The Rest Has Been Written into the Music
Good Morning Friends,
I sing in a church choir with my family. We also play English Handbells. At first it was more like a job, but now it is more of a joy. As I have grown in my faith…my experience of the music has shifted from work to worship…from performance to passion and praise. Now worship is not just a pause in the parade of life’s notes. The Rest Has Been Written into the Music.
Scripture: Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150 (NRSV)
Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
Psalm 33:3 (NRSV)
Message: Thirty-nine of the Psalms (71 times) and also in the book of Habakkuk (3 times) there is reference to the word Selah. Nobody knows for sure what it means. It may be a musical interlude or a musical rubric of some kind…. a repeat, played loudly, a flourish, a silence or a quite reflection of the music connected to the words. I think it has something to do with understanding the nature of the kingdom to come. The still small voice of God. Interestingly it is not in today’s Psalm. The breath is written into the music. And the breath somehow helps us to consider the power of music in helping us remember the relationship of experiences and emotions. Today we look to the Psalms and in greater depth, Psalm 150. The last Psalm….a psalm that encourages us thirteen times to “Praise the Lord.” It is part of the musical heritage of the Christian faith…a powerful method of delivering messages. We often will sing it as an introit for worship. It is here for musicians that praise becomes the prize; and that in praising God we learn to prize Him. Today we pause to praise God.
Pray that worship quickens our conscience. Pray our imaginations are purged by the beauty of God. Pray that we open our hearts to the love of God. Pray we devote our will to the purpose of God. Pray that we never “have” worship but that worship has us. Pray that we sing a new song in our hearts and share it in praise. Pray we make music with our heads, hearts, and hands. Pray we are filled with joyful praise. Pray for all those who have shared in the journey of life through God’s grace and mercy experienced through music. Pray we become His instruments for worship taken to the world.
Note: For the next week and a day I will be traveling with the Moorings Ringers playing Handbells and in my absences you will be blessed with Selah. Consider it the silence before prayer, a convergence of sounds that pause for a time so you might absorb the experience into your being. Consider it a time of turning prayer into service and the service into love and the love into peace. Look for my next email in a week and a day.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 