My heart, O God, is quiet and confident, all because of You.
Now I can sing my song with passionate praises!
Awake, O my soul, with the music of splendor. Psalm 108: 1
(The Passion Translation)
I have been singing, loudly, since age three when I stood before our congregation and belted out “Jesus Loves Me.” By age five I could harmonize with my mother and sister and along with the congregational singing. I had a melody inside my little person, and the music remains. There is never a waking moment when there isn’t a melody in my head. I see music as a gift. I enjoy singing with gusto in church or whenever I sing. Along with the Bible, those hymns and songs have been the means of teaching me about God and how to live. That is not to say I sound good, but folks, I just have to get the music out of me. I am not a trained singer. My limited ability has not been developed in either voice or instrumental music. I sing because I can’t help singing—or whistling; I play at a couple of instruments for my own amusement and the eye-rolling of all who hear me.
The type of music I enjoy is not always what I hear or what is available to me. I have a limited appreciation of contemporary worship music. My ear has never been able to tune in, so to speak. Don’t get me wrong: do not think I discredit the value of such music, because this music genre speaks to the hearts of millions of people. I praise God for how such music can speak to others.
As I have developed along the lines of music over my lifetime, the songs and hymns I’ve learned became a part of me. The words are so implanted in my mind to the point I sometimes do not need the hymnal to sing. But …
What did those words mean to me? Did I live the words? Did I sing as a music lover or as a God lover? Aha!
Recently I attended a meeting where contemporary music was the order of service. Despite my reticence to respond with positive energy to the heavy beat and repeating theme, the song drew me. The draw was not even the words, although they grabbed my heart. Rather, what I witnessed in the soloist drew me. I could hear and feel the confidence and quiet spirit of God’s presence in his song as he loudly and passionately praised God. In turn the song awakened my soul for the great need of the world as I sojourn here.
What is the role of music in worship? Is worship music for entertainment? to make us feel good? to gear up our emotions to listen to a good sermon? These things may happen, indeed, but the true role of worship music is as follows according to Pastor Duke Tabor in a blog about church music, “Uniting Through Song: The Essential Role of Music in Worship,” March 2024:
- Praise and adoration: It’s our heartfelt response to God’s infinite greatness.
- Proclamation: Through music, we declare God’s word and truths.
- Confession: Songs allow a communal outpouring of repentance.
- Thanksgiving: We express our gratitude through melodies. [i]
Challenge: As you listen and sing in church, pay attention to the words, and let your soul rise with the confidence of God and the praises to Him. Allow the words to change you.
Prayer: LORD, awake my soul with the music of splendor!
[i] https://answeredfaith.com/uniting-song-essential-role-music-worship/
