Today's Reading: 2 Samuel 6

 

Can You Feel The Music?

Listen! Can you hear the music? David and all the house of Israel are rejoicing with songs of celebration. The musical instruments are playing, the choir is leading and the people are ringing out with songs of celebration before the Lord. It is a happy and melodic moment.

They have a lot to celebrate. David has just been inaugurated as Israel’s new king and the Ark of the Covenant has just been re-captured from the Phillistines. The crowds are returning to Jerusalem with great excitement and joy.

The distinctly Hebrew music can be heard for miles. Singing, dancing, and praising the Lord. Some of the instruments being played are mentioned in verse 5: the lyre (a stringed instrument like a small U-shaped harp with strings fixed to a crossbar); the harp (most likely a small lyre-shaped musical instrument held between the teeth and struck with a finger); the tambourines (also called “timbrel” – a percussion instrument resembling a shallow drum with small metal disks in slots around the edge), castanets (a long handled instrument with metal rings at the end); and cymbals (two metal plates attached to each hand of and struck together to produce a great noise). Can you hear it? Can you feel it? Oh, what joy!

If we were able to step into the Old Testament period, we would find a culture filled with music, where people used music in their daily lives. Both the Old and New Testaments address music and strongly support its use in worship. The extensive collection of actual songs found in the Old Testament indicates the importance and value God places on creative musical expression. Music’s use in worship in the church today is valuable and can honor God in a special way.

God's people have always used music to express their innermost feelings of praise for our God and Father. In Ephesians 5:18-19, we are encouraged to incorporate music into our relationship with God, “Be filled with the Spirit. Sing the words and tunes of the psalms and hymns when you are together, and go on singing and chanting to the Lord in your hearts.”  The Bible never says, let those who have beautiful voices sing, as if natural talent were required to praise God. The Bible just says “Sing!” Over and over, dozens of times, we are commanded to sing: sing to the Lord, sing praises, sing joyfully, sing a new song. Come into God’s presence with singing. Do it now.