Soli Deo Gloria -part 2

 

Soli Deo Gloria -part 2

I am concerned that Christians are moving away philosophically from this important concept.  In the twenty first century many times God has to share the glory of music with Christian musicians.  Isaiah 48:11 records God’s words,  “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.”  Isaiah 42:8 warns against giving glory and praise to anything or anyone but God, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

The passage of Scripture in the forty second chapter of Isaiah very carefully explains in verses ten through twelve that we are to give God the praise when we sing sacred music.  “Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.  Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.”

The intent of the musician whose heart is sold out to Christ should be, “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.” Psalm 115:1.   God deserves all the glory and all the praise every time we bring him a musical offering.  Philosophically it is *repugnant to supposedly bring the great God who spoke worlds into existence a musical offering and then receive all the honor and praise while an audience bestows lavish honor on the performer.