Quote for the day

Quote for the day

       “The Talmud says that the Bible should be read in public and be made understood to the hearers in sweet, musical tune.  And he who reads the Pentateuch without tune shows disregard for it and the vital value of its laws.  A deep understanding can be achieved only by singing the Torah…and whoever intones the Holy Scriptures in the manner of secular SONG abuses the Torah.”  Abraham Idelsohn, Jewish Music in Its Historical Development, pp. 35-36, quoting portions of B. Megilla, 32a, and Sanhedrin, 1019.

 

Reading (Singing) Distinctly Gave the “Sense”-part 1

  Reading (Singing) Distinctly Gave the “Sense”-part 1 
            Nehemiah 8:8 states, “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”  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. 
            The Hebrew word which was translated read in the AV was qara (7121) means “to call out or pronounce”.  We know that the Levite musicians were among those who in some way made it possible for the people to understand the law more clearly, because Nehemiah 8:7explains very clearly that “Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.”  Another word of note in this passage is the word is parash (6567) that also connoted specifity of the Levite rendering of this ancient scroll will be discussed in my Mayl 2 bog post.

 

Thought, Song, and Prayer for the Day

Thought for the Day

 When I am criticized or made fun of by others because of my conservative beliefs about how I should music unto God, I remember that my dad used to say “If you’re afraid of getting burned you should stay out of the kitchen.”

Song for the Day A Charge to Keep I Have by Charles Wesley

Prayer for the Day

Lord, help me to turn to you when I am misunderstood or when I am misunderstood or when others are speaking negatively about me. Help me to flee to your great loving heart when I am accused falsely. Please help me not to get bitter or desire to get even. Guard my tongue and my innermost heart. “Renew me as in the days of old.”  This I am praying in Your great name.  Amen.

Sometimes “I am Their Music”

Sometimes “I am Their Music”

            The Lamentations of the prophet Jeremiah records in two places that God’s seer experienced the stinging reproach of the people around him.  Lamentations 3:14 “I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.” Lamentations 3:65 “Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.”  If you are a full of part time practicing Christian musician you may offer experience the jest and derision of others. If you are truly God’s “seer” i.e. a musician who understands what it means to deliver God’s word to a congregation, and if you are true to the biblical principles of musicing, you will be criticized by others.

            There is no doubt about it; there is a battle for Christian music taking place in the post-modern world. If you operate from a conservative, Bible-based philosophy of music you will find yourself in the denominational “fiery furnace.” Like Jeremiah, you will be misunderstood.  The thing that matters is how you react to misunderstanding. If you get bitter or sour you will be the one who suffers. Jeremiah prayer is recorded in verse twenty of chapter five, “turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned, renew our days as of old.”  Getting even is never the answer. The answer is to bring our Lamentations to the Lord. Rev. R. E. Carroll told me once, “When I am misunderstood I pray ‘O Lord, handle me. O Lord, take care of me. O Lord, take care of my attitude.’”

Thought, Song, and Prayer for the Day

Thought for the day

Since our Good shepherd has promised to feed us the very best spiritual food, worship leaders must present an excellent musical diet to those who attend the worship service.

Song for the Day No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus by Charles F Weigle

Prayer for the Day

Lord, you are truly the Good Shepherd, and You are MY Shepherd. Please feed me from Your “green pastures.” Thank you Lord that You have provided spiritual food to sustain my soul in the time of need. Lord, I confess that I am needy. Please fill my soul with Your grace and power so that I may music effectively for you all the days of my life.  Lord help me to feed others with my musicing.  This I am praying in Your wonderful name.  Amen.

Our Light and Shepherd

Our Light and Shepherd

            II Samuel 23:4, “And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the Earth by clear shining after rain.”  Psalm 23:1 reminds us that “the Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to let down in green pastures: [or pastures of tender grass Cambridge, KJV margin].”  God has not only promised us that He will feed us, but also that He will feed us on tender grass. God doesn’t feed his children on hay or fodder, but rather on tender, green grass. Why would Jesus, the Good Shepherd, do that for us? St. John 10:14 tells us that “I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Jesus knows that we need spiritual food. So He provides us with the best of spiritual food—green, living, tender, nutritious life sustaining grass.

            Psalm 100:3 states, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are the sheep of his pasture.” Since all Christian musicians belong to God, we have the right to trust Him to take care of and protect us. When he musician’s soul is thirsty and empty with spiritual hunger, the good shepherd will provide the tender spiritual life.  Christian musician, if you feel that your soul is empty, feed on the tender green grass of heaven. If you need help take advantage of prayer, Bible reading and partake of the Lord’s Supper for they will all administer grace to your heart.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

One of the principles taught in the Old Testament sacrificial system is that God requires our best possible offering.  Therefore, worship leaders (song leaders) must always give God their best mental and physical offering when they are lading worship.

 

Song Leaders?-part 2

Song Leaders?-part 2 

           I can understand a song leader who is not knowledgeable of good standard conducting techniques. However, I have a hard time understanding a song leader who stands before the congregation with facial expressions that accurately represent the “Great stone face.”  I see no smile, no joy, no enthusiasm, no excitement, no outward facial expression that represents all the joy and grandeur of corporate singing. Great joy should exude from the song leader as the congregation sings the great hymns, gospel songs and worship choruses that are available for them to sing.  These songs should be vehicles to express the awesomeness and solemnity of the worship of a triune God.

Jesus, quoting from Isaiah 55:7 stated in St. John 7:38: “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” Is it too far-fetched to suppose that the song leader who really believes on the Lord Jesus Christ will let his or her love show? Out of the song leader’s belly (heart, or inner being) should flow effusions of love and praise! They come forth like gushing water from an artesian well.  These “living waters” cannot be contained because the director believes what Jesus said. Therefore, the song leader’s love, joy, belief, understanding, praise, adoration and blessing should all show on his or her face.  The song leader’s body language, facial expression and conducting gestures should all express the glorious praise of our God!

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Song leaders (worship leaders) must remember that a leader who steps in front of a congregation never gets a second chance to make a first impression.

Song Leaders?-part 1

Song Leaders?-part 1 

            My earliest memories of going to church include standing with a hymnbook in my hands, singing vigorously while trying to see over the pew in front of me.  It never entered my mind that the day would come when the hymnbook would begin to disappear in the sanctuary. Many people wrongly suppose that the hymnbook disappeared because of the invention of the “big screen.” There are several reasons why many modern sanctuaries are without hymnbooks.

            The first thing that disappeared was not the book, but the effective song leader. By song leader, I mean someone who is knowledgeable in conducting skills and expresses the essence of the worship music while utilizing these skills. As I travel around to a variety of churches, I seldom see a song leader who even makes an attempt to use conducting patterns. Those who do not understand conducting patterns most often do not understand how conducting gestures visually express the essence of the music part of the music they are trying to lead.

            Second, I seldom see a song leader who really leads the people in singing. The congregational song leader should direct the music with passion.  The character of the song leader’s beat pattern should reflect the essence and character of the song he or she is trying to represent with conducting gestures.

            Third, the facial expressions of the song leader should mirror the message of the text. Believe it or not, the conductor’s visage should change as the meaning of the text changes.  The body language of the song leader should be non-verbal effusion of the director’s inner desire to express the meaning of the text and the music part of the music.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Christian composers, arrangers, performers and directors would do well to follow J.S. Bach’s example by getting rid of the sense of self and self-actualization and concentrate on God and His glory in their musical efforts.

The Aim of Musicing

The Aim of Musicing

            Johann Sabastian Bach once said, “The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.”  There is much said in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament and also in the New Testament, about our responsibility to music unto God for His Glory and honor and praise.  It is less understood as to whether or not we should music in order to refresh the soul. 

            First of all, we should give some explanation as to what J. S. Bach could have meant by making the statement that one of the final ends of our musicing should be for “the refreshment of the soul”.  A general definition of soul is “the spiritual part of a human being” or the “the seat of affections of mankind”.  The Greek word psuche (5590) is translated life, lives, soul, souls, minds, appears in 95 verses in the AV New Testament.  We are not sure what Bach meant but it is safe to conjecture that he meant that one of music’s purposes was the refreshment of the “inner man”.

            Bach was correct in believing that music was created by God for His Glory and for the refreshment and edification of man.  Christian musician have the awesome responsibility and privilege to use this wonderful art form to honor God and to edify and refresh the psyche of mankind.  We also know that Bach put God first in much of his compositional efforts because he often SDG (sole Deo gloria) at the end of his compositions. 

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

One of the most dangerous pseudo Christian music philosophies is predicated on the notion that there is no difference between the sacred and the profane when it comes to musicing unto God.      

 

 

Good and Fearless Musicians-part 4

Good and Fearless Musicians-part 4

          Oswald Chambers was born in 1874 and lived until 1917, so he experienced the major changes that were happening: the music impressionism  of Claude Debussy (1862-1918); the art of Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890), Paul Gauguin (1848-1903), and Pierre-Auguste Renoir; and the existentialism philosophy of Soren Aabye Kierkegaard (1813-1855).  Although we do not know exactly which philosophies Chambers was referring too, l love the people mentioned above exerted an influence on the major changes that affected fine arts aesthetics.  What we do know is that this great thinker was concerned before the turn of the twentieth century about the philosophy of fine arts aesthetics.

            Chambers did not live long enough to experience the emancipation of dissonance by Schoenberg, Webern and Berg and the anti-music ascetic of composers like John Cage that came later in the century.  However, he could perceive that “The kingdom of aesthetics lies in groveling quagmire, half fine, half impure”.  Little did he know how much the aesthetic developments of the twentieth century would affect religious music in the latter part of the twentieth and now in the twenty first century and how fearful Christian musicians would become of resisting these destructive changes.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Ay musician who is truly an artist says something aesthetically with the styles of music he or she performs. Failure to realize this fact will cause a Christian musician to neither fear what God thinks nor what man is saying aesthetically with his musicing.  

 

Good and Fearless Musicians-part 3

Good and Fearless Musicians-part 3

        Since we have asserted that the Christian musician must submit a music aesthetic to the Lordship of Christ, we should make some brief explanation of what is meant by the term music aesthetic. In the study of the aesthetics of music, one must define very clearly what music aesthetics really is.  A standard definition of aesthetics may be explained as a set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty in all of the fine arts. Because of this universally known understanding of what aesthetics means, musicians must understand that the study of the aesthetics of music traditionally deals with beauty in music rather than its popularity, usefulness, or utilitarian aspects.

             Music composition is the result of the composer or arranger’s organizing sounds and silences into a musical thought or congruent whole so as to arouse emotions in the listener and performer in order to elicit some kind of intended response inside of the hearer. In some cases this response will hopefully be an aesthetic experience within the listener and performer’s mind. What happens covertly inside of the hearer may or may not result in an overt response. 

          These organized sound colors which are the result of combinations of vocal and or instrumental sounds produced from rhythms, melodies, and harmonies that are aesthetically pleasing or harmonious sounding to the listener are considered to be music.   Combinations that negate the musical elements of the combination of sounds and silences produced from rhythms, melodies and harmonies are considered anti-music.  Although the result of this anti-music may have much shock value and therefore have some sort of value, either negative or positive, it is still considered philosophically anti-music.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

A music minister will either lead aesthetically or he or she will spend a lifetime pandering to others musical desires.

 

Good and Fearless Musicians-part 2

Good and Fearless Musicians-part 2

            In my opinion, the greatest problem with the fine art of church music today is without doubt those who are “pandering to popular taste”.  Certainly every astute Christian musician must be concerned with music ministry that is relevant to the congregation who will listen to and perform worship and evangelistic music.  However, I believe that Oswald Chambers made an astute observation that is still apropos today. As he observed there is a great need for all the “kingdoms of this world” to become Christ’s kingdoms.  Furthermore, if Christian musicians are going to submit the fine art of music to the Lordship of Christ in order that it can truly become His, musicians must become “good and fearless Christians”.

             I concur with Oswald Chambers that the music aesthetic of many Christian musicians “lies in groveling quagmire”.  Aesthetics in the arts and especially in the aesthetics of sacred (religious) music will continue to decline in the twenty first century unless Christian musicians have more fear of God’s will than the will of the people.  Proverbs 9:10 explains that, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”  So, a Christian music aesthetic must be developed in the fear of the God who created music.  This fear is not an inordinate fear but rather a “guiding hand’ for the Christian artist.  With this type of paradigm the Christian artist is not restricted or stifled but rather guided by the blessed Holy Spirit.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

 There is a difference between caring about how people receive your music ministry and pandering to popular tastes.

 

Good and Fearless Musicians-part1

Good and Fearless Musicians-part1

            The following statements were taken from Oswald chamber’s diary, “… The kingdom of aesthetics lies in groveling quagmire, half fine, half impure; there is a crying need for a fearless preacher of Christ in the midst of that kingdom, for a fearless writer, writing with the blood of Christ, proclaiming His claims in the midst of that kingdom, for a fearless lecturer above pandering to popular taste, to warn and exhort that all the kingdoms of this world are to become Christ’s – that artists, poets and musicians be good and fearless Christians.”   I am not sure but I suppose that these statements were written sometime in 1891 or 1892 when he was preparing to attend an arts college.

            If the arts and the study of aesthetics were “in groveling quagmire” before 1900, I wonder what Chambers would write about them in 2015?  I thought it quite unique that his evaluation of the “kingdom of aesthetics” came to the conclusion that the major problem with aesthetics was caused by those who were involved in the arts who were “pandering to popular taste”.  This scenario sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

 

Thought and Prayer for the Day

Thought for the Day

God not only gave me a peace in my heart the evening when I was saved but He has proven to me over and over again that “Though the trials of life may surround like a cloud, I’ve a peace that has come here to stay!”

Prayer for the Day

Dear heavenly Father I want to thank and praise You for forgiving all my transgressions and making me a new creature in Christ Jesus.  I also want to thank you that You are coming to take me some glorious day over there to my heavenly home!  I believe that Your returning to this sin cursed world will not be, as my generation believes, “pie in the sky” but rather a “reality in the sky’.  Praise your wonderful name, Hebrews 9:28 reminds Christians “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”  Lord please help me to be ready for your second coming.  This I pray in Your strong and reliable name.  Amen.

 

Constantly Abiding

Constantly Abiding

There’s a peace in my heart that the world never gave,

A peace it cannot take away;

Though the trials of life may surround like a cloud,

I’ve a peace that has come here to stay!

All the world seemed to sing of a Savior and King,

When peace sweetly came to my heart;

Troubles all fled away and my night turned to day,

Blessed Jesus, how glorious Thou art!

This treasure I have in a temple of clay,

While here on His footstool I roam;

But He’s coming to take me some glorious day,

Over there to my heavenly home!

Refrain:

Constantly abiding, Jesus is mine;

Constantly abiding, rapture divine;

He never leaves me lonely, whispers, oh, so kind:

“I will never leave thee”—Jesus is mine.

            I was saved in July of 1967 at the Eastern Kansas Camp.  The camp was held each year in an open air tabernacle with a sawdust floor.  The tabernacle had wooden doors that were hinged from the top and were held open with two wooden stakes.  In front of the platform was an old wooden mourner’s bench with carpet runners paced on top of the sawdust floor in front of the tough wooden alters.  It wasn’t a very fancy place but it was good enough for an awful sinner like me to find his way to God. 

            I do not remember the text from which Dr. C.E. Cowen preached  or specifically what he said that night, but I do know that I passed from death unto life that Saturday night when God, for Christ’s sake, forgave me of all my sins and removed them “as far as the East is from the west” that night in July.

            The next morning as I drove from our farm to Mid America Business Forms where I was working that summer, God brought the gospel song written by Anne S. Murphy which is written above.  The thought that forcibly came to mind that July morning was, “There’s a peace in my heart that the world never gave”.  Also that morning I became strangely aware that “All the world seemed to sing of a Savior and King”.  I was blessed that morning as I realized that “This treasure I have in a temple of clay” and furthermore that the blessed Holy Spirit was whispering to me, “I will never leave thee”.  Christian musician take heart when you remember,"...he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."  (Hebrews 13:5)
(KJV)

Thought, Song, and Prayer for the Day

Thought for the Day

1Peter 4:1-4, “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you…”

Song for the Day Guard Your Heart by Steve Green

Prayer for the Day 

 Lord, “I count not myself to have apprehended”.  Please give me the wisdom to discern between music that is sacred and profane.  Do not let me get squeezed into the world’s mode of musicing. I am asking You heavenly Father to please help me to guard my heart and to guard the way I music unto You so that I may hear your voice and obey the checks of the Holy Spirit concerning how and what I music unto You.  this I pray in your name.  Amen.

 

 

Guard your Musicing

Guard your Musicing
                 Exodus 32:18 “And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.   As Moses came down from the mountain with the Decalogue, Joshua said to Moses, “There is the noise of war in the camp”.  Moses recognized the music to “noisy singing” or “depressing (anah 6031) singing (kowl 6963)”.  These people were worshiping and dancing mecholah 4246 (vs. 19) naked para 6544 (vs. 25) around the golden calf.
                They were worshiping an idol.  No wonder this worship was accompanied by “depressed singing” and “naked dancing”.  Not everything that went on in ancient worship music was of God.  Likewise, not everything that goes on in modern and post-modern musical worship is of God.  Beware chief musician that you do not get squeezed into the world’s mold of musicing.  To these Israelites, whose hearts were full of carnality, dancing naked to the noise kowl 6963 (vs. 18) of this pagan music seemed to be the proper thing to do.
                Today if a Christian musician believes that there is a difference between the sacred and profane musicing, he or she will be laughed to scorn.  Never-the-less, it made a difference then and it still makes a difference today.  Chief musician “guard your musicing”.  “Walk circumspectly” and “prove what his acceptable unto the Lord” (see the fifth chapter of Ephesians).  When you face Him whose eyes are as a flame of fire, you will be glad you did.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day
 If a Christian musician’s musicing is going to be didactic, it must have enough content and depth to teach something worthwhile.

Sacred Song Lyrics Must Catechize the Listener

Sacred Song Lyrics Must Catechize the Listener

            Deuteronomy 31:19, “Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.” The children of Israel had time after time forgotten the goodness of Jehovah and had turned to false gods of their neighbors.  In verse 16, God told Moses that it would not be long until Israel would again go after false Gods.  Jehovah was always faithful to His people so once again he sent his man with a message.  It was a song (see Deuteronomy 32).  The purpose of this song was to witness against an apostatizing nation. 

            Moses was commanded by YHVH to compose a song, second to teach it to them, and third to have them sing it. Deuteronomy 31:22 records that, “Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.”  Over the centuries Bible expositors have assumed that Moses taught this song to these ancient Israelites b speaking it to them. They forget that the bible very clearly records that tis poetry was lyric poetry was a song (shiyr 7892).  Therefore, it is safe to conjecture that he sang it to them.

            It is never sufficient to “talk” the songs of our LORD.  They must be sung.  Now song leader you know a little more why we sing the Logos Christos in church.  From at least the time of Moses, God has given musicians the solemn opportunity and responsibility to compose, teach, and sing the songs of Jehovah.  Not all songs that should be sung in church will be “hippity hop over the top”.  Some of them will be “Are You Living where God Answers prayer?”  “A Charge to Keep I Have”, “Nothing Between My Soul and the Savior” and “Guard Your Heart”.  Whether our music is a simple praise chorus or a serious song about God’s judgment of the wicked, we should count it a privilege to catechize those who attend our church services with the songs of Jehovah.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

1Chronicles 25:6-7 explains that the church was responsible to train their own when it states, “All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.”

Training Our Own-part 2

Training Our Own-part 2

       I am amazed that so many parents who love and serve the Lord do not recognize the great need for the next generation to be “instructed in the songs of the LORD”.  Many parents who are not Christians are more consistent in training their children musically than Christian parents.

     One more concept is note-worthy in this passage of Scripture.  Jeduthun prophesied (to sing by inspiration) with his harp.  It is significant that he sang by inspiration, but it is just as important that he taught his six sons to prophesy with their musicing unto God.  He taught his sons to give thanks i.e. hold out their hands in avowal and thankfulness to God.  He also taught them to praise (halal 1984) and to show or to boast of the self-existent, eternal God.

       Are your children being trained under your hands i.e. under your supervision and tutelage?  Are you personally mentoring them in how to music unto God?  Are you teaching them by example how to praise and thank the Lord through music making?

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day
I believe that it is the responsibility of Christian parents to instruct their children musically or to employ a Christian music teacher as a proxy.

 

Training Our Own-part 1

Training Our Own-part 1

 I Chronicles 25:3 states, “Of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, and Mattithiah [and Shimei [mentioned in verse 17], six under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.”         This Scripture is a wonderful example of a godly musician in ancient Israel who was wise enough to train his own sons in the “songs of the LORD” (verse 7).  These six sons were “under the hands of” their father.  Praise God, this is a wonderful example of a musician who took time for his own family’s music education.  He did not send them to the Philistines to receive their music lessons. I believe that he had musical “massa” (4853) or burden for the musical training of his own household like Chenaniah mentioned in I Chronicles 15:22. 

       The concept of training our own is not only an Old Testament concept but also a New Testament principle.  I Timothy 5:8 states, “But if any provide not for his own [kindred-cf. Cambridge KJV], and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”  Although this N.T. verse does not specifically mention music education, I believe the conception mentioned here is broader than the care of widows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Since Acts 7:22 explains,  “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds”, it is possible that he brought the knowledge of the use of cheironomy (i.e.musical hand-signs) to ancient Israel.

 

 

Does “Yad” Refer to Cheironomy?

 Does “Yad”  Refer to Cheironomy?

            The AV translates 2Chronicles 29:25, “And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.”   Young’s translation of the Bible renders this verse, “And he appointeth the Levites in the house of Jehovah with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, by the command of David, and of Gad, seer of the king, and of Nathan the prophet, for by the hand of Jehovah is the command, by the hand of His prophets” (YLT).  Bible expositors do not often comment on what is meant by “the hand of YHVH and the hand of His prophets”.

            It is somewhat puzzling that this verse refers to the commandment (i.e. the mitzvah 4687) of David, Gad, and Nathan but specifies that the commandment (mitzvah) came by the hand (yad 4687) of YHVH and His prophets.  Some scholars believe that the use of the Hebrew word yad is actually an esoteric reference to the use of cheironomy.  Perhaps this reference is a command of YHVH for these musical prophets to utilize these ancient musical hand-signs.

             Although there is no direct reference to the use of cheironomy by the ancient Levite musicians, it is possible that cheironomers transmitted the te’amim to the Levite musicians who performed in the ancient Jewish Temple.  We know from ancient writings that the Egyptians used these ancient musical hand-sighs to transmit exact pitches to performing musicians as early as this musical reference in 2 Chronicles 29:25.  So it is not far-fetched to suppose that the Levite musicians could have made use of them.

 

Thought, Song, and Prayer for the Day

Thought for the Day

Although the word prophesy is never used directly in connection with sacred musicing in the New Testament, Church musicians in the twenty first century should deliver the message of Christ Crucified as a part of their musicing.

Song for the Day God the Spirit, Guide and Guardian by Carl D. Daw, Jr.

Prayer for the Day

Dear Lord, I want my musicing to deliver a balanced diet to the congregation, but I confess that many times I am unsure of what constitutes a balanced diet.  Please help me to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  I know that you instructed Peter to feed Your lambs and sheep.  So Lord I am asking you to help me feed them the way that you want them to be fed.  These petitions I am bring to You believing that you will help me. Thank you in advance for helping me to be an effective music pastor.  Amen.

Musicing after Easter

Musicing after Easter

            Now that Easter is over Christian musicians should not forget to include the preaching of Christ crucified with their sacred musicing.  1Corinthians 1:21-24 reminds us, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”  Those of you who have read my writings know that I believe that sacred musicing is a form of preaching because musicing has a history as far back as ancient Israel it was considered prophesy. 

            In 1Chronicles 25:1 records, “Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals…”  The word translated prophesy in the AV was naba (5012) which meant to sing by inspiration of God.  In ancient times sacred musicing was serious business and I contend that it still is serious business today.  So, singing “Christ Crucified” is not the complete message, but it is certainly an important part of it throughout the Church Year.

 

Thought, Song, and Prayer for the Day

Thought for the Day

Ephesians 5:17-19, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

Song for the Day “And He Shall Purify by G. F. Handel

Prayer for the Day

I want to thank You LORD for making it possible for Christian musicians to be able to give You a musical offering which is “in righteousness”.  Lord I am asking you to help Your musicians to purpose in their hearts to present to You a musical offering which is a purified righteous musical offering.  Lord I know that Isaiah 64:6 reminds us that our righteousness is as filthy rags before You.  So, I am asking You to help me to, not only once be filled with the Holy Spirit, but to continually be filled so that I may make melody in my heart to the Lord.  These petitions I am praying in your Holy Name.  Amen

 

 

A Righteous Musical Offering

A Righteous Musical Offering

 Malachi 3:1-3 “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”

As Christian musicians we have been saved to serve through our musicing.

We have been pardoned so that we may produce righteous musical fruit.

We have been sought out to seek others.

We have been blessed musically so that our musicing may bless others.

We have been brought out to bring others in.

We have been blessed to be a blessing through our musicing.

We have been purified to give a righteous musical offering.

We have been enlightened so that our musicing we may help others to see.

We have been comforted so that that our musicing may comfort the needy.

We have been given much musically so that our musicing may give to others.

We have been given knowledge so that we may help others to know.

We have been given wisdom so that we may help others to understand.

Thought and Song for the Day

Thought for the Day

There is an element of truth in Bob Marley’s quip, “Don’t worry be happy”.  A Christian’s musicing should reflect joy instead of worry.

Song for the Day This is the Day by Les Garrett

 

 

Our Musicing Should Reflect God’s Light

Our Musicing Should Reflect God’s Light

            1John 1:4-5, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.  his then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”  Every Christian musician’s musicing should be a message of God’s light.  It is no wonder that the Bible commands Christians to praise.  Christian musicians have a right to be full of joy and to have that joy reflected in his or her musicing.  As Christian musicians, we need to guard against allowing this dark evil world to influence the tenor of our sacred musicing with the hopelessness of a life lived without the light that God shines into this world.

            Much of the secular music that has been recorded in the last century represents the darkness of these musician’s hearts.  It is a fact that many times musicians who do not know Christ live surrounded by darkness and despair.  However, Ephesians 5:14 gives hope to those who are dead in trespasses and sins when it promises, “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”  So, those of us who are walking in God’s light should take a moment to thank God for the light of His presence.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Every Christian performer who is truly an artist is selling some philosophy with the music part of the music he or she performs.

 

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I Could Do Without the Beat

I Could Do Without the Beat

            The chorus of the Doobie Brothers song Drift Away gave their philosophy of life:

                                                        “Oh...Gimme the beat boys to free my soul.
                                                              I wanna get lost in your rock 'n roll and drift away.
                                                              Oh...Gimme the beat boys to free my soul;
                                                              I wanna get lost in your rock 'n roll and drift away

I hear that same philosophy sung on many of the so called “Christian” radio stations to which I sometimes listen to try to hear some sacred music.  Many of these stations are no different than the Rock stations on the AM and FM band.  I should not have to be offended when I try to listen to a radio station that professes to be “Christian”. 

            I find it offensive when a Christian recording artist gives me a hard incessant forward propelling beat and expects me to get lost in his or her “rock and roll” and “drift away” until my soul is supposedly “free”.  I do not have to “drift away” by the aid of an incessant endless forward propelling beat, because my soul is already free.  It was freed from the acts and lusts of sin and the flesh when I was born again and became a new creature in Christ Jesus.  So, I am asking the “boys” to give me “new song’ that is new because it is of a higher renovated character than the “rock ‘n roll” that I consumed when I was dead in trespasses and sins.

 

Prayer for the day-God Never Forgets His Ministering Musicians

Prayer for the day-God Never Forgets His Ministering Musicians

Forgive me Lord, for the occasions when I feel alone and forgotten.  Cleanse me from self-pity and from mistrusting that You will remember me.  Both of my brothers still love me, my wife still loves me and many others love me as well.  Also, You have promised to be a friend that “sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)

God Never Forgets His Ministering Musicians

God Never Forgets His Ministering Musicians

                 Genesis 4:21 “And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.” This verse has the distinction of being the first reference to music in the Holy writ.  Among those names most anciently mentioned in Scripture, Jubal is listed.  Not only is this musician’s name specified in the bible, but he is called by “ab” (01) which is the primitive Hebrew and Chaldean word for father, chief and principal person.

                Musician’s soar to the seventh heaven during their musicing unto God and plunge to the abyss of despair after church is over.  While reflecting on the service they only remember that the two main bass singers and the soprano soloist did not show up for morning service.  Furthermore, the tenors sang flat and hardly any one said “thank you “after church was over.

              Christian musicians, who are among the most visible of all God’s ministering servants, strangely suffer from loneliness and often feel forgotten by both God and man.  There are a host of reasons for these feelings of self-pity, none of which deserve to be discussed in this short devotional.  To state it simply it goes with the Job!  If you are a musician you will have highs and lows and these will happen much too often. 

               One way of looking at it is that poor Jubal only got one tiny verse in all of the Old Testament.  However, you could look at it that his name and what he did was inscribed in the Book of Genesis.  Man would forget him, but God will not let us forget His musician.  Not only do we remember Jubal as a musician, but as the “father” of musicians.  If you are a musician and you are reading this devotional, I do not need to draw you a picture.  You know what I mean.  God has not forgotten you.  Buck up.  God loves you and He remembers all your service to Him.