Music

…You surround me with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 32:7b

Music is a big part of the human existence and has been for a long time.  For generations upon generations, people have used music to pass down stories, knowledge, learn new things, etc.  Go type in “music memory” or “music _______” on Pubmed and you will get thousands of research articles.  

It should come to no surprise then that the Bible is full of songs.  The Israelites sang.  They lifted up their voices in praise of God in a multitude of places and times.  The Apostles sang in good times and bad times.  The “man after God’s own heart”, King David, was a stud warrior who expressed himself through music.  

Go read the Psalms.  From Moses to David, an array of hymns and songs fills the book of Psalms.  The entire emotional spectrum is represented.  Plus, this isn’t even counting the commands and encouragement to sing praises to our King.  

• “I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.”  Psalm 7:17

• “…My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.  I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.”  Psalm 13:5b-6

• “I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with Thanksgiving.”  Psalm 69:30

• “It is good to give thanks to the LORD and to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.”  Psalm 92:1-2

• “Let my tongue sing of Your Word, for all Your commandments are righteousness.”  Psalm 169:172

During last Summer, it was so encouraging that God would fill our heads with songs.  As we were going through the process of telling family, fundraising, and going through some hard times, God would Sovereignly place songs in our heads or on our playlists.  These songs would uplift us, encourage us, and remind us of who God is. 

It was amazing to wake up and have a song in your head and then see how that particular song was appropriate for what we would experience in that day.   Many of the songs we hadn’t heard in a while.  Not a coincidence.  Plus, God, in His Sovereignty, placed one of ‘our’ songs on the heart of our Worship Pastor for our Commissioning Sunday at Church.

It has come as no surprise that the LORD continues to do it now.  He fills our head with songs that help during long days.  Songs like: “Great is Thy Faithfulness”, “Living Hope”, “10,000 Reasons”, “Nothing but the Blood”, “Waymaker”, “Forever”, “Lion & Lamb”, etc remind of us of who He is.  He fills us with songs that lead us to praise Him.  He also gives us reminders in His Word that He does this sort of thing.  In Psalm 32, David thanks God for being his refuge and for surrounding him with song.  

Our encouragement to you all is be like the Israelites, David, Moses, Deborah, Miriam and the Apostles.  Sing in your car, in your home, in front of your children. You sell yourself short if you only sing on Sunday.  Fill your head with songs of praise.  Don’t get wrapped up in the trendy “worship” music of today that plays on your emotions and is “you” focused. Pick songs that uplift King Jesus. Songs that celebrate God and what He has done.

 We’re not trying to set a legalistic standard BUT think about the principle of what you put in, you get out.  Sing praises.  Sing hymns.  Fill your head with praise of our King.  Let your heart pour forth in Thanksgiving.  The LORD is worthy of our praise!!