"Tune My Heart" (Pt 2)

Okay, it has taken longer to get back to this post than I originally expected. Well, I'd like to make some more comments on Dr Peter Davis's Whetstone Lecture entitled "Tune My Heart" Or is that my responsibility...? Having surveyed a few select passages regarding music in the lives of Saul, David and Solomon, Dr Davis turned our attention to the Levites.

TUNING FROM THE LEVITES

Two key texts are 1 Chronicles 16:4-36 and 2 Chronicles 5:11-14.

God's Part: God blessed His people richly, and, in return, they thanked and praised Him in the following ways:

Man's Part: Leadership and ministry were delegated.
Skillful musicians played and sang.
The people said "Amen."
[They] showed participation and focus on God not the musicians.

Dr Davis concluded that from this text we learn that "The key is in how we listen." This is very important to remember in our worship services. How often does our worship become mindless and perfunctory? We become so familiar with words, tunes, and even the order of the service that we don't listen and consider the message in the music. We also need to remember that we are not the audience, God is. We sing and play to worship and glorify God!

From the second text we glean the following points regarding the Levites in public worship:

Man's Part: [They] acquired musical skill.
They sanctified themselves.
[They] clothed themselves in the best linen available.
[They] lifted up their voice in one accord.
[They] praised God for His chesed (loyal lovingkindness).
Apparently they had practiced until they could play as one.
God's Part: In return, God filled His house with glory.

(My thoughts) It seems to me that God is very interested in, not only, what we sing and play, but also how we present ourselves both in dress and skillfulness. What a contradiction to our postmodern ideas of Christian worship!

Next, our attention was turned to the Prophets.

TUNING FROM THE PROPHETS

During a time when Elisha was frustrated, his heart was tuned by the ministry of music (2 Kings 3:15).

Man's Part: Rely on the power of music to communicate God's peace. Call for a mintrel.
Man's Part: [Elisha] listened in such a way as to let the music wash over his spirit.
God's Part: God gave the ability to prophecy. God's work went forward.

Here is a powerful example of the ability of music to prepare the man of God to minister the Word. I can think of a number of times when the special music prior to my opportunity to preach brought peace and encouragement to my heart.

Next, we considered a few passages from the Poets.

TUNING FROM THE POETS

Dr Davis turned our attention to five great passages (Job 35:9-11; Psalm 28:1-7; Psalm 40:1-3; Psalm 108:1; and Psalm 51:14-15). The first passage was very memorable.

God's Part: Initiated the trial. Limited the trial. Orchestrated the trial for overarching plans.
Man's Part: To cry, "Where is God?" (not "Where is my song in the night?")
God's Part: Then God gives the song.

The sequence here is key. We naturally cry out "Where is my comfort?" However, the story of Job teaches us that we are not to long for our "song in the night" but for God, Himself. When we long for God He gives us a song. See especially Psalm 40:1-3 on this wise.

Finally, we looked at the Apostles.

TUNING FROM THE APOSTLES

In Acts 16:25, we come to the familiar story of Paul and Silas in jail.

Man's Part: They had given themselves for the gospel.
[They] had suffered severe beating and imprisonment.
Doubtless, did not feel like singing.
[However, they] prayed and sang.
God's Part: Sent an earthquake.

As we heard repeated, nearly weekly, in a recent Sunday School series on the book of Philippians, our joy in the Lord is not contingent upon our circumstances. This was a good example of that truth.

The final two passages we looked at were Ephesians 5:18-19 and Romans 15:13. The setting of the latter text is "The early church in social conflict." As we began looking at this passage, Dr Davis made the statement that "a theology of music is a theology of joy." This is certainly clear in this last passage.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (ESV)

Man's Part: Believe!
God's Part: God will fill us with joy and peace, the essence of song, through the Spirit's power.

As I mentioned in Part 1, some of the things Dr Davis covered were things I had heard him say over lunch one Sunday afternoon. Much of this was new to me and very helpful. All of these passages are familiar, but I had not strung them together and evaluated them as he did for us on that Wednesday morning. This has been a tremendous help to me as I consider musical part of personal and corporate worship.

There is a common expression, "You are what you eat." This is frighteningly true in many respects. What if we changed this statement, ever so slightly, to "You are what you sing," or "You are what you listen to"? How is your heart tuned by the music you sing and listen to? Is it being tuned? Of course it is. According to what is it being tuned?

Look unto Jesus, draw near unto God and He will give you a song; a new song. He will not give you a song that is contrary to his being and character. Neither will He accept a song that is contradictory to His being and character. When He gives you a song, sing it skillfully, appropriately, respectfully, and worshipfully to Him. Remember, our worship is before His throne.

May our hearts by tuned to sing His praise!

"Tune My Heart" (Pt 2)