THE MAJESTY OF MUSIC

Praise the LORD!

Sing to the LORD a new song,

And His praise in the assembly of saints.  (Psalms 149:1)

People are passionate about their music preference.  That is primarily a generational matter—our age often dictates the style of music desired.  The form of our worship whether expressive or reserved is primarily an emotional matter—it has to do with the way we are wired up personally.  But, in all this discussion of styles and sounds, the most important thing isn’t the way we worship but who we worship; not our method but our motive.  Worship isn’t primarily about you or any other human being—it is about God!  

In God’s hymnal—the Psalms—we find them building to a crescendo of worship (149:1-3).  The hymn book of Israel closes with a great summation of the nature of worship and a summons to utilize sacred melodies in that most holy activity.  The repeated call is to praise the LORD.  We can shout His praises, speak His praises, but the emphasis here is on singing them.  We use the medium of our voice!  There is nothing wrong with the old songs and traditional music.  How much sound doctrine I have learned from those old hymns written by men and women with hearts hot for God and heads filled with biblical theology. Tried and true, we should never abandon them.  But, there was a time when they were contemporary music!  The church in ages gone by often resisted them and rejected them as worldly.  What do you do with phrases like this, “Sing to the LORD a new song”?  That’s contemporary music!  

Blessing God is the focus, but receiving a blessing is a fruit.  Though what we receive is secondary, it is real nonetheless (Ps.149:4-5).  “He will beautify the humble with salvation.”  That’s personal blessing.  Music has a power to touch us at the very core of our being—that’s why we are so passionate about it.  Music can cultivate the soil of the sinner to receive the message.  It can encourage a weary saint and bring them joy. 

The text is primary and the tune is secondary (149:6-9).  The melody of a song is subordinate to the message.  If a song isn’t Scriptural, it isn’t sacred!  Now, let me see if I can upset almost everyone!  I have heard songs set to shaped notes, sung with great enthusiasm in four-part harmony that did not have a thimbleful of Gospel about them.  I have heard choruses set to pulsing rhythms, sung with great emotion that could just as well have been sung to your boyfriend or girlfriend as to God!  What honors God is His Word!  He says that He has magnified His Word above His name (Ps.138:2).  If the words are Scriptural, whether they are accompanied by an organ or an orchestra, whether sounding like Bill Gaither or Bach—you can even rap it like Lecrae—it’s OK!  We all have our preference and God prefers spirit and truth—His Word is truth! 

You can worship God anywhere and you should (150:1).  The psalmist mentions the firmament—the vast expanse of heaven.  There is just something that moves us in the majesty of creation—a sacred tabernacle.  But, usually that is private and personal worship.  For corporate worship there is a sacred gathering place!  You should worship God with every means and by all means (150:2-6)!  Music has such a power to move us!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD!  (150:6)

ABOVE THE STORM CLOUDS

Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s name written on their foreheads.  (Revelation 14:1)

I remember flying out of Charlotte’s airport in the rain.  Black clouds enveloped the plane.  Powerful engines strained to lift the massive metal jet into the sky.  You couldn’t see anything outside the cabin window—all was dark and ominous.  Then the plane burst through the clouds into brilliant sunshine.  What had been dark clouds overhead became a bed of cotton balls below—bright blue sky all around.  That is what happens when you come to the fourteenth chapter of Revelation.  The previous chapter has featured flashes of lighting and peals of thunder—the storm of God’s wrath having broken on a Christ-rejecting world.  It is a scene dark with demons.  Suddenly, we gain a new perspective as we are taken into heavenly sunlight.  Never forget that as a child of God—no matter the storms of the present—there is a brighter day coming!

Above the clouds we see the glory of heaven (v.1).  Here are the 144,000 Jews who have been preserved through the tribulation and are now safe in heaven.  Though they are the specific ones named, we would not be amiss to see them prefiguring all the elect of God, secure in glory.  They, however, are the supporting cast, for the star of the heavenly scene is the Lamb standing on Mount Zion.  The spotlight is on Him.  That heaven will be an incomparably beautiful place is evident from the Biblical depictions, but what makes heaven to be glorious is that the Lamb is there!  It is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world who paves the way for us to join Him.  It is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world that purges the wickedness that would bar us.  One day we will bow before those nail-scarred feet and join the heavenly hosts singing, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!”

God has given a birthmark to His children—the seal of the Holy Spirit—that brands us as belonging to Him and guarantees our safe passage into the City of God.  In the previous chapter, we have seen Satan has a “Beast-mark” for those who follow the Antichrist.  This is a seal which secures their doom—666.  The reality is that all of us identify with one group or the other.  If I am sealed by God my eternal destiny is settled.  There were 144,000 sealed on earth and there are not 143,999 seen in heaven—all are there and not one was lost!  When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there!

No wonder heaven will be a place of mirth and music (v.2-3).  A sacred symphony of praise will permeate the atmosphere.  Note that there will be the singing of new songs.  Some of us don’t like new songs.  Will we enjoy heaven then?  Maybe we better start singing some down here.  This is the song of the redeemed and salvation is something to sing about!

Heaven will be more than a happy place—it will be a holy place (v.4-5).  The celibacy of the 144,000 may be a literal, physical reality, but it portrays a real, spiritual condition also.  These have been morally pure and fully devoted to Christ.  They persevered because God purchased them.  Their testimony was true.  Cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, we will stand faultless and flawless before God—O glorious day!

THE POWER OF PRAISE

Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.  (2 Chronicles 20:22)

Last century brought two world wars, and there is reason for concern that a third may come in this century—and is building even now.  Be that as it may, one thing is certain—we are in an age-old spiritual conflict between God and Satan.  Both demand worship, and that is why worship involves warfare.  In 2 Chronicles 20 we observe this battle and discover God has given us a powerful weapon—praise!  This is how the Jews routed their foes and how we can live in victory as well.

We have a fierce FOE (v.1).  The Moabites and Ammonites were allies in arms—a real enemy attacking God’s people.  Our warfare is spiritual, but no less real.  Satan is ever seeking the worship only God deserves. This is how a beautiful angel became the devil (Isa.14:12-15). One third of the angels bowed to him and were cast out with him!  Satan used the same line to entice Adam and Eve, “You will be like God.”  He would test the Last Adam, Jesus, similarly, by offering Him the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would offer him worship.  The devil’s obsession with having worship and his hate toward God means that he will fight against true worship at every point.  Yet, it also means that the power of praise is how we can thwart the enemy.

God’s people can be a mighty FORCE (v.18-22).  Jehoshaphat responded to the enemy by seeking God and fielding an army (v.3-19).  The weapons used, however, would not be carnal—they would be spiritual.  The choir would lead the battle and faith would bring the victory!  It was God’s power that would be unleashed and prevail, and the channel through which God’s might would flow would be the praises of His people!  We may not realize the significance of our songs and the power of our praise, but rest assured, Satan knows and will do all he can to keep us from true worship.  The early church had little money, negligible influence, and yet conquered the greatest military power the world had known.  Within a few centuries, the Roman legions proved no match for the Christian soldiers.  A worshipping church experiences winning warfare.

This must then be our driving FOCUS. 

Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”  (v.20)

As we look to God, lean on Him, and loudly praise Him, He is glorified and pleased to pour out His power.  Authentic worship from the heart—that springs from a sense of urgency, that is expressed with a depth of intensity, will yield lives of victory.  The gates of hell will fall before such a church.  Go to countries where there is persecution and poverty and you will find such fervent and sincere worship.  It is not mere religious activity!  American casual Christianity has produced the lukewarm heart of the church at Laodicea.  They boasted, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing” but Jesus said they were actually, “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked….”  (Rev.3:17) The church is too often inhabited by consumers looking to be gratified than a church of celebrators desiring for God to be glorified!  How will we respond to this truth?

REAL WORSHIP

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."  (Colossians 3:16)

Remember the movie, "Groundhog Day"?  Bill Murray kept reliving the same day, over and over.  Do you ever feel that way about a church service?  That ought not be!  Before I point any fingers anywhere else, I must ask myself, "Is it the preacher's fault?"  Sometimes it is.  If I’m not prayed up and fired up—can I really expect anybody else to be?  So, I'm willing to look into the mirror of God's Word and do the hard evaluation--what about you?  Will you again leave the worship service saying, “Well, I didn’t get anything out of that!”   Maybe there's the problem--we think worship is about us.  Many churches succumb to this pressure and try to put on a show--man-centered entertainment.   Our focus instead is to be God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-empowered, and Gospel-driven.  

Real worship requires real PREPARATION (Col.3:12-15)  You need to put on your, "Sunday go to meetin' clothes"!  I'm not talking about outer garments, but inner  graces!  These are attitudes of the heart that prepare us to meet with God corporately.  Such is befitting a child of God, chosen out of the world by the Father’s love. Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” We need to cut each other some slack.  Put on a kind disposition.   The proud church member wants the spotlight on them, but the humble want it on God.  The meek are nor demanding, insisting on their own way and compromise preferences where no principle is involved.  The long-suffering are patient with people and not bitter toward God.  Those ready for worship are forgiving (v.13).  You can’t offer acceptable worship otherwise—Jesus said to leave your gift at the altar and be reconciled to your brother.   It's hard to sit on a pew and worship God with someone you are mad at.  Love is the belt that holds all together (v.14).  Then there will be peace inside us, that leads to unity in the Body.  We'll also have a thankful spirit.  Don’t come to be a critic!

Real worship requires real PARTICIPATION (v.16).  Here’s what we do when we get to church.  The Berkley translation renders this, “Let the enriching message of Christ have ample room in your lives.”  Our minds will not be cluttered by distraction or our hearts choked by disobedience.  The wisdom of God is available in the Word of God.  I have made a commitment to be a Bible preacher and not an ear-tickler.  You say, “I don’t like that kind of preaching!” Neither does the Devil!  I have a responsibility to God to feed you.  Don’t impoverish your soul!  We need both instruction on what to do and admonition about what not to do.  As to singing—the text is more important than the tune.  It's not about an entertaining melody, but an edifying message.  You can draw a crowd with gimmicks, but you can only disciple a congregation with the Gospel.

Real worship requires real PRACTICE (v.17).  The real test of whether we have met with God is what happens when we leave.  Feelings are like the tides that ebb and flow.  Commitment stays solid.  This is a daily surrender on the altar of all we are—in conduct and conversation to exalt the Savior.

This is real worship!

OUR SACRED STEWARDSHIP

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  (Ephesians 5:17)

Typically, when we hear the word, “stewardship,” we think about money.  That is an element of stewardship, yet, it is much more than that.  In the ancient world, a steward was a household servant entrusted with the goods of another and accountable to his master for how he managed those assets.  Therefore, we believers are servants of God, given His goods to care for and invest—time, talent, treasure—all the gifts of God bestowed on earth in view of the day of accounting in eternity.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:15-17 that we are STEWARDS OF OUR STEPS.  We are to “walk circumspectly”—to be careful where we place our feet, setting them on the right path.  As a child, I learned this truth when taught to sing, “Be careful little feet where you go…There’s a Father up above, and He’s looking down in love, so be careful little feet where you go.”  God has a path for us to travel—a course established according to His will and purpose for us.  Yet, we walk through a spiritual minefield in this world of sin.  We must, therefore, walk in wisdom (v.15).  A wise walk is directed by our roadmap—the Word of God, and accessed through prayer (James 1:5).  In this walk, we treasure the time (v.16).  There is a destination called eternity and only a set number of hours on earth—so our pace must be swift and steady—not being detoured by the Devil! 

Then, we are to be STEWARDS OF OUR SANCTUARY (Eph.5:18).  Our body is the sanctuary of the Spirit (1 Cor.6:15-20).  Jesus has purchased us with His blood, and we will render an account of the deeds done in the body at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor.5:6-10).  Paul tells us that there is an intoxication to be refused, “do not be drunk with wine….”  Alcohol is so dangerous that avoiding it altogether is the wisest course.  Drunkenness is dissipation—a wild and wanton waste of life.  We have all witnessed the sad result of abusing alcohol—destroying family, finances and health.  Instead, we are called to an infilling to be received, “be filled with the Spirit….”  In refusing to let your body be under the control of alcohol, yield your body to the control of the Holy Spirit!  As destructive as the former is, so delightful is the latter.  The old hymn tells us how to be filled with the Spirit, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

Furthermore, we are STEWARDS OF OUR SPEECH (Eph.5:19-21).  Jesus said, “for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”  (Matt.12:36)  This has implications in our singing (v.19).  If our heart is in tune with God, then the lyrics of our lips will flow from the love for Him in our heart.  This has implications for our thanksgiving (v.20).  We bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord.  Rather than the destructive expression of grumbling, there is the constructive exclamation of gratitude.  This has implications for our submitting (v.21).  We defer to one another when we speak words that heal rather than hurt—when we consider others as to the effects of our speech.

We have a sacred stewardship—how will we invest our time, our body, and our words?

HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING HIS PRAISE?

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying:

“I will sing to the LORD,

For He has triumphed gloriously!

The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!”  (Exodus 15:1)

Singing plays an important role in Christian worship.  We are commanded in Ephesians 5:19 to be, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord….”  As we reflect on God’s glorious nature and recall His great works, then a song of praise and thanksgiving forms in our heart, and bursts from our lips.  That is what happened to Moses and the children of Israel.

We note THE THEME of the song (Ex.15:1-2a).  Moses directs us to consider who God is: our strength, our song and our salvation.  The Hebrews were hopeless to escape Egyptian slavery—it would require a miracle—and that is what God provided!  No wonder they broke forth into singing about the supernatural strength they had witnessed.  We serve this same mighty God!  He became their song—the source, substance and sum of their singing.  It is sad when so much “Christian” music today is about us—the style and substance focused on how it makes us feel, when God’s glory is what true worship is all about.  God saved the children of Israel from their wretched state, and Gospel songs declare the salvation we have experienced and offer it to those yet in sin’s shackles.

This leads us to hear THE TESTIMONY in the song (Ex.15:2b-12).  Their song was a passionate expression of witness to the Lord’s wonderful work.  How could they suppress this song?  It was as volcanic fire building up inside them that erupted with flowing words of praise.  If we have meditated on God’s attributes and contemplated God’s activity, then we also will bear testimony in song. We want the whole world to hear!  This is our God, worthy of praise!  He breaks the power of the enemy—“O victory in Jesus!”  How great and how good He is!  “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?”  (Ex.15:11).

Fundamentally, we are to grasp THE TRUTH from the song (Ex.15:13-21).  I’m glad we don’t know the tempo—some would say it’s too fast or too slow.  Nor do we know the tune, and I’m glad, for some would say it’s pitched too high or too low.  All these arguments concerning classic or contemporary, hymns or choruses, using hymn books or video screens, playing organs or guitars have little significance compared to the main purpose of worship music—and that is to clearly communicate the truth of Scripture as to who God is, what He has done, and how we may relate to Him.  Doctrine is indelibly engraved on our heart when it is expressed lyrically.  I have heard old songs that ought to be put on the shelf and never sung again.  I have heard new songs that ought not be sung the first time.  There is not a thimble full of doctrine in them!  Truth has the power to stir us emotionally—Miriam and the women beat tambourines as they danced for joy!  Let us be swept away by the glory, greatness and goodness of God.  If we aren’t excited about Him, then how can we claim to know Him?  Heaven is filled with music.  Are you going?

HAPPY HEARTS

Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps.

I recall hearing Vance Havner say, “Most church services begin at eleven o’clock sharp and end at twelve o’clock dull.”  A little girl was visiting one of those dry, dead churches with her grandfather and said, “Grandpa, if you ever went to the fair, you’d never come back to this place.”  Are our worship services more like funerals or festivals?  If a lost person were to appear in a lot of church gatherings and look around at our sour faces and hear us sing like we are asleep, they might conclude that following Jesus is the most dreadful thing and leave saying, “I don’t need this!  I’ve got enough problems already!”  What they have witnessed, however, is a distortion of real Christianity.  The early church was marked by joy, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”  (Acts 2:46-47)  Is it any wonder that people were drawn to them?

There are times of contrition—when we ought to be broken over our sin.  There is a place to weep with those who weep—that is Biblical too.  But, having said that, the spirit of our gathering as God’s people is typically to be one of celebration.  There is much reason to rejoice—and we witness that in Nehemiah 12.  These Jews had been beaten down for so long.  They had now been set free from bondage.  Returning from captivity, the Lord had enabled them to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, reset the gates and reestablish their worship.  It had been done against much opposition, amid great poverty and difficulty, and was doubtless the work of God among them—so how could they help but praise Him?  Their glad “Hallelujahs” flowed from their grateful hearts!  The singing was exuberant and I have no doubt loud.  After all, they had clashing cymbals! 

Heaven will be a place where there is shouting and singing.  If you don’t like that sort of thing maybe you don’t want to go there.  There is another place to spend eternity where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.  What do we convey about our destination in the expression on our faces that flows from the condition of our hearts?

Scripture says we are to give cheerfully, pray fervently, shout loudly and serve gladly.  If we aren’t excited about our faith, why would anybody else be?  I love the old hymn,
           

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.  (John H. Sammis)

THERE’S HOPE FOR THE CHURCH THAT EXALTS THE SAVIOR: Our Participation in Worship

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16 NKJV)

Some church folks apparently think that the mere act of attending a church service is an end in itself.  They think of worship as a spectator sport where they occupy the stands as fans and cheer (or boo) the performers—the preacher and singers—and hopefully leave entertained.  While I am thankful for those who show up—that only involves potentiality for worship.  What is needed is participation in worship!

This is a privilege and a precept—not an optional part of the Christian life.  It is not a choice; it is a command.  Since worship will be the order of eternity, if we do not desire to worship now perhaps we ought to skip heaven—we won’t like it!  Worship is what the saints do up there!  We are training for that exciting prospect—or we should be.

You might argue, “The services I’ve been in seemed more like the infernal than the inspirational.”  Then, it wasn’t worship.  There is an order of worship that is proper—the only acceptable kind to God which Jesus described as, “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). 

There is the objective element of truth, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” where in sermon and song the truth is to be paramount.

Then, we have the subjective experience of the spirit, “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”  We engage both the head and the heart.

I love the Berkley translation of Colossians 3:16a, “Let the enriching message of Christ have ample room in your lives.”   Are we seriously giving the Lord plenty of space to speak to us on Sunday mornings?  Or does what we cram in there on Monday through Saturday close the door of our thoughts to a Word from God?   We must beware minds cluttered by distraction or hearts choked by disobedience.

The wisdom of God is available in the Word of God.  Don’t impoverish your soul!  We need both instruction on what to do and admonition about what not to do.  If we are always told about what we ought to do and not the way to do it (teaching), we become legalists, but if we are never told there are things we shouldn’t do (admonishing), we become liberals.  I don’t want to be either!

Then, there is the vital expression of worship through our music.  If we are looking for music to please our preferences then we are misguided.  Music is to praise our God in psalms and hymns and to edify our brothers in spiritual songs that impart grace.

Too often we get bent out of shape about music style.  The substance is most crucial—not the style!  The text is more important than the tune.  It’s not about the melody that entertains, but the message that edifies.

So you ought to participate in the music—even if you can’t carry a tune in a bucket!  You can make melody in your heart!  Mouth and meditate on the message even if you are a monotone. 

I can’t help but sing.  Last Sunday I was hoarse from sickness—and reason told me to restrain my singing to save my voice for the sermon.  But, I couldn’t help myself.  There was a song inside that demanded to be let out—and the next thing you know I was belting it out!  Nobody is going to vote for me on “American Idol” and offer me a recording contract—but, I believe God enjoyed it!  And, after all, it is about Him!

This Sunday, don’t be an absentee from the service—and don’t be apathetic in the service.  Your attitude will make the sermon and songs seem better.  The proper focus on blessing God will bless those around you—and you will find an amazing thing—you will be blessed also!