Saturday, December 12, 2015

Sounding Brass and Clanging Symbols

Sounding Brass and Clanging Symbols  
1Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”
            Those of you who have read my Book Music of the Bible know where I’m heading with this devotional today.  The words “sounding brass or a tinkling symbol” are derived from the Greek words echeo chalkos (2278 4575) and alalazo kumbalon (214 2950). Marcus Vitruvius Pollio the Roman architect and acoustician believed that these words refer to the sounding vases in the outdoor theaters. According to him these vases were tuned chromatically and therefore amplified the human voice, but the sound was somewhat hollow. The musicing of those who do so without charity, i.e. agape love (26), is something like the sound of those actors and singers whose voices were amplified by the sounding vases.  This musician’s sound, to the ears of God, is hollow and without effectuality.
            During the Advent season every musician who musics in the name of God must be sure that his or her heart is right with God.  Effectual musicing is not about talent but rather it is about relationship.  In the Old Testament spiritual economy, Mal 3:3 explains, “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.”  If these old Testament Levite musicians were required to have their hearts purged, refined and purified in order unto the LORD a righteous offering, surely in this century musicians need to have a pure heart.

 

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