“It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. How great are your works, LORD, how profound your thoughts!” (Psalm 92:1-5)

Music has been an important part of our worship before God. When the people had crossed the Red Sea and watched God give them victory over Egypt’s chariots, they joined with Moses singing. “I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. ‘The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.’” (Exodus 15:1-2) When David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, he put men in charge of the music in the House of God. “They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.” (1 Chronicles 6:32)

The prophets also expressed their worship with music. Isaiah would offer this song of praise. “We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith. You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:1-4) Jeremiah’s faith is expressed as he says, “Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.” (Jeremiah 20:13) In the midst of difficult days, Zephaniah would say, “Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy.” (Zephaniah 3:14-15)

The Psalms has been called the Hymnbook of the Bible. Music is to be offered by God’s people. “Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre.” (Psalm 81:1-2) “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” (Psalm 95:1-2) “My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all 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, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” (Psalm 108:1-4)

In the New Testament Paul would encourage the church to express their new life with the indwelling presence of God with music. “Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18-20) The music in our lives expresses to God our gratitude to Him for our life in Him which will carry us into His presence. The music comes from our hearts, from those who express with beautiful tones to those who cannot carry a tune. We are all to bring Him praise with our music. “Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” (Psalm 95:1 ESV) Or, as the Message paraphrase says, “Come, let’s shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us!” (Psalm 95:1 Msg) As we walk with the Living Word and the Written Word of God, let us come before Him with music and a song.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block