The Song of Fools

 

The Song of Fools 

Ecclesiastes 7:5 states, “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.”  Church musicians sometimes get a little worried that their musicing unto God is too serious, because all of us want people to like our music ministry.  What did the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes mean by “the song of fools (shiyr kaciyl 7892 3684)”?  Was he suggesting that the content of the song is foolish or that those who are singing the songs are actually fools?  He probably meant “all of the above”. 

       Never be afraid of the seriousness of the musical message of Christ crucified.  The awesome depth and true truth of this message is the very thing that makes it worthwhile.  The message of Christ being obedient to the will of His Father: which included being reviled, rebuked, rejected, misunderstood, abused, and tortured physically and mentally is a very solemn and worthwhile message.  Never be ashamed of the awesome and solemn truth about Christ’s suffering and death which we sing about in God’s house. The Christian musician should never “water it down” or fail to sing about the precious blood that Christ shed for the sins of the whole world.

       Although the message of His suffering and death is a very solemn message, there is another side to this musical coin.  Turn it over and you will see victory through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You will see the joy of the debt of sin being paid by His suffering and death and resurrection.  You will also see that we can have a clean and pure heart through the efficacy of His precious blood that was shed on Calvary.  (See Acts 29:28, Hebrews 9:12, 13:12 and Revelation 1:5.)  You will further see freedom from the guilt of sin.  You will also see the joy of having a relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in this life and in the life to come.  Sing and play and tell through your musicing, not only the suffering and death of our Savior, but also of the fact that He was victorious over sin, death, hell and the grave.

 The message of the “song of fools” is very different because it is mostly an empty social gospel.  The gospel message of Christ crucified is far better than the foolish, light, chaffy, religious music that contains little of any eternal value. Church musicians that are still musicing the whole gospel should not allow themselves to be intimidated.  The true truth of the deep message of Christ crucified, buried, and risen again and seated on the right of the Father praying for us all is exactly what this post-postmodern world needs to hear.