Thought for the day--To the Overseer

Thought for the day-To the Overseer

I believe that this Psalm was titled “To the Chief Musician” because church musicians sometimes have a tendency to think that a particular Scripture passage is for someone else.

To the Overseer on Neginoth

 

                                           To the Overseer on Neginoth

The Psalm 4 superscription states, A Psalm of David. ”To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.”

       God cared enough about musicians that He inspired the “Sweet Psalmist of Israel’ to write this lyric poem for them.  Here of some of the things the Psalmist mentions:

1.      The LORD keeps godly musicians for himself.

2.      The LORD hears when they call upon him.

3.      They are reminded to stand in awe of God.

4.      They are commanded not to sin.

5.      They are admonished to commune with God.

6.      They are reminded to slow down.

7.      They are told to offer the sacrifice of righteousness to God.

8.      They are admonished to put their trust in God.

9.      They are reminded that it is God who has put gladness in their hearts.

10.  They are comforted by the thought that they can sleep in peace since the  

LORD will keep them safe.

 

       Aren’t you glad that you are a musician?  These promises are wonderful reminders that God has given to His musicians.  I believe that God inspired the Psalmist to write them down because the LORD knew that musicians are so forgetful.  We often need to be reminded that God will take care of us.  We also need to be reminded that our musicing will not be spiritually efficacious if we dabble with sin.  We will also be less effective if we do not slow down and take time to be holy.  Musicians are normally self-starters and sometimes try to accomplish our ministry in our own strength.  Therefore, we must remember to trust God instead of our own charisma.  Finally, we must remember that God will hear us if we will take the time to commune with Him.

 

Thought for the day-All Musicing is Discussable

Thought for the day- All Musicing is Discussable

Christian musicians should remember that God does not have to prove that you cannot music anything unto Him.  The Holy Writ very clearly states that The Christian has the responsibility of “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”

 

Musicing is Discussable

All Musicing is Discussable

Ephesians 5:10 states, “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”

       Modern man and post-modern man have erroneously come to the conclusion that musical matters are non-discussable. The reason for this philosophical fallacy is that they believe that since music is part of the natural world, and therefore a part of man’s non-fallen natural autonomous ownership.

       The above mumbo-jumbo means simply that church musicians do not have to prove anything about “their” music to anyone.  Sadly enough they believe that church musicians also do not have to prove what is “acceptable unto the Lord” when it comes to music ministry philosophy.

       As a Christian church musician, you may believe with all your heart that you are autonomous when it comes to your musicing unto God, but when you face Him whose eyes are as a flame of fire, you will give an account of what, when, why and how you have musiced unto God.  Now you have the opportunity to make sure that your musicing unto God is acceptable unto Him. 

   The Greek word dokimazo (1381) rendered proving in the AV means to test or to examine.  There you must carefully examine what you are doing musically and exactly how you are musicing unto the Lord.  Make sure that your music ministry is well pleasing and fully acceptable unto our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It is always a wise decision to prove first and do second.

 

 

 

Prayer for the Day-Musicians are Called

Prayer for the day—Musicians are Called

Precious Lord please help me just now to believe your word!  Help me to believe the promises found in your Word.  Help me to trust you to take care of me in every situation of life.  Help me to believe that wherever I am and whatever I am experiencing in my musical journey with you, that you will without doubt take care of me.  Thank I you Lord for inviting me to be your musical servant.  Lord I know, on the authority of your Word, that you always take care of your musical servants.  These things I pray in your matchless and wonderful holy name.  Amen.

Musicians are Called

Musicians are Called

Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”

       The Greek word kletos (28220 translated called in this verse means “invited” or “appointed”.  Before you experience heartache, sorrow, or disappointment you, as His chief musician, need to remember that God has invited you to be HIS musical ministering servant.

       There is no such thing as luck or accident when it comes to being God’s musical servant.  As God’s chief musician, you have been divinely appointed to be the Lord’s servant.  You may “work” for a church, school or some musical organization, but you are ultimately working under the divine appointment or God.  When the tough times come—and they will come—you must remember that Christ has appointed you to share the good and the bad times with him.

   Do you know right at this moment that all things that you are experiencing will work together for good in your life?  Remember that God “is” and that He is awake!  He knows exactly what you are experiencing right now in your Christian walk with Him.

Thought for the Day-Write This Song

The best parents feed their children a balanced diet although they know that their children love sugar.  The true minister of music will include a musical diet of more than praise choruses because he or she desires spiritual growth which will include music about God’s love AND his justice.

Write This Song and Teach It

Write this Song and Teach It

Deuteronomy 31:22 states, “Moses there wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.”

       God knew that Israel was going to rebel against him.  He promised that he would be angry with them and that he would hide his face from them.  It is an awful thing for God to turn his back on the rebellious.  God will not let sin go unpunished forever because he is a just God.  We, as Christian musicians, can condone sin.  As true ministers of music’ our musicing must picture sin as ugly and awful.

       God still demands that our musicing should not only tell about his love, longsuffering and forgiveness, but also of his justice.  Romans 6:23 very clearly teaches us that “…the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Although it will not be easy, we must music of god’s judgment tempered with his love and forgiveness.

       Today you may be required to not only write a song of God’s justice but also deliver that song to the people who attend the church where you minister musically.  A true minister of music will tell the complete truth about the wages of sin.  Although it is much more pleasant to sing only of God’s love, God’s justice is also a necessary part of an honest, complete music ministry.

Prayer for this Blog in June

Prayer for this blog in June

Lord, please allow this Music philosophy blog to be a blessing during the month of June.  Please let this blog go around the world to places where I cannot go.  Help me as I prepare a post for each day to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  Only you know Lord who is out there ministering musically that needs a fresh anointing for musical ministry.  Help me to know which philosophical and devotional topics are important and will be a blessing.  Please anoint the blog and the blogger.  These things I ask in your name.  Amen.

Thank You for a Great Month of May

       Thank you for a great month of May.  The last month included some discussions of Music Philosophy in Christian Perspective but most of the posts were of a devotional nature.  These posts were often concerned with the spiritual life of the Christian musician.  It is my prayer that these posts have stimulated your thinking. 

       Since we began on January 2 we have received a total of over 9,466 page views with 1,427 page views in May.  The page views have come from 47 different countries.  These views have come from Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Croatia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand,  Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the USA.  New countries added in the month of May were Argentina, Hong Kong, Latvia, Nigeria, Oman, and Turkey.  The top ten countries with page views were USA, Russia, United Kingdom, Germany, Malaysia, France, Ukraine, China, Philippines, and Argentina. Please pray with me that God will allow this Music Philosophy Blog to continue go places where I will never have the opportunity to minister musically.

       Again I want to thank all you busy pastors and musicians who have taken the time in the month of May to view my music philosophy blog.  Please continue to pray that God will guide each post and allow it to reach those who need encouragement to keep ministering for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

       The main reason that I started this Music Philosophy blog is that although there is much music philosophy information on the net, not very much of it is from a biblical perspective.  Please share the blog address with your friends.   If you have an area of music or fine arts philosophy that troubles you, please feel free to let me know and I will include it in our discussions.  My email address is Garenlwolf@gmail.com