God and music

The first mention of music in the bible is Genesis 4:21.
'His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute.'

Right from the beginning, music has been present in God's story, a background hum that increases in volume, that climaxes in the blowing of horns and deafening chorus of worship in Revelation. I believe that it's always been a part of his plan for music to be used in proclaiming him, worshipping him but also drawing people to himself.

Music is one of the closest things to experiencing God's power we can have when we don't believe in him. There are other things that point us to him but few of them seem to inspire the congregational, public outpour that music does. Watch a concert and look at the front row and you will see people worshipping; pouring out their appreciation, losing themselves in joy and marveling at the artist. Even for the secular world, music can bring happiness and rejoicing or sorrow and melancholy.

Music goes towards creating a spiritual reality because it is something unseen, moving and complex and people are wired, on a deep mysterious level, to be drawn to it. That's why, I believe, it has a near-religious effect on the secular world. It's no wonder that music forms such a big part of our worship in church and in private. The psalms were written to be sung, many of them detailing the instruments to be used with them. God has always intended for us to take up instruments and make a sweet sound to him.

I've heard people get really down because they find it difficult to worship without music. For me, this isn't such a big deal. You should, certainly, be able to be passionate about and praise God without a piano backing but the fact that music draws you into a deeper level of worship isn't a bad thing! It doesn't mean you've got to readjust your spiritual life or feel guilty.
As long as the object of the adoration is God, the means of worship aren't really the issue. King David danced about in a state of near undress when the Ark was returned to near Jerusalem!
2 Samuel 6 (especially verses 14, 16 and 20).

Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 that where you worship doesn't fuss God but that it's spirit and truth. So when you feel good from singing a song, that's a gift from God, that's your spirit and soul rejoicing at the truth of his character and also the truths in the song.

Take some time to sit down with your favourite worship song today and go through the lyrics and actually consider the truths in it. Get excited about them and then listen to the song and feel the overwhelming explosion of joy at hearing the combination of God's truth and spirit.

I'll finish here with a scripture that blew me away a little while ago.
'Then [Jesus and the disciples] sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.'
Matthew 26:30.

Jesus is joining the disciples in singing praises to God, but we believe Jesus is God in human form. So we're seeing God joining with his followers to sing his own praises. And that's all that we're created for, to be brought in and add to the volume of God's own praise of himself because he is worthy to be praised. God rejoices in himself and rejoices in our praises so take the gift, the tool of music and give praise by lifting your voice to him!