Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 2

Musical Sound Communicates Meaning Part 2

            Psalm 89:15 states, “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.”  First let us look at the meaning of the word “know”.  It is translated from the Hebrew word yada (3045) which means ascertain, comprehend or literally recognize something.  I contend that it stands to reason that if one is able to recognize proper sounds, then it is possible that there are improper sounds that a Christian should be able to recognize. Also, as I said before, because the Bible teaches that there is “joyful sound” then it stands to reason that there are also sounds that musicians may use in musical worship that do not qualify as “joyful sound”.

            Second, we should consider the words “joyful sound”. They are derived from the Hebrew word teruah (7321) which means a sound of acclamation.  (We know that teruah means acclamation rather than the noise because it is used here in a positive sense.)  From the context of this verse, those who recognize the sound that brings acclamation and praise to God are “blessed” (esher 1835). This Scripture connotes that only those who ascertain which sounds  are truly “sounds of acclamation” are blessed or are filled with true happiness.