Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day
It is amazing to me that so few music ministers consider themselves to be teachers as well as being performers, directors, and worship leaders.   Remember that Chenaniah was a teacher of the message of song that YHVH had borne in upon him.

 

 

Burden for Song

Burden for Song

            Probably the most important thought in I Chronicles 15:22, and another concept that has not fared well in most translations, is the importance of the words "was for song" (massa 4853) The Hebrew word massa is often misunderstood here as meaning "carriage."  Therefore, some translators and commentators have believed that this verse is explaining that he was an expert in handling the Ark of the Covenant, since the fifteenth chapter gives a detailed account of bringing the ark up to Jerusalem.

             However, it is important to note that the portion of that chapter, including verses sixteen through twenty-four, is a musical discourse concerning the Levites that King David placed in charge of pre-Temple music at the time of the moving of the ark and placing it in the tent.  We know from verse fifteen that Levites did in fact carry the ark after the due order of Moses, but if Chenaniah was a teacher of ark carriage then why was he mentioned in the middle of the list of Levite musicians in verses 19-21 and why was the so-called teacher of "handling the ark" walking with the singers?  Why was he not walking as verse twenty-seven states, with ". . . the Levites that bare the ark?"  We will discuss these questions in tomorrow’s post.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day
It is my desire that it will be said of me when I depart this life that I was a musician that God planted strategically in His harvest field for a particular purpose.  Are you willing to not only let God plant you but also allow Him to keep you planted where He placed you?

 

 

A Skillful Singing Instructor

A Skillful Singing Instructor

            It seems that a much more tenable hypothesis would be that Chenaniah was a skillful singing instructor who had a great burden for song borne in upon him of God.  The word massa used here is found many times in the Old Testament. This word used of Chenaniah is the same word which is burden in Isaiah 13:1 which states, "The burden massa (4853) of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amos did see."  The Book of Nahum also uses the word massa (Nahum 1:1) when it mentions, "The burden (massa 4853) of Nineveh.  The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite."  Also, Habakkuk 1:1 states, "The burden (4853) which Habakkuk the prophet did see."  So we can see that the word massa used of Chenaniah the chief singer was also used of the prophets Isaiah, Nahum and Habakkuk.

            What does the word massa mean?  W.E. Vine has stated that, "The word 'burden' (Hebrew massa, a thing lifted up) is used, for example, in Nahum 1:1, signifying the burden of prophesy which was borne in upon the prophet when he received it from the Lord." Vine's Old Testament Words, p. 105. In other words Chenaniah's message for song was borne in upon him from the Lord just like the message of God was given to the prophets.  It wasn't perfect pitch, a beautiful sounding voice or his knowledge of vocal pedagogy that made Chenaniah great, but instead, it was his spiritual communication with Jehovah that brought him to prominence.  From the Biblical record it seems that the outstanding factor of this chief musician's life was his serious and powerful music ministry in Israel.

 

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

It is amazing to me that so few music ministers consider themselves to be teachers as well as being performers, directors, and worship leaders.   Remember that Chenaniah was a teacher of the message of song that YHVH had borne in upon him.

Burden for Song

Burden for Song

            Probably the most important thought in I Chronicles 15:22, and another concept that has not fared well in most translations, is the importance of the words "was for song" (massa 4853) The Hebrew word massa is often misunderstood here as meaning "carriage."  Therefore, some translators and commentators have believed that this verse is explaining that he was an expert in handling the Ark of the Covenant, since the fifteenth chapter gives a detailed account of bringing the ark up to Jerusalem.

             However, it is important to note that the portion of that chapter, including verses sixteen through twenty-four, is a musical discourse concerning the Levites that King David placed in charge of pre-Temple music at the time of the moving of the ark and placing it in the tent.  We know from verse fifteen that Levites did in fact carry the ark after the due order of Moses, but if Chenaniah was a teacher of ark carriage then why was he mentioned in the middle of the list of Levite musicians in verses 19-21 and why was the so-called teacher of "handling the ark" walking with the singers?  Why was he not walking as verse twenty-seven states, with ". . . the Levites that bare the ark?"  We will discuss these questions in tomorrow’s post.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

When it comes to the arguments for or against the use of musical instruments with church music based on the imperfect Old Testament covenant and the perfect covenant of the New Testament, there is no foundation for such arguments either inside or the Bible.

INSTRUMENTS USED IN NEW TESTAMENT SINGING-part 3

INSTRUMENTS USED IN NEW TESTAMENT SINGING-part 3
            If the words psallo and psalmos had changed meaning in the New Testament dispensation, and if they clearly represented only singing without any use of instrumental accompaniment whatsoever, why then did St. Paul mention psalms, making melody, and singing in the same passage of Scripture?  To make the meaning of the words clear, let's review their standard meanings.  Psalms (psalmos 5568) meant a Hebrew cantillation for voice and instruments.  Singing (aido 103) was a verb meaning to sing.  Making melody (psallo 5567) meant to twitch or twang or touch (play) the strings of a musical instrument.  With these standard definitions of psalms, singing, and making melody, these words make logical sense in Ephesians 5:19.  If aido and psallo would have had the same meaning St. Paul, the great master of languages, would not have used both words in the same verse. If these words represent the same action (singing) then the verse should be rendered singing and singing in your heart.  Such a thesis does not seem to be tenable.

            There is also the argument that instrumental music was for the old covenant and that it was not religiously "proper" under the new covenant since the sacrificial system was not continued after the death and resurrection of Christ.  It is true that the highly developed system of instrumental music of the Jews was silenced at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple in A.D. 70.  Although this was a dark time for the Jewish music, it does not indicate a New Testament prohibition of the use of instruments in Christian worship.  The persecuted New Testament church was scattered and worshipped sometimes in "secret" which possibly accounts for some of the lack of instrumental music by the New Testament church.  Three things are apparent concerning instrumental music in the New Testament:  (1) it is not mentioned as much in the New Testament as in the Old Testament; (2) many groups of believers worshiped without the aid of instrumental music, and (3) the highly developed music system of the Temple did not continue in the early church.  However, instrumental music is mentioned in the New Testament and is never forbidden in the New Testament writings.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

There has been so much unfounded conjecture about Bible instruments that Christian musicians need to be careful about speaking about them with absolute certainty when there is no known certainty about these instruments.  In other cases there is a high level or reliability about some instruments mentioned in the Bible that were used by the ancient Hebrews.

 

INSTRUMENTS USED IN NEW TESTAMENT SINGING-part 2

INSTRUMENTS USED IN NEW TESTAMENT SINGING-part 2

            There are some writers who purport that the word psallo, or psalmos for that matter, does not necessarily denote singing with the use of musical instruments.  Some authors say that the words psalmos and psallo are taken from Koine or Biblical Greek (instead of classical Greek) and that in Biblical Greek the words are generic names for singing.  These authors often ask, “why did the scholars who translated the K.J.V. render psallo as ‘singing’ and ‘making melody’?”  To this question I would ask “why did the K.J.V. translators render the kinnor as a harp and the nebel as a psaltery instead of properly identifying the kinnor as a hand-held lyre and the nebel as a hollow bodied harp?”

            Those who do not believe in the use of instruments in the church further complicate the argument by stating that the Greek writers new the significance of the Greek verb psallo and therefore would never have used it to implicate instrumental music.  Their reasoning is that the ancient Eastern Greek Church did not use instruments in public worship.  The reader should be reminded that these New Testament references to music do not involve the ancient Greek or the Hellenistic Greek Church but instead the ancient Hebrew tradition of singing the psalms accompanied by musical instruments.  Not only did the writers know of the "Greek" traditions they also no doubt knew that the Hebrews had always used instruments in conjunction with their psalm singing.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Rather than make a huge case for the exclusion of musical instruments which cannot be established exegetically or by word philology, it would be better to simply state that one does not wish to use musical instruments with religious music.

 

INSTRUMENTS USED IN NEW TESTAMENT SINGING-part 1

INSTRUMENTS USED IN NEW TESTAMENT SINGING-part 1

            The Greek name for the Book of Psalms is biblos (976) psalmos (5567) or the scroll of music to be sung and accompanied with musical instruments.  The word psalmos is derived from psallo (5567) which means to twitch or twang or to play on the strings of a musical instrument.  It is believed that psallo (5567) and psocho (5597), for that matter, are derived from the root word psao which is not used in the Greek text.  The word psao means to rub or touch the surface of something.  In this case it would connote the rubbing of the surface of strings with a plectrum of the fingers.  The use of the word psalmos in the Greek name for the Psalter does not mean that only stringed instruments were used to accompany psalm singing, but it does indicate that one cannot separate the singing of psalms from the use of instrumental music.

            The use of the word psallo (5567) which is closely connected to the Greek word for the Book of Psalms also strengthens the argument for the New Testament use of instruments with singing.  In Romans 15:9b we read, ". . . For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing (5567) unto thy name."  I Corinthians 14:15b uses the word twice ". . . I will sing (5567) with the spirit, and I will sing (5567) with the understanding also."  James 5:13 states, "Is any among you afflicted?  let him pray.  Is any merry? let him (sing psalms 5567)."  Finally, Ephesians 5:19b states, ". . . singing (ado 103) and (making melody 5567) in your heart to the Lord."

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

It has been difficult for translators to understand references to singing mentioned quite often in the Old Testament.  Therefore, musicians should study these references to music and musicing before drawing musical conclusions.

 

Music, Vocal and or Instrumental?

  Music, Vocal and or Instrumental?

            Was all ancient Bible music vocal or both vocal and instrumental?  Although we know that vocal music was very important to ancient Hebrew music of the Bible, why are there some words that seem to mean basically instrumental music?  Why do  some of the words which have been translated sing etc. not seem to fit any of the other categories in the study? (For a more thorough discussion see chapter two of Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective.)

            First, the study of singing in the Bible reveals that not all music was both vocal and instrumental.  II Chronicles 20:22 states, "And when they began to sing (rinnah 7440) and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten."  They were in the middle of a military battle when they sang, and the Biblical account gives no indication that they used any melodic or percussive instruments as they sang.  The word translated sing (rinnah 7440) does not give any indication of instrumental usage.

            Second, vocal music was paramount to music of the Bible.  However, we do not know that Bible music was always both vocal and instrumental.  For example, the words sing my songs (negiynath 5058) probably means instrumental music in Isaiah 38:20.  In the Authorized Version the verse reads, "The LORD was ready to save me:  therefore we will (sing my songs 5058) to the (stringed instruments nagan 5059) all the days of our life in the house of the LORD."  No doubt this verse was perplexing to the translators, therefore it is no wonder that it faired so poorly in translation.  Probably the verse would have been more correctly rendered, "We will play stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the house of the LORD."  The word sing which is not in the original text misleads the reader as well as the word songs which should have been rendered stringed instruments.  Therefore, right in the middle of what we thought was a study of vocal music; instrumental music seems to be the correct sense of the original text.  It is risky to assume that the verse is speaking about vocal music merely because we know that musicians were most often singer-players or because many writers believe that instrumental music in the Bible was always in an accompanying role.

 

Do We Need Written Music?

Do We Need Written Music?

        Over many centuries the church has been responsible to train its own to sing parts. Is it necessary for the congregation to sing parts?  No, it is not a matter of necessity.   It is a matter of giving a more beautiful and excellent response to the God who created harmony.  Psalm 33:1 and 147:1 both say that praise is comely.  In both verses the A.V. translated the word comely from the Hebrew word naveh (5000) which means, among other things, suitable or beautiful.

         If the church does not provide written music for the congregation, there will be less and less part singing when the congregation sings together. If children do not grow up singing parts in church it will be difficult for them to learn a part when singing in a small group or in a choir. Perhaps there is more truth in the saying, “If you don’t use you lose”.  Such a decline in the quality of the church’s musical offerings will contribute to the dumbing down of its sacred musicing.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

 

Sold Out to Self or the Savior?

Sold Out to Self or the Savior?

Christian musicians often question the necessity of developing a series of systematic beliefs concerning the nature and value of the whole of music.  Furthermore, they often seem to believe that those values set forth by major public colleges and universities are adequate for Christian musicians.  After all, aren’t the elements of music the same for Christians and non-Christians?  The philosophy of a musician who does not bring his entire musical endeavor under the Lordship of Christ should never be trusted. Not only can you trust a communist to be a communist, you can also trust an unregenerate musician to be worldly in his or her philosophical basis.  Remember, direction determines destiny!

Any musician who believes the end of all human endeavors is the gratification of self will ultimately come to different philosophical conclusions than a musician whose life is sold out to Christ.  For the committed Christian, music begins and ends with God.  To the humanist, music begins and ends with self.  The musician who has submitted his or her music to the Lordship of Christ believes that all church music is sung and played to glorify God since God owns music.  Conversely, the secular humanists (and the religious humanists) believe that music belongs to man’s true humanness since all music is about self-actualization.  This type of thinker owns his or her music.

 

Quote for the Day

Quote for the Day

Ephesians 6:4, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”   Colossians 3:21, “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Communication Must be a Civil Process

Communication Must be a Civil Process

It is one thing for pastors, parents, music ministers, and Christian music educators to have strong beliefs concerning music but the passing of the baton to the next generation must be a “civil” process.  Long heated discussions ending in anger and tears seldom get the job done successfully.  Name calling and equating a young person’s musical tastes with their relationship to Jesus Christ is most regrettable. 

Unwise choices in music and cultural blind spots in the fine arts should not be equated with a person’s relationship to Christ.  Parents should not make statements like, “If you ever really come to know the Lord, you won’t even like that music”.  Knowledge of biblical principles concerning music choices and likes and dislikes of styles of music are acquired skills not instantaneous gifts of the Spirit to the born-again Christian.  Christian purity and maturity are not one in the same.  A Christian musician may make unwise choices concerning music ministry as well as secular music selections and still be honestly trying to bring his or her life under the Lordship of Christ.  It seems that we are much more able to accept the fact that a Christian has made some very unwise credit card decisions than we are able to accept unwise music decisions.

 

Quote for the Day

Quote for the Day

Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”  Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Anti-Music

Anti-Music

            I believe that this name anti-music was originally a term tending to use irony or mockery to represent the negativism of some musical compositions of the 20rh century. It was also a term discussed in a music web site called antimusic. As far as I can tell the name originally came from a coined term in the book Broken Record: The Inside Story of the Grammy Awards by Henry Schipper.  Schipper recounts in this book that the Academy and their awards program were initially set up as the old-line music biz’s answer to the growth of Rock n’ Roll, a form of music they considered “Anti-Music”.   Perhaps another way to look at the meaning of this word is to consider it any form of music that defies convention to such a degree that some people would not recognize it as musical or a legitimate music genre.  Perhaps a better understanding of this term would be any form of music intended to overthrow traditional conventions and expectations.   Some other related considerations of anti-music could possibly be anti-genre music or noise-music.

            Noise-music is a form of so-called music that some would consider to be the “expressive” use of noise or distortion within the context of what the composer or arranger considers to be “music” or “anti-music” music. This type of composition challenges the distinction between musical and non-musical sound. It is directly related to the 20^th century philosophy off the destruction of music absolutes.

            Where am I heading with this discussion?  The purpose is not to get entangled in the controversy over whether anti-music is music or not.  The purpose of this very brief mention of anti-music it to point out that it was not developed by God fearing Christian musicians who were desiring to worship God with a genera of music that negated the elements of traditional Western music.  Therefore, it is misguided for a Church musician to entangle public worship with such styles of music.  Such entanglement is one of Satan’s stratagems for squeezing religious music into the world’s mold.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

If church musicians keep dumbing down church music it will not be long until they have accomplished our mission.  It is odd that in this century when we have so many educated musicians attending church, worship leaders act like they cannot music with much skill.  

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Much of what worldly musicians believe  about music and musicing is not the result of an application of common sense is rather the result of the application of error and nonsense.

 

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 3

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 3

            Philosophers have always believed that music had great power over everyone.  It has only been since the 20th 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 judgement 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 synthesis thinkers 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 judgement for what he or she did with the great art of music.

 

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Christian musicians should not line up in a row behind the world’s musical notions like little ducks who are being led to a mud puddle.

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 2

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 2

            What does the Scripture lesson taught in 1Corinthians 1:18 mean to the 21st century church?  First of all, there is and always has been a war going on between the wisdom of God and the specious arguments of the present age.  Every Christian musician should be sure that he or she is following biblical wisdom when developing a music ministry philosophy.  Second, there are very logical sounding arguments that are prevalent today that simply do not line up with Scripture.  Beware that you are not led astray by what seems to make sense at least by the world’s standards.  If your philosophy has caused you to not keep the main thing then it is faulty. 

            Ancient philosophers believed that music could have a profound moral effect on the hearer. We know from history that, “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, 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.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day
Christian musicians must be sure that their musical beliefs are congruent with Bible teaching rather than unfounded nonsense.

 

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 1

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 1

            Corporate worship through singing is a valuable means of grace to the believer.  Singing can be a valuable teaching tool.  Singing can be used by the Holy Spirit to convict and convert sinners.  However, 1 Corinthians 1:18 above states that preaching is “the power of God.”  Music, although it has power and charm is never spoken of in the Bible as the “power of God”.  Verse twenty of chapter one of I Corinthians says, “Where is the wise [sophos 4680]? Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer [suzetetes 4804] of this world [aion 165]?  Hath not God made foolish [moraino 3471] the wisdom [sophia 4678] of this world [kosmos 2889]?

            The sophists were ancient Greek philosophers notorious for their specious arguments. To many their arguments sounded logical and correct but they often were far from being correct.  The disputers were philosophers who were debaters involved in controversial discussions.  Paul declared here that God has shown how insipid their arguments were.  The arguments of the sophists were, as verse twenty tells us, based on the wisdom of the aion or the present system of the age.  It was wisdom based on the matrix of Satan.

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Dear Lord I confess that sometimes I get so involved in the acts of musical worship that I fail to worship You.  Help me to not only sing songs of worship but also sing in spirit and in truth.  I am asking You to help me to take time to be holy and to take time to abide in Your presence today.  Help me to practice Your presence throughout this day.  This I ask in Your worthy and wonderful name.  Amen 

Song for the Day  Take Time to Be Holy  by.William C Longstaff

Thought for the Day

Worshiping God is a way of life instead of being something that one does for an hour or two on Sunday morning.

Worshiping in Spirit and Truth

Worshiping in Spirit and Truth

John  4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”  The post-modern church has a fundamental misconception of what worship really is.   It is not about a guy on the platform playing a pipe organ so big you have to wear a crash helmet to get down off the bench.   It is certainly not about some bloke down on the floor wearing sandals and a Jesus t-shirt playing his guitar or banjo, or six Barbie Dolls with microphones singing in front of the congregation.

            Nick Page, in his book And Now Let’s Move into a Time of Nonsense, stated “worship has become an event, an occasion, isolated and distinct from the rest of our life and from our real walk with God…Real worship stems from a conscious decision to live our lives in God’s way” (pp 26-27). Worship is not about singing, or preaching, or testifying, or taking an offering and it certainly is not about the long laundry list of announcements that are often made in the middle of the worship service.   Worship is about acknowledging who God is and what He has done and what He does. We worship because:

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

      I want to thank you LORD that many of my troubles do not come to “stay” but rather they merely “come to pass”.  LORD, forgive me for not trusting you.  You are big enough and wise enough to take care of my situation right now.  LORD please help me to trust you more.  You are able to keep the enemy of my soul from overcoming me.  Help me to be faithful exactly where you have placed me to minister musically to others.  This is my earnest prayer.  Amen.

Song for the Day God Will Take Care of You  by Civilla D. Martin

Thought for the Day

If you are a Christian musician who is always developing a conspiracy theory, you will find that your physical and spiritual energy will be drained most of the time. 

God Will Protect His Musicians

 God Will Protect His Musicians 

       I Samuel 24, “and it came to pass, when Saul was returned from the Philistines, that it was told him saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.”  In the 27th Psalm “…David said in his heart, I will now perish one day by the hand of Saul…”  In a time of trouble David became convinced that Saul was going to succeed in his quest to kill him.  So, what did David do?  He went down to Gath in the Land of the Philistines. David made friends with King Lachish and lived in Ziklag because he did not trust God.  The result was that Ziklag was burned to the ground and their wives and children were kidnapped while David was out fighting for king Lachish.

       If we are not careful we, as God’s ministers of music, will decide that someone is going to get us.  Like David, we will decide to give up and go live with the “Philistines”.  We will forget that God was able to protect David and He is also able to take care of us at our post of ministry.  God is able to even protect us from a wicked church boss.       Musician, look up, God is abundantly able to keep and protect you right where you are.  Hebrews 13:5b reminds us, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”  He can and will take care of you out there in “Smirgly Junction” where it seems like there is no one to help you.

       David went to Ziklag; Jonah ran from God’s call to Nineveh and got eaten by a big fish.  David thought and Jonah thought and it got them in trouble.  Quit thinking and start trusting.  If you have to think, think about God’s might, power, great love, and ability to keep and protect you.

 

Thought, Song, and Prayer for the Day

Thought for the day

King Saul sought out a Godly musician that could play beautiful music and play it skillfully to help him get out of his depressed state.  

Song for the Day He Keeps Me Singing by Luther B. Bridges

Prayer for the Day

Dear Jesus, You are the one who keeps me singing when I get depressed.  When I am weary, You give me strength.  Help me to remember that You are the only one who can put a melody in my heart.  I love you and I am thanking You in advance for what You are going to do in my life today.  I am laying my emotions at Your all-knowing feet.  I know that you can and will take care of me.  Help me to trust You right now !  These thoughts I am bring to You. Amen.

 

 

Musicians Are Sometimes Depressed

Musicians Are Sometimes Depressed

            I Samuel 16:17 states, “And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.”  When God allowed the evil spirit to trouble Saul, the king sought out a musician who could play skillfully and beautifully (nagan yatab—5059, 3190).  We know from this account that there was more involved in David’s playing mere performance.  David was able to minister to the king because he was a cunning player of the harp (lyre, kinnor 3658).

       Christian musicians who have had a long, broad, dedicated study of applied music are often prone to depression.  They often wonder, ”Why do I work so hard on perfecting my instrument, I’m not a professional concert musician?”  Every Christian musician should remember that one does not have to be a great musician to be a useful musician in God’s eyes. 

       Do not let Satan make you think that you are not “good enough” to be used of God.  Do not let the enemy of your soul depress and accuse you.  It is a fact that the longer you study music the more you will realize just how much you do not know about it.  However, you do not serve Jesus Christ with what you do not know but rather on what you do know.  Also, remember that the Lord did not say Well done thou talented and accomplished servant but rather well done thou good and faithful servant.

Song, Thought, and Prayer for the Day

Song for the day—“Love divine all Loves Excelling” by Charles Wesley

Thought for the day

If we really love God, we will act.  Real love is love in action.   If I see that you are hurt one of my grandchildren, I will take action because I really love them.  

Prayer for the Day

Dear Lord, I do not want my music ministry to be sound brass and clanging symbols.  I do not want my musicing unto You to be hollow like the Greek sounding vases.  I know that it will not sound right to You unless my inner life is pure and holy.  Please fill me today with your presence so that U may offer unto You an offering in righteousness.  This I am asking in Your all sufficient and wonderful name.  Amen.

 

Ministry that is Sounding Brass

Ministry that is Sounding Brass

I Corinthians 13:1 states, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and angles, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling symbol.”   The sounding brass (echo chalkos-- 2278, 5475) was no doubt referring to a series of hollow brass vases found in niches in Greek theaters.  They were tuned chromatically to amplify the actor’s and singer’s voices.  However these vases gave off an unnatural sound.   Likewise, the tinkling or clanging symbols (alalazo kumbalon—214, 2950) produced a clanging hollow sound.  So our musical ministry, unless it is bathed in prayer, humility, and agape love is of little effectiveness.

       The musician who makes the loudest noise is not necessarily the most spiritual or effective music minister.   Enthusiasm is no substitute for the dunamis of the spirit.  Likewise, the most astute performer or director does not always have the most efficacious music ministry.  Church musicians and worshipers in general want to be effectively led in worship.  However, one must not only lead with skill but also with spiritual passion.  With the power (dunamis) of the Holy Spirit, religious musicing becomes a hollow empty musical offering.

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day 

Lord, You are wonderful, merciful, wise and kind.  I want to thank You for sending watchmen to care for my soul.  Thank You that you have sent the blessed Holy Spirit to lead and guide me through this troubled world.  Please give me the wisdom to listen to Your trumpeter’s sound.  Please help me to purpose in my heart to obey the checks of the Spirit.  Help me to have a heart void of offence toward my God.  These petitions I am praying in God’s name.  Amen.

Song for the Day Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah by Thomas Hastings 

Thought for the Day

The shofar was an instrument of great strength.  God had the watchman play it so that all could be warned in times of danger.  The rebellious people did not take advantage of its warnings because they had purposed in their hearts not to listen.

 

 

 

 

 

Heeding the Trumpeter’s Warning

Heeding the Trumpeter’s Warning

            Jeremiah 6:17 “Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.”   God sets those over us who are able to watch over our souls.  In this verse, Jeremiah refers to the sounding of the trumpet (shofar 7782) to warn the people of impending danger.  The watchman entreated the people by saying, “Harken to the sound of the trumpet.”  All the people had to do was to listen to the trumpet and heed its warning.  However, they made conscious choice not to pay attention to its warning sound.

            What is your response to the warnings of “Gods trumpeter”?  Is his trumpeter sounding an alarm in your heart?  Are you aware of something in your life that needs adjustment?  Christian musicians need to remember that god sets the watchman in your path and causes His trumpeter to sound the alarm because He loves you and wants you to make it to heaven.  The Israelites told the prophet, “we will not harken”.  God   has placed “watchmen” over your life and His ministers and His Word are “sounding” His warnings as loving, caring acts of kindness toward you.  He is a loving father who cares for your soul. So, respond to the trumpeter’s call.

 

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.

 

Does the end justify the means when we music?

Does the End Justify the Means When We Music?

            There is a common twenty-first century praxis of religious music performance in which attention is placed paramountly on the performer’s “self”.  This may include the use of one’s body to draw attention to the performer.  Many male and female Christian performers use bodily movements, and even sensual innuendos to first draw the audience’s attention to the PERFORMER.

            This Jesuit music philosophy of "the end justifies the means" allows suggestive dress, suggestive bodily movements and the use of microphone techniques is such a way as to place the performer in the intimate zone of the audience.  Remember this pseudo Christian humanism not only allows the performer to draw audiences to “self” but also promotes the “lifting up” of self as first and foremost in Christian music making.  This philosophy promotes self first in order to present the Savior second.  Remember this philosophy of “the end justifies the means” allows almost anything if the end result is the presentation of the gospel.

 

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 skillful.”             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

Religious musical humanism is the erroneous notion that music and musicing is an autonomous human endeavor that is the human right of the Christian musician.

God Owns Music-part 3

God Owns Music-part 3
            For the last two days we have discussed the fact that God owns all music and all musicing. Yesterday we also discussed very briefly what it means to philosophically a religious musical humanist.  Today we are going to briefly discuss how Thomas Aquinas incomplete view of the fall has over the centuries has influenced Christian musicians to become humanistic and autonomous in their philosophical beliefs. After musicians become humanistic, like Thomas Aquinas, they followed a philosophical path in their musical pursuit that was independent from the Lordship of Christ.  (Remember that Aquinas believed that man was fallen in matters of grace but that he was not depraved when it came to matters of nature--which included music ipso facto.)  There is no aspect of Christian living or musical action that does not rightfully come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
            Colossians 1:18 teaches us that Christ is Lord of everything, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”  The English word preeminence is translated from proteuo (4409) which is derived from the Greek word protos (4413) which means before, in the beginning or foremost in importance.  Since “all things” includes all music and musicing, the Christian musician is required to make sure that God is given the preeminence in all musicing.