Solomon's obedience. Then, Solomon prayed and besought God's mercy upon the nation; "the prayer of the upright is His delight." (Prov. 15:8) Thousands of sacrifices were made to sanctify the Temple and, as they were paired with sincere obedience, He did have great delight in them (I Sam. 15:22). Yet, God did not fill the Temple with His presence until one thing was given. The LORD did not move until He heard music and praise.
Oh, how the LORD delights in praise! If He finds great delight in obedience, in prayer, and in sacrifice, how much more must He delight in praise if praise alone caused Him to come down from Heaven to "dwell with men on earth"! Music stirred the heart of God so greatly that He could not remain in Heaven, but drew near to His people. Oh yes, praise is powerful.
If you do not fully comprehend the fullness of this, I encourage you to study II Chronicles 6 and I Kings 8 until the Holy Spirit opens your heart and mind to conceive it! (I Cor. 2:14) It is so rich! Something else I have learned from it is this: Since God loves praise so much, it is no wonder that He hates murmuring to the extent that He judged an entire generation of Israel to forty years of wandering and eventual death. Such knowledge sheds a new light on "Do all things without murmurings and disputings" (Phil. 2:14) and "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thess. 5:18)
The Lord wants to hear us sing His praises from an overflowing heart. He loves praise. He is so deserving of it. What possible excuse do we have to withhold it? What if our lives are in discomfort? What if in despair? God wants to hear you sing! Such times are when praise is far more meaningful, for it is in earnest. It is not dependent on our feelings at such times -- it is dependent on faith, and "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb. 11:6). This is why praise should be given regardless of our circumstances: the LORD changeth not (Mal. 3:6). Great is His faithfulness! (Lam. 3:23)
This is why God created music and this is why we should sing: Our God is great and He is worthy to be praised. Any purpose apart from this is separated from God's design for music. If music is used for any other reason, God cannot be glorified by it. If our music is not in accordance with His standards, which is His own holiness, it cannot be used to exalt and magnify Him.
The first part of this series was to establish the purpose of music: praise to the LORD, and His great delight in it. Part two will examine moral and immoral compositions of music and, according to the Word of God, what determines them to be so.
Information concerning paintings:
After seven years of meticulous building, all according to the precise blueprints God had given Solomon, the Temple was completed. At the dedication of the Temple, Solomon prayed, "Will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!" (II Chron. 6:18) He could not conceive how the LORD JEHOVAH could stoop to take knowledge of His people, how He could humble Himself to fill the Temple with His holy presence. However grand the structure of the Temple, however rich its gold and ivory, it was completely unworthy of the majesty of the LORD of hosts, the King of glory! After Solomon finished praying, he commanded that sacrifices be made to dedicate and hallow the house of the LORD. It was no small sacrifice: "he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep." (I Kings 8:63) Then the priests carried the ark of the covenant into the Holy of holies. When they came out, "the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." (II Chron. 5:13-14)
There is something very wonderful to glean from this sacred event, the dedication of the Temple of God. We see that every detail that God gave was followed without deviation; the LORD was delighted with Solomon's obedience. Then, Solomon prayed and besought God's mercy upon the nation; "the prayer of the upright is His delight." (Prov. 15:8) Thousands of sacrifices were made to sanctify the Temple and, as they were paired with sincere obedience, He did have great delight in them (I Sam. 15:22). Yet, God did not fill the Temple with His presence until one thing was given. The LORD did not move until He heard music and praise.
Oh, how the LORD delights in praise! If He finds great delight in obedience, in prayer, and in sacrifice, how much more must He delight in praise if praise alone caused Him to come down from Heaven to "dwell with men on earth"! Music stirred the heart of God so greatly that He could not remain in Heaven, but drew near to His people. Oh yes, praise is powerful.
If you do not fully comprehend the fullness of this, I encourage you to study II Chronicles 6 and I Kings 8 until the Holy Spirit opens your heart and mind to conceive it! (I Cor. 2:14) It is so rich! Something else I have learned from it is this: Since God loves praise so much, it is no wonder that He hates murmuring to the extent that He judged an entire generation of Israel to forty years of wandering and eventual death. Such knowledge sheds a new light on "Do all things without murmurings and disputings" (Phil. 2:14) and "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thess. 5:18)
The Lord wants to hear us sing His praises from an overflowing heart. He loves praise. He is so deserving of it. What possible excuse do we have to withhold it? What if our lives are in discomfort? What if in despair? God wants to hear you sing! Such times are when praise is far more meaningful, for it is in earnest. It is not dependent on our feelings at such times -- it is dependent on faith, and "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb. 11:6). This is why praise should be given regardless of our circumstances: the LORD changeth not (Mal. 3:6). Great is His faithfulness! (Lam. 3:23)
This is why God created music and this is why we should sing: Our God is great and He is worthy to be praised. Any purpose apart from this is separated from God's design for music. If music is used for any other reason, God cannot be glorified by it. If our music is not in accordance with His standards, which is His own holiness, it cannot be used to exalt and magnify Him.
The first part of this series was to establish the purpose of music: praise to the LORD, and His great delight in it. Part two will examine moral and immoral compositions of music and, according to the Word of God, what determines them to be so.
Information concerning paintings:
1 comment:
Excellent post Naomi! I cannot wait to read the rest of the series, the Lord has given you a wonderful talent for writing!
In Christ,
Laura
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