Music

The first time the word song is used in the Bible is in Exodus 15, when Moses and the Israelites sang to the LORD after He delivered them from the Egyptian army chasing them. What a grateful sound they shared toward heaven. Generations later, King David assigned duties to the Levites to serve as musicians for God’s temple. Those duties languished under the rule of evil kings when the people turned their backs on God to worship idols. Later, one of David’s lineage, King Hezekiah, recognized the importance of music devoted to God.
Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the Lord’s temple with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet. For the command was from the Lord through His prophets (2 Chronicles 29:25).
The tradition of music with worship was so ingrained in the writings and history of the Israelites that they could reinstitute practices that occurred hundreds of years earlier. ​

Meditation
2 Chronicles 29:30--Then King Hezekiah and the officials told the Levites to sing praise to the Lord in the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with rejoicing and bowed down and worshiped.
 
Billy Joel once said, “I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music.” Like many of you, I can think of specific times when a song played brought tears to my eyes, deeply moved my heart, created healing, or changed my mindset positively. One of the most excellent antidotes to discouragement, fear, and bone-settling pain is music. Berthold Auerbach shares a poignant word picture. “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

Music produces joy. There is a lesson in this, for we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Music is part of our God-shaped DNA. Imagine how much God must love the sound of voices and instruments dedicated to Him!
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John Piper noted, “Worship is the adoration and praise of that which delights us.  We praise what we enjoy because praise completes the enjoyment. We worship God for the pleasure to be had in him.” The most profound form of music is worship—a sacrifice of praise that delights our Maker. Sing to Him.  He doesn’t care if you are out of tune, He cares that you are tuned into Him—something to sing about . . . in reveration.
 
Inspiration
Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.—Martin Luther
 
©2024 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  To receive these devotionals, go to www.firstcause.org and click the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed, subject to the inclusion of this copyright notice.     
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)