Thought for the Day.

Thought for the Day. 

One of the ways that Christian musicians are swept into philosophical error is by believing that it is not possible to develop a Bible based music philosophy.

 

Are There Any Absolutes?—part 2

Are There Any Absolutes?—part 2

            Philosophy has been historically a pursuit of the systematized principles that give a wisdom that reveals truth and a unified filed of knowledge based on truth and error or thesis and antithesis.  Somewhere in the early 20th century many philosophers began to give up hope in a unified filed of knowledge based on thesis (right) or antithesis (wrong).  They began to believe the philosophy of Georg Wilhelm Frederick Hegel (1770-1831).  Hegel believed that every idea belonged to an all-embracing mind in which every idea (thesis) elicited its opposite (antithesis) and the result of these two was a unified whole which he called synthesis.  His “unified” whole was epistemologically different since it derived “knowing” from a new synthesis thesis.  This “knowing” brought about a new truth that was always found somewhere between truth and error.

            Before Hegelian synthesis thought, the Scripture in I John 2:15, “Love not the world”, meant just that, don’t love the world or become controlled by the system of “this present age”.  After acceptance of Hegelian synthesis thought, it became acceptable to be a worldly Christian.  Those who accepted this viewpoint no longer believed the Bible when it said that if you loved the world, the love of the father was not in you.  Under this autonomous philosophy you could love the world and the Lord at the same time.  So, the synthesis thinking church musicians, who were in many instances, graduates of Christian colleges and seminaries began to think that if it was okay to love the world system then it was okay to love the world’s music.  Philosophically they believed that the answer could no more be based on good music and bad music, God’s music and the Satan’s music, or in appropriate or inappropriate music.  They believed that all styles were equal and that the musical answer must be somewhere between truth and error.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

If a Christian musician’s music is to be Christocentric, it must be congruent with God’s Word and Bible principles of musicing.

 

Are There Any Absolutes?—part 1

Are There Any Absolutes?—part 1

            I am deeply indebted to the work of Francis Schaffer for opening to me a very clear basic understanding of how philosophical thought has shaped the thinking of modern and postmodern Christians.  After reading his Escape from Reason and The God Who is There as well as other of his great works, it became clear to me how many Christian musicians came to believe that there are no absolutes in music.

            For centuries philosophers believed that it was possible for all thought to come under a unified filed of knowledge.  They often fought bitterly over just what that unified field of knowledge included.  Although philosophers did not agree on the content of that unified knowledge, they did agree that philosophical endeavor could and should bring about a philosophy of hope to the world.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

If the spiritual subject matter is very profound, then it needs a profound musical vehicle to undergird its profundity.

Quality Music Often Becomes a Quality Spiritual Vehicle

Quality Music Often Becomes a Quality Spiritual Vehicle

            If Christian musicians avoid all of the more intricate and developed sacred music, they run the risk of not supporting the majesty, glory, and honor of our awesome triune God with music that is more capable of representing these great spiritual themes of the Bible.  Sometimes Christian musicians seem to forget why some musical works are referred to as sacred classics. A classic is by definition a work of art with recognized and established value; in this case it is an artistic musical work that has proven itself over time to be a quality vehicle for the sacred content that it embodies.  A musical work of this nature is a more intricate and often a more complicated working out of the formal properties and structure of the music.  These sacred classics have the capacity to deliver more designated and embodied meaning than a work of less musical stature.     

              One of the concepts that I am stressing is that the greater the working out of the music the greater the payoff in aesthetic value.  Also the greater one understands the import of the embodied meaning of this music, the greater will be the understanding that the performer and the auditor receives.  This conclusion is gathered from understanding that all quality music has a greater amount of understandable embodied meaning in the music and designated (referential) meaning which is given to the music from outside of the formal properties of the music itself than the more simple vehicles does.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

            1Kings 19:18 God said to Elijah, “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him”.  Sometimes Christian musicians get discouraged and believe that they are the only Christian musician left that has not bowed a knee to the false gods of this world.  If this explains your state of mind, remember that if YHVH could keep seven thousands of his servants in Elijah’s lifetime, He can keep his servants unspotted by the world in the 21^st. century.

 

 

 

Under the Juniper Tree

Under the Juniper Tree  

            I Kings 19:5-7, “As he lay and slept under the juniper, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.  And he looked, and behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruise of water at his head.  And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.  And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.” 

            You may be in a situation that is somewhat analogous to the one recorded here in I Kings.  You may be depressed and feel that Jezebel and Ahab are after you again!  Perhaps you are simply exhausted physically and emotionally.  You may be so depressed—musicians get that way at times—that you do not know how to get up and get going again.

            How did Elijah get out of the pit of despair?    He did four things. He listened to the angel of the LORD, he slept, he ate and he drank lots of water.  Now those things seem too simple to work don’t they?   Elijah had just gone through a very strenuous time, so he went a day’s journey away from the source of his anxiety where he could really rest.

            Think of it, an angel of the LORD came to minister to him.  All the angel did was peck Elijah on the shoulder gently after he had taken a good nap, and tell him to eat and drink.  The angel did not give him any other advice or do anything dramatic.  God loved his servant enough to send an angel to give Elijah some simple advice that Elijah would have figured out on his own if he had not been so exhausted and depressed.

             Chief musician, perhaps the reason you are in trouble emotionally is because you need to get away from where you minister (about a day’s journey) and sleep, eat, and drink water (not diet pop).  Now does this advice seem too difficult to manage? 

 

Scriptures for the Day

Scriptures for the Day

Ephesians 2:20, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”

 1Peter 2:6, “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.”

 

Singing about Our Chief Corner Stone

Singing about Our Chief Corner Stone
            My Son in law sent me the quote below by pastor Jim Cymbala the other day and I have been thinking about it ever since.  It is one thing to sing about Christ but it is totally another to have a personal relationship with the Christ about whom you are singing!  We as Christian musicians need to be sure that when we sing the gospel we are worshiping Christ rather than the gospel music.  A Christian should never sing or play sacred music for his or her aggrandizement.  As you will see when you read the quotation below, pastor Cymbala got it right when he said, “Sadly, some people use gospel music as a platform to go higher in their field…”  Gospel music should never be used by a musician as a stepping stone.  The gospel message should never be a stone to step upon because it is the message of our Chief “corner stone” Christ Jesus. 

Quote for the Day           

         "Gospel music has become very popular in recent years. Unfortunately, there are people involved in gospel music today who have no acquaintance with the gospel itself. The truth is that without the good news of Jesus Christ, there is no hope, no matter how much money a person may have earned in the music industry and how well they are known. Without Jesus there is no joy and no peace. The world testifies to that every day. So many celebrities have all the things this world has ...to offer, yet they have to stay drugged up to keep going. When you have Jesus, you don’t need escapism, because you can give your burdens to him and have hope not just for the here and now, but for eternal life.

            Sadly, some people use gospel music as a platform to go higher in their field; but you can’t go higher than the gospel! There are songwriters who try to write lyrics for gospel songs that are general enough to cross over into mainstream music, and so the gospel message is watered down. Whether we sing gospel music, or listen to it, we need to be a partaker in what we’re singing about. The next time you’re singing a gospel tune, whether the song sings the Lord’s praises or tells about the attributes of God and what he’s done in a person’s life, or shares the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, think of the words you are singing – or writing – and let them come from a heart of gratitude for all that he has done!" ~ Pastor Jim Cymbala

Quotes for the Day

Quotes for the Day 

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.

 Romans 6:16, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

1Peter 2:5, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ..”

 

 

 

Non-believers Do Not Teach Faith-based—part 2

Non-believers Do Not Teach Faith-based—part 2

 We cannot trust public education to produce Christ-centered musicians who have a Christocentric music philosophy.  Christians never should have trusted the world to formulate music philosophy for Christian young people.  It has always been the responsibility of Christians to train their own. Although many Christian parents have ignored it, the world has never been a friend of grace.  Could you imagine the ancient Hebrews calling in the Philistines to train their Levite sons?  The 20^th century church did just that--they called in the worldly musicians who outwardly profaned the name of Christ to train church musicians.  The result was generation after generation of Christian musicians filled with Philistine philosophy. 

One thing for sure, public education will not directly teach the next generation of church musicians wrong things about God because they are not allowed to teach God in their music knowledge.  Although federal law in the United States has mandated that public education can no longer retain God in our educational knowledge, the fact that they will not directly teach false concepts of God does not indicate that no “God-education” will take place in public schools and universities.  By eliminating God as the Creator and Lord of music education, public education relays strong false messages about the nature and value of music to our young people.  Public education can no longer recognize God in the development of a philosophical basis for music education.  As a matter of fact, teaching God as the basis of all philosophical thought is forbidden.  The only safe path in public education is to omit the authority of God in any philosophical discussion of music.  In public education, no sacred music concerts are legal and the sacred classics may only be taught or performed as music literature.  It is often mandated that there be no Christmas or Easter concerts or any concerts that use sacred music for any religious purposes.  The only time that it is totally legal to mention God in the music classroom is when the music instructor stubs his toe on the desk leg. 

 

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.”

 

Non-believers Do Not Teach Faith-based—part 1

Non-believers Do Not Teach Faith-based—part 1

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.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Triumphing over the many hard trials of this life is accomplished by prayer and self-denial which help to keep the way clear between a musician’s soul and the Savior.

 

Keeping the Musician’s Conscience Clear

Keeping the Musician’s Conscience Clear

Nothing Between  by Charles A. Tindley, 1905 

Nothing between my soul and my Savior,

Naught of this world’s delusive dream;

I have renounced all this world’s delusive dream;

Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.

Refrain:

Nothing between my soul and my Savior,

So that His blessed face may be seen;

Nothing preventing the least of His favor;

Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

Nothing between, like worldly pleasure;

Habits of life, though harmless they seem,

Must not my heart from Him ever sever;

He is my all, there’s nothing between.

Nothing between, like pride or station;

Self or friends shall not intervene;

Though it may cost me much tribulation,

I am resolved, there’s nothing between.

Nothing between, e’en many hard trials,

Though the whole world against me convene;

Watching with prayer and much self-denial,

I’ll triumph at last, there’s nothing between.

            I know that talking or singing about the Christian musician’s conscious being free from any action or offence toward God will not make me popular.  However, this topic needs to be discussed.  The older I get the more I am aware that I am not going to live forever!  As a matter of fact I have lived long enough to experience my friends and professional acquaintances leave this present world suddenly.  What would make me believe that I will have time to make things right with God if I live with the consciousness that I continuously live with condemnation because I continuously do things that I know are an offence to my Savior.

            Although I am aware that no one is perfect, but I also know that James 4:17 teaches, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”  Also, Romans 6:1 asks the important question, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”  It seems to me that the bible is clear that a Christian musician cannot live or continue in sin.  

            This song mentions several things that can bring a breach between a Christian’s soul and the Savior.  They include: this world’s delusive dream, worldly pleasure, habits of life, pride or station,  and self or friends.  Although the things mentioned in the list  above are capable of bringing condemnation upon the soul of the Christian the librettist reminds the Christian that, “Though the whole world against me convene; Watching with prayer and much self-denial, I’ll triumph at last, there’s nothing between.”  The answer is, according to the writer, prayer and self-denial. 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

If Jesus is going to be “all the world” to me, I must do everything that I am capable of doing to be His friend.  Being a friend of Jesus requires much more than merely singing a hymn about being His fiend.

Jesus Is All the World to Me

Jesus Is All the World to Me

By Will L. Thompson, 1847-1909 

1. Jesus is all the world to me,

My life, my joy, my all;

He is my strength from day to day,

Without him I would fall.

No other one can cheer me so;

When I am sad, he makes me glad,

He’s my friend. 

2. Jesus is all the world to me,

My friend in trials sore;

I go to him for blessings, and

He gives them o'er and o'er

He sends the sunshine and the rain,

He sends the harvest's golden grain;

Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain,

He’s my friend. 

3. Jesus is all the world to me,

And true to him I'll be;

O how could I this friend deny,

When he's so true to me?

Following him I know I'm right,

He watches o'er me day and night;

Following him by day and night,

He’s my friend. 

4. Jesus is all the world to me,

I want no better friend;

I trust him now, I'll trust him when

Life’s fleeting days shall end.

Beautiful life with such a friend,

Beautiful life that has no end;

Eternal life, eternal joy,

He’s my friend.

            We sing about Jesus being “all the world” to us but unless He is it is just so much rhetoric.  Knowing Jesus is always about relationship.  If Jesus is going to help us in the time of need, we must stay close enough to Him to Hear His voice.  Also in order to be able to honestly sing “I trust him now” we must develop a relationship that will make Him our best friend.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Writing your music philosophy and making it available to those to whom you minister may not make you popular, but it is the right thing to do!

Is A Written Music Philosophy Important?

Is A Written Music Philosophy Important?

             I am surprised that there are so few Christian musicians who are publishing material on church music and music education philosophy.  I am thankful to those individual Christian musicians, churches, Christian schools, Christian Colleges and Universities, who have committed their philosophy to pen and ink.  In such cases their philosophy is often a well-developed series of systematic statements (beliefs) concerning the nature and value of the whole of music that serves as a basis for that person’s or organization’s direction in music.  Many of these well thought out philosophy of music ministry and or music education have proven adequate to serve as an everyday guide for all their music action.  At the personal level, these well thought out congruent Bible based music philosophies have served serve as a concomitant of these Christian musicians’ whole life philosophy.

              It is unfortunate that so many Christian musicians have never taken the time to write out their music philosophy.  The result is often a philosophy that is in practice haphazard or at least a homespun way of “doing”.  As I mentioned earlier, some Christian musicians whom I have met in my travels over the past thirty years deny that they even need a written music philosophy.  They often hide behind the excuse that they are not trained music philosophers or that they have never even had the opportunity to study music philosophy.  What they don’t know is that everyone has a philosophy of music.  Even in the smallest of communities there is often a barbershop or a feed store with some chairs for philosophers.  Just bring up the subject of music and these grass-roots philosophers, who may not know the names of the lines and space, will tell you exactly what is right and wrong with music today.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

What a Christian musician believes about music matters. Also, what he or she believes about God is reflected in what a Christian musician’s music philosophy.

I Believe--Reprise

I Believe--Reprise

I believe that the more than 600 references to music in the Bible are given by inspiration of God and are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction today.  The Bible provides us with timeless, relevant, usable, practical and spiritual guidance in the twenty-first century.  I believe that the only completely safe teacher of church music philosophy is the Holy Spirit, who is capable and willing to guide us into all truth concerning music ministry and music education in this century.

 I believe that there are absolutes concerning music ministry.  I believe in profundity, appropriateness and standards of correctness in church music and music education.  I believe that Church Music Matters and that church music matters to God.  I believe that although there is room for taste in church music, it is not all a matter of personal taste.  I believe God created music, and he thought it into being.  I believe that since God thinks about music, we should study His Word to ascertain what He thinks about music.

 I believe that good causes in music may be served.  I believe that even though we as Christians live in this present evil world, we are not of this present world.  I believe that in this century conservative Spirit-filled musicians can effect positive changes in church music and music education.  I believe that churches, Christian schools and Bible colleges who have a Chistocentric music philosophy can and should catechize the next generation of Christian Musicians.

Prayer, Song, and thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Lord please help me to store up your word in my heart.  Help me to guard my heart and not store anything there that will hinder my spiritual walk when I am called to go through the “nighttime” of life.  When I am troubled, help me to remember your precious promises that are stored in my mind.  I am asking you that “Your Song’ will lift me up spiritually and emotionally when the nighttime of life is surrounding me.  I am asking You that Your powerful song will defeat Satan when he comes in like a flood and tries to destroy me.  I know that Your song will be efficacious when I need it the most. I want to thank you Lord for caring enough for me to give me a song in the night.  These things I pray in your wonderful; name.  Amen.

Song for the Day—All Your Anxiety by Edward Henry Joy

Thought for the Day-- God will not always let us escape the night but He will always be our “song in the night”.

 

God's Night Song

God's Night Song

              Psalm 42:8 “Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”   In this psalm Jehovah has promised to enjoin His loving kindness to his children in the daytime of life.  However, our walk with God is not always a “daytime” walk.  Sometimes Christian musicians go through the “nighttime”.  There are times of misunderstanding, trial, persecution, sickness, financial hardship, and even depression.  These times require trusting God even when we do not understand why things are happening in our lives.

            Jehovah has promised that His song will be with us no matter how dark or discouraging life’s night may be.  If we are going to be able to call to remembrance god’s song in the time of trouble, we must hide “His song” in our hearts during the daytime of life.  So, we must be very careful to hide the right kinds of songs in our hearts when things are going well. We must be sure that the songs that we have hidden in our hearts will lift us up in the nighttime of trouble.  If we have hidden “his Song” in our hearts, we must ask God, when we are discouraged, depressed or misunderstood, to help us recall His Word that we have hidden in our hearts.   Remember that Psalm 119:11 states, “Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Lord I am asking You to help me to be the kind of Christian musician that will be able to minister to those who are in spiritual trouble.  Help to work on the musical areas in which I am weak.  Also please help me to keep honing my musical skills until you return or until You call me home to be with You.  These things I am praying in your strong name.  Amen.

Song for the Day “Your Love Compels Me” by Doug Holck

Thought for the Day

It is not how talented you are that matters; it is how you use your talent.

There is No Substitute for Musical Skill-Part 2

There is No Substitute for Musical Skill-Part 2

                I Samuel 16:23, “And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God [allowed by God] was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.”   David was very well prepared musically.  This scripture tells us that he nagan im yad (5059, 5973, 3027) i.e. he played with his open hand as opposed to playing with a pick in the closed hand.  It is believed that the kinnor (3658) was usually played with a pick bur David played with his fingers indicating that he could play skillfully.  Also, in I Samuel 16:18 states that one of Saul’s servants had seen David play the kinnor and reported that he was a cunning player (yada, 3045-nagan 5059). Nagan means to thrum with the fingers thus supporting the belief that David was a skillful player and yada connotes knowledgeable playing. 

            So with all of this in mind we can understand that one of the main reasons that David was given the opportunity to minister musically to King Saul was that David was prepared musically.  As I mentioned earlier in our discussion, God allows musicians to serve Him in as great a capacity as we are capable to do based on our musical preparation.  Therefore, we should plan for life-long continued music preparation in order for us to give Him the best that we are capable of giving musically.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

When I think of “open doors” which God opens for a Christian enter musically, I think of Revelation 3:8a, “I know thy works: I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it…”

There is no Substitute for Skill –Part 1

There is no Substitute for Skill –Part 1

            I Samuel 16:17, “And Saul said unto his servants, provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.”  King Saul had disobeyed until God had rejected him as king.  God then allowed an evil spirit to greatly trouble him.  Saul’s servants said in verse sixteen, “Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man who is a cunni9ng player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God [i.e. allowed by God] is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.”

       God opened a door of ministry to David because he was an accomplished musician.  Today god still opens doors of music ministry to those who have prepared musically to be “cunning players”.  The words cunning (yada 3045) and player (nagan 5059) mean that David was yada nagan i.e. accomplished or was aware of how to perform on his musical instrument.  God uses musician who have practiced until they have become skillfully aware on their instrument.  There is no substitute for a thorough broad study of music.  Those who apply themselves to musical study have greater doors of musical opportunity opened to them than those who struggle when they perform on their musical instrument.

Song, Thought, and Quote for the Day

Song for the Day One Pair of Hands by Carroll Roberson

Thought for the Day

Christians have the responsibility to train their own children and young people musically.  This responsibility should not be placed in the hands of musicians who do not love God and do not love sacred music and musicing.

Quote for the Day

1Chronicles 25:1a, “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…”

Training Our Own

Training Our Own

            1Chronicles 25:6, “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.”  Think of it, all these musical sons were under the hands of chief musicians who loved and served YHVH.  It is of little wonder that sacred music and musicing came to such a high point during this time in ancient Israel. 

            Temple music was without doubt very God honoring for a number of reasons.  First, these God fearing Temple musicians set about instructing the next generation of musicians ‘in the songs of the LORD” (1 Chronicles 25:7).    Second, the higher order of authority over the sacred music and musicing in the Temple sought out chief musicians who loved YHVH and loved sacred God honoring music.  Third, these musicians were willing to five of their time and talent to the task of training their own. 

            If we will follow this pattern of responsibility, there is much hope for the future of church music in his century.  As Christian musicians we must search our hearts to be sure that we truly love and serve Jesus Christ with all our hearts.  Second, those who are responsible for church administration must not run from the responsibility of selecting a music staff who are conservative and have a love for sacred music.  Third, we must take time to instruct our sons and daughters “in the songs of the LORD”.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

When a composer or arranger repeatedly avoids the use of the tonic, he or she obscures the finality which is necessary for the proper presentation of the gospel.

 

 

 

The Seven Note Creation-part 2

The Seven Note Creation-part 2 

       When we study the te'amim (which is the musical notation found above and below the texts of the entire Old Testament), we find that both the psalmodic and prosodic systems of notation have a tonic note.  (See chapter 8 of my book, Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective and The Music of the Bible Revealed. by Suzanne Haik-Vantoura, Berkley: Bibal Press, 1991.).  This tonic note is called "silluq".  This term means "end" and has the same function as the tonic note of our "modern" diatonic scale. God created and rested in seven days and God made a seven note scale with a resting note.  After the seventh day the sequence of days re-begins and after the seventh note the musical scale re-begins--all this is more than a coincidence!  It is the work of an omniscient creator.

       Outside of our knowledge of the te'amim, the Pentateuch is relatively silent as to the specifics of the beginnings of music.  However, we do know that God imparted musical knowledge to man before the flood.  Genesis 4:21 explains that Lamech’s son Jubal “was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ."  We also know that Adam was given domain over the erets (776) so he no doubt had wisdom concerning music. The more we learn about God’s seven note creation the more we are drawn to the conclusion that a God this wise is capable of guiding us in developing a unified Christocentric music philosophy in the twenty-first century.  Praise God!

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

The fact that the music of the Occident used a seven note scale made it amenable to correct organization that made much of it congruent with the purposes of public worship.

 

 

The Seven Note Creation-part 1

The Seven Note Creation-part 1 

        We have often discussed God's creation of the seven note musical scale.  Before God created man, He created, “the heaven and the earth.”  It is important that we understand the significance of God creating the mathematical ratios that make the seven note scale possible. The perfectness of the number seven is a part of Gods eternal laws. The world was brought into being and set in motion at the will of God in accordance to His laws.

        A part of these laws was the eternal concept of seven days ending with a Sabbath and a re-beginning on the eighth day.  God, without doubt, created music in the beginning to conform to these laws.  The eighth note of the musical scale is essentially the same as Sunday of the next week.  Sunday is the eighth day or the day of re-beginning of the same sequence just like the eighth note of the musical scale.  If you sing the diatonic major scale and stop on the seventh degree which is a leading tone in the major scale this tone demands resolution.  The note of resolution is the eighth degree of the major scale which is the same as the first degree i.e. the tonic.   The concept of seven degrees in a musical scale cannot be improved upon since the number seven is always the number of perfection in Scripture, and eight is the number of regeneration and re-beginning. 

 

 

Quote, Prayer, and Song for the Day

Quote for the Day

 1Timothy 6:5-6 “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.  But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Prayer for the Day

My precious Lord I want to be more like You.  Please help me to keep my priorities straight.  I know that the most important priority is being instead of doing.  I want to work for you, but I am aware that good works will not get me to Heaven.  I am also aware that although it takes money to live in this present world.  However, help me to not be too money conscious.  If I know my heart and mind, I want to have Your presence in my life much more than I want money.  These thoughts I am bringing to You Lord this morning.  Search my heart and direct my ways this day.  Amen.

Song for the Day  I’d Rather Have Jesus by Rhea F. Miller

 

Concentrate on Being Righteous

Concentrate on Being Righteous

            Proverbs28:5 -6, “Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.  Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.”  It is a strange thought to some Christian musicians that wicked men and women do not understand God’s judgment.  Because God does not exact judgment at the end of each day some musicians are duped by Satan into believing that sinners have it better in this life than Christians.  

            God’s Word attests to the fact that it is better to be righteous and poor than to be rich and perverse.  The reader should remember that I did not make this comparison but rather it was the inspired Word of God.  Rich people do not have to be perverse, but riches can buy many opportunities to experience perversion.  The Christian musician that does not possess much of this world’s goods should be advised of two things.  First, the righteous should concentrate on being righteous and second, should not fret over those who are perverse and also possibly rich.  The Christians responsibility is to walk carefully before God and his or her fellow man.  God will bring judgment on the wicked whether or not they understand that He will. “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2Timothy 2:19)

 

Quote, Prayer, and Song for the Day

Quote for the Day

Jeremiah 31:7, “For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.”

Prayer for the Day

Since Your Word declares that we should “Sing with gladness”, I am asking You Lord to help me to always music unto You with great joy. Help me to have an inner heart life that exudes joy and gladness.  I am reminded that we are commanded to shout your praises with great acclamation.  Help me to have so much joy on the inside that it will have to come out with a great shout of joy and gladness, This I am praying in Your worthy name.  Amen.                                          

Song for the Day-- Joyful, Joyful. We Adore Thee by Horatius Bonar

 

 

Singing with Glee

Singing with Glee

            Genesis 1:31, “And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”  Revelation 22:13, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”  In the beginning God was the creator of everything.  We know this because St. John 1:3 explains that, “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”

            Psalm 100:3 tells us very clearly that we are a part of that creation when it states, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”  In gratitude Christin musicians “Serve the LORD with gladness: [and] come before his presence with singing.”  (Psalm 100:2)   It is possible for a musician to music unto God and fail to do so with gladness.  Therefore, we as Christian musicians must be very careful about our attitudes when we music unto Him.  Gladness is an attitude of the mind that becomes an attitude of the Christian’s heart.

             Simchah (8057) which is translated gladness here in the AV means mirth, pleasure, rejoicing, or with exceeding gladness.  I believe that it is proper to call a choir of singing Christians a glee club.  Rather than sing with solemnness and a long sad face, Christians should sing with blithesomeness and glee.  Strictly speaking the term glee means singing short songs i.e.--glees.  Christian’s, who realize that God is alpha and omega, have the right and responsibility to sing with great delight i.e.--glee.

 

Song, Quote and Prayer for the Day

Song for the Day—I’d Rather Have Jesus by Rhea F. Miller

Quote for the Day

 1Timothy 6:5-6, “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.  But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Prayer for the Day

My precious Lord I want to thank You for caring for me.  You have made me rich in righteousness.  Somehow in Your love and mercy you have provided me with a robe of righteousness.  You have given me love and the wisdom to seek Your face.  Thank you for teaching me to fear sin and unrighteousness.  As your word says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)  Lord I love You and want Your approval upon my life.  I count Your wisdom to be great gain.  Thank You for loving me so much.  This I pray in Your wise and wonderful name.  Amen.

Concentrate on Being Righteous

Concentrate on Being Righteous

Proverbs28:5 -6, “Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.  Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.”  It is a strange thought to some Christian musicians that wicked men and women do not understand God’s judgment.  Because God does not exact judgment at the end of each day some musicians are duped by Satan into believing that sinners have it better in this life than Christians. 

            God’s Word attests to the fact that it is better to be righteous and poor than to be rich and perverse.  The reader should remember that I did not make this comparison but rather it was the inspired Word of God.  Rich people do not have to be perverse, but riches can buy many opportunities to experience perversion.  The Christian musician that does not possess much of this world’s goods should be advised of two things.  First, the righteous should concentrate on being righteous and second, should not fret over those who are perverse and also possibly rich.  The Christians responsibility is to walk carefully before God and his or her fellow man.  God will bring judgment on the wicked whether or not they understand that He will.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Proverbs 23:7a tells us, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he”   Wolf says, as a child musics over and over again, so will he or she be when that person is an adult.”