Scripture, Song, and Thought for the Day

Scripture for the Day

Psalm 91:4, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”

Song for the Day  Under His Wings  by William O. Cushing

Though for the Day

Only the Supreme God can make it possible for a Christian  musician to sing and play with joy while going through a time of great stress.

 

 

Singing and Playing under God’s Wings

Singing and Playing under God’s Wings

            Psalm 63:7 states, “Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice (ranan 7442).”  In twenty eight other times in the OT AV ranan was translated as some form of singing.  Furthermore, the word ranan connotes not only singing but also creaking or emitting stridulous sound.  The English word stridulous is an instrumental term for the sound that is produced when a string is played by a pick or a finger.  So, it seems reasonable to believe that it is referring to singing and playing a stringed musical instrument in this verse.

            The sweet psalmist of Israel declared that he was able to sing and play when he was under great stress. “It is most probable that the Psalm was written when David took refuge in the forest of Hareth, in the wilderness of Ziph, when he fled from the court of Achish.”  Adam Clarke’s Commentary NOTES ON PSALM LXIII.  This verse tells us that he was able to do so because, in his words, he was under the wings of elohim the supreme God.  The mental imagery that David used here is that God’s wings were sufficient to give him solace, comfort and protection in the time of great trouble.  God’s wings proved to be big enough to give David shade and protection so that he could sing and play this wonderful psalm.  If God’s wings were big enough to protect David, they are big enough to take care of you and me when we are under great stress.

 

The Calling of a Christian Musician

Prayer, Song, and thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Thank You Lord that You have made it possible for me to use my tongue to sing praises to you.  You are more than worthy of any song that I could sing to You.  I want to ask You to help me as I sing Your praises in and out of Your house of worship.  May the words of my mouth truly be acceptable in your sight.  These things I am praying in Your matchless name.  Amen.

Song for the Day All Glory, Laud, and Honor by Theodulph of Orleans

Thought for the Day

If you wish to use your tongue to brag or boast, us it to boast and brag on God.

More on How a Musician Should Use the Tongue

More on How a Musician Should Use the Tongue

Psalm 30:12 “To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever.” The word kabowd (3519) which has been translated “my glory” in this verse in the AV has been a source of much conjecture among Bible exegetes.  Some translators have rendered kabowd heart and others have used the word soul while others have used the word heart.  Yong’s Literal Translation renders the verse, “So that honour doth praise Thee, and is not silent, O Jehovah, my God, to the age I thank Thee!”  Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, John Wesley, and Matthew Poole all believed that “my glory” refers to the tongue.

            So this is another verse in the Bible that instructs the musician in how to use his or her tongue.  The Bible principle of musicing is clear that the singer is to use the tongue to bring glory to God.  Although the English wording in this verse could be misunderstood as giving the singer the right to bring glory to self, this is far from what this verse means.  The tongue is the singer’s greatest tool of praise.  So Chief musician are you using your tongue to bring praise and glory to YHVH elohim?  You must remember that He is the self-existent, independent, eternal God who is the supreme God.

Quote for the Day

Quote for the Day

“Your biggest battle today will probably be keeping your attention on HIM.”  Rev. Benny Durr Sr.

Ten Things that Matter to a Minister of Music

Ten Things that Matter to a Minister of Music 

            Many times ministers of music get confused about what is and is not worth fighting for.  In this confusion they fight for minor things instead of the things that really matter.  Below is a list of the main things.  If you will contend for them, you will be so busy that you will not have time to fuss with other over the minor things. 

      1.     Ex 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

2.    Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

3.    Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

4.    Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

5.    Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

6.    Thou shalt not kill.

7.    Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8.    Thou shalt not steal.

9.    Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Prayer, Song , and Thought for the Day

Prayer for Ministers of Music.

Lord of all ministers of music I am asking you to show Yourself strong.  Your chief musicians need your strong and mighty hand to lift them up in the most holy faith.  I am asking you to defeat the enemy of their souls.  Lord they are not a match for the wiles of the Devil.  Please help them to understand that Satan is the accuser of Your musical servants. He is going to about as a roaring lion seeking to destroy their faith and courage.  Also, I am asking You to help your ministering musical servants to realize how important their musicing is to Your kingdom.  These petitions I ask In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Song for the Day From every Stormy Wind by Hugh Stowell

Thought for the Day

You may not think that your ministry is valuable or efficacious but it is perfect if it is all God wishes it to be.

 

Proclaim the Worship of the Lord

Proclaim the Worship of the Lord

            Jeremiah 7:2, “Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.  God told Jeremiah to stand at the gate before  the Temple which was His house of worship and remind everyone who came through the gate that they the reason they were entering was to hear the word of the LORD worship the self-existent, independent eternal God.  Ministers of music may not stand at the front door of the sanctuary as people enter, but they do try to cause the people who enter to worship God by musicing unto Him.  Much like the prophet Jeremiah worship leaders stand before the people and proclaim the word of the LORD through their leading by example.

            Ministers of music have a great responsibility to show the joy of the Lord on their faces because God’s Word declares that it is their “strength”.  When a worship leader stands before a congregation, he or she does not have the option to look sad or beat up emotionally.  God has chosen His chief musicians to cause the people to have a better understanding of who He is and what he does for his people.  This mission is accomplished through efficacious musical leadership.  So, every worship leader should begin worship service preparation by tuning his or heart so that he or she will be prepared to proclaim the worship of the LORD.

 

Nature vs Grace in Christian Music Philosophy

Prayer, song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Lord, I want You to know that I am serving you on purpose.  I also want everyone else to know that I am happy serving You.  Lord receive my song of joy as an offering of praise and adoration.  I love You Lord and want to serve You on purpose for the rest of my life.  Please help me to vent my joy through my offering of musical praise to You.  These things I am asking in Your name.  Amen.

Song for the Day Wonderful Savior by J.M. Harris

Quote for the Day

“What you think about God is the most important thing about you.” ( Richard Grimilion)

 

Venting Our Joy through Our Musicing

Venting Our Joy through Our Musicing

Psalm 28:7 says, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” Charles Spurgeon wrote in his Treasury of David,  “A song is the soul's fittest method of giving vent to its happiness, it were well if we were more like the singing lark, and less like the croaking raven. When the heart is glowing, the lips should not be silent.  When God blesses us, we should bless him with all our heart.”  Christian musicians often vent their feelings when they are not happy, but they need to also vent their happiness in serving Jesus Christ. 

            Psychologists tell us that it is a good thing to give vent to one’s negative feelings.  This is probably the truth, bit I contend that it is much more important for them to express outwardly through their musicing their joy in serving Jesus Christ.  Christian musician have you expressed your joy in serving the Lord lately?  I do not mean did you sung lately, but rather was your musicing a genuine expression of love to God?  I suggest that you take time right now to bless the Lord with a song of praise.  It would be a good thing to let Satan know exactly where you stand and whose side you are on at this very moment.

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Precious Savior I am asking You to give special encouragement to all those ministers of music and music educators who are careful how they music in your wonderful name.  Please do not let them become weary in well doing.  I am also asking that you would anoint their careful music ministries and make their work efficacious.  Give them power for musical service that can only come through your guidance and help.  These things I am praying in Your Strong and mighty name.  Amen.

Song for the Day—My Jesus I Love Thee by A. J. Gordon

Thought for the Day

God Gave His musicians over six hundred references to music in His Word because He is wise, all knowing, and cares about what they do.  Now we need to study God’s word and ask Him to increase our understanding.

 

The Comfort of Scriptures about Music

  The Comfort of Scriptures about Music

           Ps 147:7 declares, “Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:” Strong’s Exhaustive concordance explains that the Hebrew word anah (6030) which was translated sing in the AV means to sing together by course and todah (8426) means “an extension of the hand, i.e. (by implication) avowal, or (usually) adoration; specifically, a choir of worshippers”.  So, Christian musicians should sing back and forth to each other with upraised hands the praises of God.  Furthermore, they are to sing these praises with an instrumental accompaniment (i.e. zamar 2167, kinore 3658).  

            You may be wondering why I gave all the particulars about musicing unto God in a devotional.  The reason is that God’s word is very specific in this verse about how we should music unto Him.  As a Christian musician, I find great comfort in this specifity in an age when so many church musicians believe that the Bible does not say much of value about our musicing.  So, when you feel pressed to accept all the stuff that is being said by post postmoderns, just remember that the Bible has much to say about how we should worship Him with music.

Philosophy's Affect on Christian Musicians

Meaning in Music

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

The intoning of the Scripture became a vehicle to aid memory in ancient Israel.  Likewise, singing is an aid to memory today.  Therefore, it behooves Christian musicians to sing songs that are worth remembering.

 

Reading (Singing) Distinctly Gave the "Sense" part 2

Reading (Singing) Distinctly Gave the "Sense"   part 2

            The word translated “read” in this verse is taken from the Hebrew word qara (7121) sometimes connotes reading the scrolls, and at other times it means to call out or to proclaim the torah.  This proclaiming is commonly understood by Hebrew scholars to mean the intoning or singing of Scripture. 

            Note that the Bible does not say that the Levite musicians gave commentary (like the *Halakhah and *Haggadah from the *Midrash) on the content of the scrolls, but merely about their type of “reading”, which I believe refers to the singing of the Law through the use of the te’amim.  We know with certainty that this rendering was performed so distinctly (parash 6567, i.e. to separate or to specify) that it gave so much specificity to the meaning of the text that the congregation “understood the reading" of the Torah.

So, you may legitimately ask, ”What should we learn from this text in the book of Nehemiah?” Christian musicians in the twenty first century need to be aware that proper musical rendering of the good news of the Bible can make it more understandable to the hearers.  The musician must perform sacred music in such a way that the modern-day worshiper will be aware of the “sense” of the message in order to understand distinctly.

 

 

Thought or the Day

Thought or the Day

It seems strange that many Christian musicians struggle the concept that all of the OT was notated and was intended to be sung and at the same time sing scriptural songs.

 

 

Reading (Singing) Distinctly Gave the "Sense" part 1

Reading (Singing) Distinctly Gave the "Sense"   part 1

 Nehemiah 8:8 states, “So they read [qara7121] in the book in the law of God distinctly [parash 6567], and gave the sense [sekel 7922], and caused them to understand [biyn 995] the reading [miqra 4744 ].”  This passage of Scripture has troubled many Bible expositors for centuries.  They have often queried, “What made the reading of the scrolls of the Law “distinct”?  They have also wondered how the Levite musicians were able to “give the sense’ of the meaning of the Law?  It has also been a great mystery as to what type or rendering of the scrolls by the Levite musicians actually took place. We know from verse seven that the Levites were among those who “…caused the people to understand the law…” 

            I have no doubt that this Bible reference, which over the many centuries has become an *esoteric reference to the Levite musicians intoning or singing of the Law by the use of the te’amim (the biblical musical notation) which is found above and below the text in some Hebrew Bibles.  This intoning, cantillating, or singing is what made the Levite rendering of the Law “distinct” i.e. more understandable to the people.

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer or the Day

Oh, Great and wonderful, wise, and loving God, I want to thank You this morning for Your gift of music to all of us who live on this earth!  Although your thoughts are higher than our thoughts, You have made it possible for the blessed Holy Spirit to guide Christian musicians in their daily ministry.  Thank You for providing “massa” to Spirit filled musicians who are sincerely musicing unto You for Your glory.  Please help every Christian to be sensitive the Holy Spirit’s leading this week as they prepare to worship you in this week’s services.  These things I am praying in Your name.  Amen.

Song for the Day –Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome by D. Rambo and D. Hintsinger

Thought for the Day 

 Even the most accomplished musician who leads music in worship is in need of the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

 

Massa or Burden for Song

Massa or Burden for Song

1Chronicles 15:22, “And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.”

            Although translators of the Bible labor over each original word, sometimes the nuance of scriptural meaning is lost.  Such has been the case concerning I Chronicles 15:22 which states, "And Chenaniah (3663), chief (sar 8269) of the Levites, was (hayah 1961) for (key 3588) song (massa 4853):  he instructed (yacar 3256) about the song (4853), because he was skillful (biyn 995)."  An amplified rendering of this verse could justly read,

And Chenaniah, whose name means Jah has planted, was an accomplished musician and he became a head person or steward of the Levite musicians and had a burden [borne in upon him of God] for song.  He corrected, instructed or chastised with words about the burden (massa) of song because he was able to perceive and could separate or distinguish mentally.

            As we can see from the amplification, Chenaniah's name signifies that he had purpose in life for his name meant that God had planted or had purposed that he become a chief Levite musician.  He became a chief musician because he was skillful or could distinguish or discern the import or what was right concerning music.  He knew what he was doing and imparted or taught (transferred) that knowledge to the sons of the Levites.

            Every sincere minister of music that I have met desires to music effectively to God and to the people who attend the worship services.  I believe that efficacious musicing is made possible by being a skillful musician, but the most important thing is to have massa or “burden for song” which is borne in upon the musicing from the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

The Book of Psalms is the oldest extant complete collection of lyric poetry to be found anywhere in the world.

 

THE SONG BOOK OF THE BIBLE part 2

THE SONG BOOK OF THE BIBLE part 2

              The inspired psalms are an interesting, exciting, and quite fascinating collection of ancient Hebrew poetry.  These Hebrew songs are the largest and oldest complete collection of mono-theistic religious poetry and melodies surviving in the world today.  This collection of lyric poetry is studied and respected by saints and scholars throughout the world.  Even those who do not respect the Bible as the inspired word of God, revere this book for the quality of its poetical verse.  The quality of this Hebrew lyric poetry gives credence to the belief that there was a high level of literary and musical development among the ancient Hebrew culture.  The recent deciphering of the "Biblical accents" or the te'amim by Suzanne Haik-Vantoura has produced what she believes are the actual melodies of the psalmody of the Bible.  In Chapter VIII of Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective the subject of the deciphering of the te'amim is treated thoroughly.
            Some writers believe that this book has had as profound an influence on Christendom as any other single book of the Bible.  "No single book of scripture, not even the New Testament has, perhaps, even taken such hold on the hearts of Christendom.  None, if we may dare judge, unless it be the Gospels, has had so large an influence in molding the affections, sustaining the hopes and purifying the faith of believers." The Book of Psalms.  Vol. 1 and 2. By J.J. Perone, p. 22.  The list of authors who similarly attest to the great value of this complete collection of sacred lyric poems goes on and on, so much so that it can be said this this is probably the greatest devotional book of the Bible.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

As I have said so often in my writings, the Book of Psalms is a song book not a talk book.

 

THE SONG BOOK OF THE BIBLE part 1

THE SONG BOOK OF THE BIBLE part 1

            The Book of Psalms should be referred to as a "Song Book" instead of a "Hymn Book" since the psalms are not all etymologically considered to be hymns.  Many writers have referred to the Book of Psalms as the "Hymn Book" of the Bible and we take no occasion with such reference to the Book of Psalms.

            The Book of Psalms is not only "our" song book of the Bible, but it was the song book for the religious services of the Second Temple.  Although some of the psalms were sung in the First Temple it was not completed at the time that Solomon's Temple was built.  Since the time that the Old Testament Canon was finished, the Book of Psalms has served as perhaps the greatest Biblical source of materials for hymns, gospel songs, and praise choruses.

            This collection has served throughout the centuries as the main devotional source of the Bible.  The uses of the collection are many.  Here are just a few:

            1.         It is a song book intended to be sung.

            2.         It is a devotional book for both public and private worship.

            3.         It contains many Bible doctrines.

            4.         It is a fascinating poetical book.

            5.         It generally contains theology, history, prophesy, prayers and praises.

            6.         It expresses the deepest religious expressions.

            7.         It relates to saint and sinner.

            8.         Its message relates to the current needs of believers since its message is timeless.

 

Though for the Day

Though for the Day

When a Christian musicing is evaluating progress toward accomplishing professional goals, it is always a good idea to also consider what the materials on music that he or she has read recently.

 

 

           

Reading Good Books about Music

Reading Good Books about Music

            All too many musicians' libraries consist of a host of volumes on music history, theory, literature, a few volumes of hymn stories, and their favorite hypnology text without a single concordance or lexicon to study the original Bible languages.  I hope that your word study appetite will be stimulated until you will at least invest in the standard works that are now keyed to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance.

            Now that we are in the twenty-first century approaches, you will need to not only be prepared spiritually and musically, but also have a deep understanding of the significance of music in the Bible.  It is important that you be able to understand the music of the Bible in Christian perspective.  I Corinthians 2:12-13 states, "Now ye have received, not of the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that ye might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual."

            No book, journal article, or blog post written by man will be able to completely guide church musicians in the twenty-first century.  Only an understanding of what the Book of Books has to say about sacred music will serve as a completely trustworthy guide for Christian musicians in this century.  It is my prayer that my blog will serve as catalyst to stimulate you to study music in the Book of Books, and that you will read the excellent materials that has been written about music and Christian music philosophy in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. If you are not familiar with writings that can be trusted, check on my blog under Recommended Resources which is found directly under the Blog Face.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Since every psalm in the Bible was musically notated with te’amim, it should not surprise us that God intended for them to be sung.

 

THE PSALMS ARE INSPIRED

THE PSALMS ARE INSPIRED

            As I have mentioned before my writings are prepared with the presupposition that the entire Bible is authored and inspired by the Holy Spirit.  The Book of Psalms is therefore the inspired word of God.  Hibbard, in Whedon's Commentary states, "The Psalms are the only collection of sacred songs plenarily inspired which were ever given to the church, and as such presents a claim upon our reverence, faith, and devotional use which belongs to no other."  Whedon’s Commentary, Vol. V, p. 7.   Since this is an inspired songbook, it is important to study the various places in the Old and New Testaments where the writers verify the inspiration of the Psalm collection.  It is worth noting that in the New Testament there are more exact quotations, references, and allusions to the Book of Psalms than to any other Old Testament Book.       

         David claimed the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in II Samuel 23:1-2 where it states,” Now these be the last words of David.  David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.”  The New Testament also attests to the fact that the Psalms are inspired when it states in 2Peter 1:21, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” So, the Psalms should be treated with great respect and are worthy to be sung and quoted in public worship.  However, some Christians treat them as though they were substandard lyric poetry that is not on par with songs and choruses written today.  There is without doubt plenty of room in our public worship services for both the ancient psalms of the Bible and songs that are penned by contemporary poets.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Every musician makes constant judgments about the music he or she uses and excludes.  I do not understand why this process should be different for Christian musicians.

Can Music Have a Moral effect on the Listener?

Can Music Have a Moral effect on the Listener?   

      Ancient philosophers believed that music could have a profound moral effect on the hearer.  “All ancient peoples of whom we have knowledge gave music a place of honor, they considered it a potent religious and moral force, intimately related to the most formal, as well as the most informal aspects of life.” Music in Europe and the United States, by Edith Borroff, Pg. 4  It has only been the product of modern man’s mind that music is amoral.  Although philosophers and musicians have argued for centuries about how music affects us or exactly what moral effect music had on the auditor and the performer, they have always believed that music had a message.

           Philosophers have always believed that music had great power over everyone.  It has only been since the 20^th century that some Christian philosophers have come to the conclusion that style in music is neutral and therefore amoral.  Under this new “liberated” philosophy anything goes in church music.  To them, church music exists in an absurd universe and is a standardless art.  Since church music is without absolutes or any standard of correctness it is merely a matter of personal taste.  These modern church music philosophers quote St. Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”  They purport that Jesus put an end to judgment when it comes to Christian living.

            The real question before us is, “Will we be judged for what we do (music included) in this life?”  Therefore, these musicians have missed the point.  They say we should not criticize each other’s church music since it is merely a matter of taste anyway.  Since, to them, all musical roads lead to heaven, it is wrong to criticize anyone’s style of church music performance.  It is my belief that every church musician will give an account to God at the judgment for what he or she did with the great art of music and that is what really matters.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Since the music vehicle is only “mother’s little helper”, it is a means to an end rather than the goal or end of worship.

 

 

Music to Accompany the Sabbath Mizmowr Shiyr part 3

Music to Accompany the Sabbath Mizmowr Shiyr part 3

 Therefore, the meaning of the Hebrew word shiggayown has to have a meaning that is compatible with the word amaq (6009) which is translated deep in the AV.  I believe that the musicians were instructed to produce sounds that would create a meditative mood that was compatible with the deep meaning of the words of YHVH. As we understand the meaning of the word solemn in the twenty first century it would most often connote serious, grave, or sober.  However, a broader definition would include stately, formal, or majestic.

So, why all the fuss about the Hebrew word shiggayown in this psalm? I believe that it leaves us with the Bible principle of musicing that the style of music should be compatible with the message of the text. The Christian musician has an intellectual obligation to accompany sacred texts with a style of music that enhances the meaning of the text.  The musician is not free to use just any musical vehicle, but rather one that is an appropriate concomitant to the message of the text.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Worship music delivery will always be more genuine and sincere if it is God who has made the worship leader “glad” rather than the music that is being used as a vehicle for worship.

Music to Accompany the Sabbath Mizmowr Shiyr part 2

Music to Accompany the Sabbath Mizmowr Shiyr part 2

            Also of importance is the specific mention of the instruments used to accompany the vocal music and what is said about them.  The instruments were: asor (6218) an instrument of ten [strings], nebel (5035) the large angular hollow-bodied harp, and kinnor (3658) he small hand-held lyre.  Translators have deduced that “with a solemn sound (higgayown 1902) refers to how the kinnor was to sound.  However, it is possible that this phrase refers to how all three instruments were to be played i.e. the sound that the Psalmist instructed the musicians to produce when playing this Psalm at Sabbath worship.  

           The Hebrew word higgayown has several shade of meaning in Scripture.  I believe that, in this instance, it means meditative sound rather than the often supposed “solemn sound”.  Lexicographers have to rely on context to discern shades of meaning of words like shiggayown.  The wording of Psalm 92:3-5, “For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.    O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep” illuminates the mood of this lyric poem.  It is by no means a solemn text, but rather a very happy (“glad”) occasion.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Psalm 97 gives a good reason for worshipers to extend their hands toward heaven as they music unto God.

 

 

 

Music to Accompany the Sabbath Mizmowr Shiyr part 1

Music to Accompany the Sabbath Mizmowr Shiyr part 1


Psalm 92:1-3 A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath day. “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.”

            The Psalm heading defined this music as a mizmowr (4210) Shiyr (7892).  Strong defines mizmowr as instrumental music set to words.  The Psalmist designates that this music is specifically shiyr or music to be sung.  Why are some of the Psalms defined in this way?  The real answer is that we really do not know for certain.  Perhaps the psalmist who penned this poem, which was intended for the Sabbath day, was especially intended for the purpose of singing.

            The Psalmist continues his specificity by saying that it is good i.e. yadah (3034) to hold out one’s hands in avowal to YHVW as one worships by musicing unto God.  The Psalmist goes on to say that this act of holding out (up) the hands as one musics is, “To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.” 

            So, positions of worship do have biblical support.  The way we present ourselves while we music unto God has associative meaning. I am not trying to say that there is only one way to present ourselves to God as we music unto Him, but I do believe that the way we present ourselves does matter because I contend that it is an outward sign of an inner respect for the God we worship as we music.

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for Ministers of Music

Before I ask You for anything Lord I want to thank you for Your ministers of music which are scattered around the world giving their talents back to You.  Thank you that they are called to your service according to Your perfect will.  Please help them right now to feel your presence and power in their live they minister unto You.  Lord You promised in Act that they would receive power for service after the Holy Ghost came upon them.   Please continue to give them this power and anointing for service.  These things I am praying in Your name.  Amen.  

Song for the Day His Way with Thee by Cyrus Nusbaum 

Thought for the Day

God has been calling ministers of music to lead believers in worship since the days in ancient Israel when they were called Chief Musicians.

 

Moses Sang

Moses Sang

Deuteronomy 32:44 ¶ And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea (Joshua) the son of Nun.

It seems only reasonable that Moses “sang” rather than “talked this song to the congregation of Israel.  It is my belief that intoning or singing the song that is now recorded in this Scripture was so common that Moses did not have to make a big deal about whether he sang or talked this song to the people. 

            Christian musicians need to remember that although quoting a sacred song can be effective, there is no substitute for singing and playing a song.  Musicing  the good news of the message of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a unique and special gift of God.  Throughout the history of mankind the ministry of music has had historically a unique and powerful place in both public and private worship.  This we know from the fact that Scripture often records instances of music in worship and commands us to praise and honor God through singing and playing unto Him. 

            What you do as a Christian musician has incredible value both toward god and man.  So, take heart today as you turn your heart to minister to and for Him.  God is honored by your musicing unto him and by your leading others in worship through music.