WorshipCentral

The Power of Music

Did you know that most toilets flush in the key of Eb? Did you know the world’s best selling instrument is the harmonica? I was reading recently that in 1970, the band, Pink Floyd, played an outdoor concert at London’s Crystal Palace Bowl. The music was so loud that it killed most of the fish in the lake in front of the natural amphitheatre’s stage! Music is amazing. We could all bring to mind a song that has, at one time or another, moved us very deeply. Whether it’s the heart breaking, ‘Dry your eyes mate,’ or the heart warming, ‘Beautiful Day;’ music connects. Music also has great power. It can cause devastating destruction and is often associated with sex, drugs and violence. However it can also be used for great good. The great German reformer, Martin Luther once said,

“Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. She is a mistress and governess of those human emotions which control men or more often overtake them. Whether you wish to comfort the sad, to subdue frivolity, to encourage the despairing, to humble the proud, to calm the passionate or to appease those full of hate...what more affective means of music could you find.”

Music can comfort, encourage, sustain, calm, heal, convict, renew and inspire. It’s a beautiful God given gift. Sadly though, sometimes in the Church we’ve been afraid of it. Afraid of manipulation and hype. Afraid of misusing it. We have at times watered it down and settled for mediocrity. It seems that it is the world that sets the standard for great music. The Church always seems to be a few years behind. William Booth famously once said, “Why should the devil have all the good music?” Music was God’s idea. He’s passionate about it. It’s a special part of God’s blessing to the world. In Revelation we see a picture of the fall of Babylon. Here John sees a mighty angel picking up a large boulder and throwing it into the sea. The angel then speaks, “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again. The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again.” (Rev 18:21-22). In this severe judgement what is one of the most devastating consequences? A lack of music. Clearly God knows it’s a wonderful blessing. Humans would be the poorer if it were to be silenced.

I want to briefly look at some biblical texts involving music.

1. The song of creation

When the Lord speaks to Job about the creation, he asks, “Where were you...while the morning stars sang together.” (Job 38:7) At the very begining of time the morning stars joined together in song to praise their maker. In Isaiah we catch another picture of creation in song. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and the trees off the field will clap there hands.” (Isaiah 55:12) God is so glorious and breath-takingly beautiful that creation explodes into song. The creator of the Universe has designed His creation to be able to respond through song.

2. The song of Heaven

In Revelation we are invited in to glimpse at the worship of heaven. Again here we see the important role of music. The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders each had a harp and sang together, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain...” (Rev 5:8-9) Then we tune in to the sound of thousands upon thousands, ten thousand times ten thousand angels (that’s a lot of angels!) singing, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain.” (Rev 5:11-12) After that every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is within them sing, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.” (Rev 5:13) Heven is alive with song. Speaking about Revelation 4 and 5, Christina Rosetti says, “Heaven is revealed to earth as the homeland of music.” Worship is much more than just music and song, but clearly music is an important part of our worshipful response to God.

3. The song of the Father

“The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zeph 3:17) What a song that must be. Our Heavenly Father, singing over us. That is a song I would love to hear more clearly. A song of healing. A song of love. A song of hope. God is so passionate about us, that He rejoices in song. Music is part of God’s plan.

4. The song of His children

There are many pictures in the bible of God’s children worshipping through song. The Psalms are full of such responses. In Psalm 33:3 we are commanded to, “Sing to Him a new song; play skilfully, and shout for joy.” In fact in forty-one Psalms we are encouraged to sing to the Lord. In Ephesians, Paul speaking to the church of Ephesus says, “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord…” (Eph 5:19) As God’s people it’s important to be a singing people. It’s one of the ways we can express our devotion for Him. Finally, I love the story of the dedication of the Solomon’s temple. The work was complete. Everyone was gathered for this wonderful occasion.

“All the Levites who were musicians-Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives-stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang, "He is good; his love endures forever." Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God.”

As the musicians played and the song rang out, the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud. No one could continue to perform because the glory of the Lord had filled the temple. During this amazing moment of encounter, music played a significant role. However what was the most memorable aspect of this story? The key here wasn’t the music. It wasn’t the singing of great songs. It was the glory of the Lord. Music is a precious gift to us from God. It’s a way of expressing our worship. We must embrace it and desire to be the best musicians, singers and songwriters that we can be. We must do it though for the glory of God.