All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with mirth, His praise forth tell,
Come ye before Him and rejoice. (Hymn 2, Psalm 100).
The Book of Psalms is the greatest song book ever compiled. It has comforted and cheered and strengthened godly hearts as no other book in existence. Its musical touch of fellowship feelings has been experienced by thousands of God-fearing people. This puts the music in the Psalms into first place in the world’s lyrics.
Truly great poetry
To the child of God no music in the modem world can bring such joy and happiness as that entwined in the Psalms. The popular superstars in the world of music dare not challenge the deep meanings and comfort experienced, as the word of God reveals to believers the right type of songs, words and expressions that make up real good lyrics.
The Psalms are supreme as lyrical poetry. In them all the feelings of the human heart are shown and laid bare. There are songs of worship, hope and courage. Psalm 37 tells of waiting on the Lord, and doing His will while we wait. In adoring the Lord we think of Psalm 119. Repentance and faith are seen in Psalms 25 and 121, while prayer and praise reach a thrilling climax in Psalm 150.
Love songs
The Bible’s love songs are far different from what we hear around us today. The popular ballad, “How can it be forbidden if it’s love?” does not measure up to those in God’s word. Psalm 45 gives a splendid illustration of the love songs of the Hebrews, from which obscenity and coarseness are entirely absent.
Of course, the greatest love song anywhere is “the Song of Songs which is Solomon’s.” It expresses true love between lovers of the opposite sex. Here is nothing coarse, nothing rude, nothing obscene. Here is loyalty to engagement vows, constancy of affection to the absent lover, and ardent feelings toward the prospective spouse. Surely, our Caribbean society today, where unemployment and migration fever are undermining the true meaning of love and affection between partners, would do well to acquire some of this kind of constancy. And this love song is more enhanced when we remember that it is a prophecy of the espoused love between Christ and his bride, his true and faithful church.
Sing out in gladness
It seems from the Bible that godly believers in those days were always singing, playing, dancing. Music dedicated to God was the natural and purposeful outlet for their joy and their sadness, their loves and their praises.
Very famous indeed are the lyrics of Moses given in Exodus 15, Deuteronomy 33 and Psalm 90. He was a poet and musician, as well as statesman, leader and lawmaker. No doubt his Egyptian education included courses in music, for Egypt was pre-eminent for a time in that regard. The song of Deborah is certainly a fine specimen of a lyric in which many of the mechanics of Hebrew music are apparent. This stirring war song was well calculated to arouse into enthusiasm the low burning fire of godly patriotism in a downtrodden and oppressed people as Israel was during the period of the Judges.
Hannah, her prayer answered, thrilled through a song of majestic theme. David burst into wonderful lyrics, not to mention his gentler, sadder notes of longing, or when soothing his king. Others like Solomon, Asaph, Heman, and Ethan all join with David in singing and playing, under God, the beautiful, sublime and strong lyrics of which the Psalms consist. Hezekiah and Isaiah give us beautiful lyrics too, and in the New Testament, in which poetry stands comparatively far in the background, the songs of Zacharias and Mary reach a very high spiritual level. The magnificent song of Mary is clothed in poetic form, obviously intended to be sung, as is also the angelic chorus, “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.”
“Awake, psaltery and harp” (Psalm 108:2).
Brethren and sisters, we need to sing Psalms of praise to our Maker. We are fighting a warfare. Not one that requires the M16, sword or spear. Our battle is against sin and evil. The economic conditions of the world today are frightening. Many Caribbean countries have been experiencing this trauma for years, and the pressures never ease. More recently, things have become almost unbearable for many of us. Changes sweeping through society, especially the spread of violence, with terrifying speed, try and test the strongest and stoutest hearts. We in the West Indies recall that it was music and song that sustained our peoples through the long centuries of the worst form of oppression that the world has ever known.
More than 20 different musical instruments are mentioned by name in the Bible. As now, the biblical orchestra comprised strings, woodwind, brass, and percussion sections. The most popular and versatile instrument was the guitar (usually translated “harp”). Psalm 137 indicates that it was usually used to express mirth (v. 3), while the “psaltery” was used mainly for more solemn religious occasions. “Timbrels” or tambourines were played by women at festive events, and two types of cymbals were used in the Temple orchestra (Psa. 150:5). The silver trumpets were used to summon the congregation together. It is evident that God thrills to the sound of music played with zeal and skill.
So this is the time to:
“Sing aloud unto God our Strength;
make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel,
the pleasant harp, with the psaltery.
Blow up the trumpet in the new week…” (Psa. 81:1-3).
Read this psalm. If you have any lingering doubt that God listens to our songs and our music, in whatever national musical genre they may be, and wants to respond, this will dispel it. “This was a law of the God of Jacob!”
Let the Amen Sound!
Brothers and sisters, are we feeling down and out? Do we feel like giving up? Do we feel that the rest of our wonderful brotherhood has forgotten and forsaken us, heedless of our problems? Are the pressures of life and its demands getting too hard to bear?
Then turn to the word of God especially the Psalms, and find joy and comfort in true music. The lyrics and ballads will gently touch your heart as you “Sing unto the Lord, sing praises unto Him” (Psa. 105:2).
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again
Gladly for aye we adore Him.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One