People speak from time to time about praise and worship music in the church. Most church services or bible fellowships we attend have music as part of the service. Many times perhaps we wonder why we bother about music. To what extent does music have an impact on us?
Scientific studies have documented that different genres of music stimulate different part of the brain. Quiet classical music tends to help students concentrate on studying. The mood of the music affects people, too. Happy music makes you happier and has a positive impact on health. Sad music makes you sadder and can be detrimental. Studies also indicate that people remember things set to music longer.
What does the Word say about music?
1. Victories were celebrated in dance and song. After the armies of Pharaoh were drowned in the Red Sea, the people rejoiced.
BBE Exodus 15:20 And Miriam, the woman prophet, the sister of Aaron, took an instrument of music in her hand; and all the women went after her with music and dances.
Jeptha's daughter sang and danced for him when he returned victorious in battle.
BBE Judges 11:34 Then Jephthah came back to his house in Mizpah, and his daughter came out, meeting him on his way with music and with dances; she was his only child; he had no other sons or daughters.
2. Music was effective in calming down Saul who was tormented by an evil spirit.
BBE 1 Samuel 16:23 And whenever the evil spirit from God came on Saul, David took his instrument and made music: so new life came to Saul, and he got well, and the evil spirit went away from him.
3. Music once helped Elisha, the prophet, prepare to receive revelation.
BBE 2 Kings 3:15 But now, get me a player of music, and it will come about that while the man is playing, the hand of the Lord will come on me and I will give you the word of the Lord: and they got a player of music, and while the man was playing, the hand of the Lord was on him.
4. Music was an intrinsic part of temple worship.
BBE 1 Chronicles 13:8 Then David and all Israel made melody before God with all their strength, with songs and corded instruments of music, and with brass instruments and horns.BBE 1 Chronicles 15:16 David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers the singers, with instruments of music, stringed instruments and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.BBE 1 Chronicles 25:6-7 6All these, under the direction of their father, made music in the house of the Lord, with brass and corded instruments, for the worship of the house of God; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the orders of the king. 7 The number of them, with their brothers who were instructed in singing to Yahweh, even all who were skillful, was two hundred eighty-eight.
The book of Psalms cannot be ignored in this context. Even the title, from psalmoi, meaning "instrumental music", indicates that parts of the scripture were intended to be sung. King David, a man after God's heart, penned many of these. They mirror triumph and struggle and the mighty hand of God in deliverance.
Jack Zavada writes, "Psalms covers timeless themes, which explains why it is as relevant to God's people today as when the songs were written thousands of years ago. Trusting in God is certainly the dominant theme, followed by praising God for his love. Rejoicing in God is simply the joyous celebration of Jehovah. Mercy is another important theme, as David the sinner pleads for God's forgiveness."
Clearly, one of the unique impacts that the Psalms have is that we can see David's perspective in the situations he faced in life. His joys and sorrows and his reliance on God witness to us today.
We can see that many of our powerful contemporary Christian hymns were penned in the same manner. In Christian circles, music has had a strong tradition. Some of our favorite songs have interesting backgrounds.
Louisa Stead wrote 'Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus. The story behind the song is poignant. Louisa watched her husband drown trying to rescue a young boy. Without a husband, she struggled to make ends meet. Now, Louisa didn't give up faith, even though she and her daughter had no means of support. To commemorate God's provision in her life and the victories she received, she wrote this hymn. She and her daughter would eventually move to South Africa and become missionaries there.
'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,Just to take Him at His Word;Just to rest upon His promise,And to know, "Thus says the Lord!"RefrainJesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!How I've proved Him o'er and o'erJesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!O for grace to trust Him more!
Another song with an interesting background is Amazing Grace. John Newton wrote Amazing Grace in 1779. He didn't have any religious convictions growing up. However, after becoming involved in the Atlantic slave trade, Newton was caught in a violent storm that battered his ship and came very close to sinking it. John called out to God for mercy and became converted.
Subsequently, every year after that he would commemorate March 21st with prayer and fasting. He went into the Christian ministry and began to write hymns with a colleague. Amazing Grace was written to illustrate a sermon and commemorate this event.
Amazing GraceAmazing grace! How sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like me.I once was lost, but now am found,Was blind but now I see.
Joseph Scriven wrote What a friend we have in Jesus. As a young man, he became a teacher and made plans to marry his sweetheart. The day before the wedding she drowned. Overwhelmed with grief, Joseph left Ireland and moved to Canada. Soon he fell in love with another lady. Just a few weeks before they were to be married, she died of pneumonia.
This time, Joseph decided, he was not going to wallow in remorse and self-pity. He chose to take his life in another direction. He made an oath to minister to the handicapped and financially destitute. He spent his time helping others out where ever he could. A very skilled carpenter, he made things to donate to people who could not afford to pay him. When his mother lay sick and dying, Joseph wrote "What a friend we have in Jesus" to communicate the story of his life to her.
What A Friend We Have in Jesus:What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
You can see what a powerful witness a song can be, albeit some songs seem to have a dulled impact due to mindless repetition over the years. So, next time you sing a hymn or read a psalm, engage your brain in the process. Instead of maybe harboring a scornful or apathetic attitude, consider respecting and cherishing the song and the intent it communicates. Make that joyful noise — and maybe consider writing a hymn, yourself.ÿ