The Singing God Part V

The Singing God, you say? Who is this, this singing God? Zephaniah 3:9-20 describes Him perfectly. Some would shy away fromever thinking of God as being so frivolous as to sing. No, that's not reverant for God to be singing. And God expects our head to be bowed and us to be in constant fear of Him. Do I really believe that? I don't see any where in the scripture that would make me think it is irreverant of God to sing. While I believe in reverance, I see nothing wrong with thinking that God sings. God has a voice and uses it,much as He wants ujs to, whether or not we can carry a tune. On the other hand, I cannot think of another subject that is more controverial than the use of musicin worship services. I cannot think of another subject that has divided more people, something that satan can use and has used to keep God's people separated from one another and unable to complete Hs work because of their differences. What inhibits evagelism more? Selfish desires toboldly pronounce my right to be different and my right to express myself tot he Deity. I even had a woman who was visiting the Church I was attending tell me that I mustn't like music because the church where I worshipped used acapella music. That simply is not true. Music is a big part of my life. But my worship does not involve instruents because I want to come to Him with my brethren without the constraints of instruments or idols.

The Singing God Part IV

I just love David. He had such a handle on this singing God. David, player of the lyre, singer, composer, bravest of the brave (if you've ever danced in front of an audience as an adult you know what I mean). The Psalms even come with instructions for musicians and singers. For instance, the chief musician instructed his people to play like "Hind of the Dawn" and "lilies" and playing in lamenting tones and singers to sing poignantly. More than mere historical references, these are instructions to people to conduct themselves in solemn fashion and yet a joyous fashion and to elicit an emotion of solemnity and joy from the people as a form of worship. As well it was an indication that there was a time and a place for emotions and expressions as well as for garnering knowledge and giving praise any time, and an appropriateness to conducting themselves in the playing and singing of music as well as praising and praying. To throw ourselves into this thing for all of our lives, not just one minute or an hour of worship, but to break out in song whatever the occasion all of our lives with all of our hearts. And for a time that was pleasing to God, until people got caught up in "this is the wrong way to sing this and this is the right way to play this". God doesn't care if you come to Him unpracticed, as long as you come to Him. He will sing to you for He is the singing God. And in Psalms 68:4-35,David tells me to sing His praises, sing joyfully and praise His holy and wonderful Name. He is the God that brings me together with my bretheren, and He is the God that triumphs over the world. David understands about the Creator and His works andthe praises He so richly deserves. (Psalms 98:1-9). David exemplifies the attitude of being joyful in the LORD. And God allows instruments in worship as long as it was to His glory. As seen again in Psalms 149:1-9 and 150:1-6,music is celebrated as such. But what I suspect happened is that music became too complicated for common folk to follow, and Chronicles indicates this because it was the Levites and several others that were involved with the music, indicating that it was out of the commoners hands and that only those that were truly skilled were used to play music to the LORD. This is not what God wants. God gave us voices so that we could raise our voice in song to Him, regardless of whether it is audible or not. Choosing only the best players and singers and making music so complicated it required a music major to play emphasizes that the focus of worship was beginning to move away from God and follow man's image or interpretation of God,being under the misconception that God want the perfect to come to Him. In Jesus all are invited to come to Him.

Singing with God, part 3

Music is such a peripheral topic that it makes God cry when people cannot agree on what is actually in His Word. I suspect it invokes His wrath at time. There are people who say an instrument helps their voice becuase they have no singing voice. That's foolishness. You are blessed with the voice that God gave you. I am not a wonderful singer, but I sing with the voice He gave me. He blessed me with such a voice so that I in turn could bless Him. So, if I sing off-key, to God it's perfect because I am giving back what He gave to me. If I were to use an instrument in lieu of my voice, it would be as though I was telling God, "Oh, I know you gave me this voice, but I can do better with this guitar". How sad! To think I can do any better than God, the Almighty.

When it is just I and God, though, and no one else, and my walls are down, would it hurt to put my instrument down and give Him myself without saying, "Wait a minute God, that's not good enough"? Surely God thinks its good enough for me just to bring myself to Him. God gave me a voice, and it is weak, and it cannot perform sustenuto or even vibrato, and it has trouble staying on key. ButGod wants me to sing nevertheless and in Him my singing is beautiful. That after all is what singing is to God. Like prayer. He wants all of me. No borders, no boundaries, nothing to hide me from Him. Me, the real me. I don't know, but at the Last Supper I suspect there were no instruments to be found. After all, it does say in Matthew 26:30 they sang a hymn, not they played a hymn. I suspect there were no instruments in the house churches and catacombs, mostly because it would not have been convenient to have them but what about because they wanted to follow the Last Supper. I believe they would have been found a distraction. Jesus wanted all of His apostles' love and devotion, not for them to focus on playing an instrument.

Sing a Song...

When I consider music or rather the use of instruments to produce such do I ever consider what my involvement is in the production of such? Am I so wrapped up in performing my praise that I forget the simplicity of Christ is in the two pieces of wood hung drosswise and that it matters not whether I can play an instrument or whether I can perform any of the "fine arts"? What does matter is, am I doing all I can to give God a purified worship, one which is just of myself and no one else? That is, how is my relationship toward God growing and how am I most obedient to him? In and of itself there is nothing wrong with the use of instruments. But where is my focus. Am I getting into those areas that demand all of my attention and none of my attitude? When I sing, am I singing from my heart? When I play an instrument do I play the perfect note or am I striving to please Him? Where does my praise come from? Do I sing from my soul and mind? I know that everyday is not the same. Because of my humanity I may not feel like singing but merely mumbling the words. But where does my heart lay? Worse still am I seeking perfection in my instrument or in my voice and am I in a constant mode of correction to make it perfect because I believe that is what God wants?