Psalms 55-58 have something in common. They are all written for “the director of music.” They assumed a worshiping community, where someone was in charge of picking and leading the music. In Ephesians, we are told that we should “Sing Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.”
Peter Marty, editor of the “Christian Century,” recently wrote an article “in praise of church musicians.” I include an excerpt here.
“Some of my unsung heroes who help make me who I am are church musicians. Gifted church musicians know how to help people sing together. They are genius at helping a congregation get “lost in wonder, love and praise,” to borrow Charles Wesley’s words. Week in and week out, these practitioners enlarge individual worlds, send chills up spines, and remind worshipers that singing is a component of being fully human.”
Lutheran Church of Hope worship revolves around music. I am riveted when I hear the Phil Wickham song, “This is Amazing Grace,” in the Worship Center, and when I hear, “O Day Full of Grace” in the Chapel. Whether the music is led by Pastor Richard on the organ or the bands in the Worship Center when we lift our voices to God something transformational happens.
Psalm 57 describes this praise, “I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.” (NIV) Sing it, people!
Eugene Peterson sums up our worship, “Singing is the result of excess energy. When we are normal, we talk, when we are dying, we whisper, when there is more in us than we can contain, we sing. The next time you find yourself in worship experiencing more joy than you can hold inside yourself, sing like your life depends on it.” And to quote Marty again, “Thank your music leaders on your way out of worship.”
Questions for reflection:
- Did you ever sing in a musical group in church?
- When do you remember a transformational musical experience at church?
- What are some of your favorite songs?