ODB: music of the soul
October 2, 2009
READ: Ephesians 5:15-21
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. —Ephesians 5:19
In his book Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, Oliver Sacks devotes a chapter to the therapeutic role of music with people suffering from Alzheimer’s. He writes of watching people with advanced dementia respond to songs that bring back memories that had seemed lost to them: “Faces assume expression as the old music is recognized and its emotional power felt. One or two people, perhaps, start to sing along, others join them and soon the entire group—many of them virtually speechless before—is singing together, as much as they are able.”
I have seen this occur at Sunday morning services in the Alzheimer’s care facility where my wife’s mother lives. Perhaps you’ve experienced it with a loved one whose mind is clouded, and a song calls forth an awareness from deep within.
Paul encouraged the Christians in Ephesus to “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:18-19). Songs that glorify God can reach the deepest level where the meaning never fades. More than words, harmony, or conscious thought, such music is good for the heart and soul. — David C. McCasland
A heart in tune with God can’t help but sing His praise.
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Loading ...ODJ: the Lord is King
The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken (v.1).
READ: Psalm 93
The systems of our world are appearing more and more vulnerable. Mortgage and bank crises have undercut consumer confidence. Terrorist attacks around the world have sparked new fears. Corrupt politicians and religious leaders have continued to breed cynicism. And the struggling economy around the globe has caused many to become fearful and stressed. These feelings of vulnerability and doubt have some Jesus-followers wondering if God is still the King of all.
Many years ago, when the effectiveness of God’s reign was doubtful in the minds of His people, the psalmist penned a royal psalm to reassure them that they could feel secure because the Lord was still king. He began the psalm with, “The Lord (Yahweh) is king!” (Psalm 93:1). He used God’s personal and covenant name to indicate who was reigning. It was a name that communicated to God’s people that He would reign forever and would always keep His people safe. The psalmist was also declaring that there was no other god who qualified to be king besides the Lord.
The Hebrew text actually reads, “The Lord is becoming king.” Wait! Was he saying that there was a time when He was not king? Absolutely not! With this pronouncement, the psalmist was stating that the effectiveness and the assertion of the Lord’s rule had once again become real to His people. After their view of Him had been temporarily clouded by turmoil, chaos, and uncertainty, they were renewing and accepting His reign and enthroning Him in their hearts (v.2).
Although we think it doesn’t seem like it at times, the Lord does reign over creation and chaos in the world (vv.3-5). Even more, He desires to dwell in and reign over the hearts of His people. Let’s enthrone Him anew today and yield to His kingly rule over all aspects of our lives. —Marvin Williams
What life issues threaten your security? How does God want us to view our fears and vulnerabilities?
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Call To Commitment: Obedience vs Disobedience
By Joanna Hor
Ask most Christian youth out over the weekends and you’ll likely get rejected. “Sorry I’m not free. I have youth fellowship on Saturday, church on Sunday and cell group after church. Oh yes, I also meet my youth mentor for Bible study on Wednesday nights.” By society’s standards, any youth involved with that amount of activities would be deemed as “religious”, even “godly”. Many times, it’s the visible things we do that cause others to form impressions about us. “Since he/she spends so much time at church, he/she must be a very dedicated Christian.”
There is nothing wrong with being involved in Christian activities, but what about the other times when we are not?
I knew of a boy who was a ministry head in the Youth Fellowship at his church. In school, he led a prayer group every week with other students. Behind the seemingly perfect picture of his Christian service, he was known for flirting with different girls he met at school. This dichotomy between his personal life and religious life was a real problem, one that many of us are likely to struggle with as well.
As a song aptly describes, “Man sees the outside, but God sees the heart”, Jesus is not concerned about the things that we do to show our piousness but whether we are truly following His will in our daily lives. His use of words like “I never knew you; depart from me” should warn us of the seriousness He attaches to breaking God’s commandments in the Bible. We can deceive man with our outward actions but we cannot deceive God.
(This article is first published in Power Up With The King,
a Bible-study material printed and produced by Singapore Youth For Christ)
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