Spirit and Truth Ministries
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DÉJÀ VU IN PRAISE MUSIC
Don Hawley
January 26, 2001
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To the world music is spelled “entertainment.” To the Body of Christ it is something more, it is at the very core of life in the Savior. It’s a sweet offering to God, lifting the weary pilgrim to the very gates of heaven.
It is difficult to think of God’s throne without also imagining the magnificent paeans of praise coming from the heavenly choir. Many believe that Lucifer once was entrusted with the responsibility of leading that great chorus.
Music also turns up early in the biblical account of man.
“Adah gave birth to a baby named Jabal. He became the first of the herdsmen who live in tents. His brother’s name was Jubal, the first musician—the inventor of the harp and flute.” Gen. 4:20, 21.
Praise music weaves a thread through all of Scripture, but perhaps a couple of examples are worthy of note.
Since disaster struck the first time David tried to return the Ark of the Convenant to Jerusalem, he made very careful plans for his second attempt.
“David also ordered the Levite leaders to appoint a choir of Levites who were singers and musicians to sing joyful songs to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals . . . So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s covenant to Jerusalem with shouts of joy, the blowing of horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.” 1 Chron. 15:16, 28.
While happy music reverberated from the surrounding hills, the people saw their king “dancing and leaping for joy.” For some reason there are always those among the Lord’s Body who take exception to joyful music. In this case Michal, David’s wife, looked down from her window and saw her husband’s exuberant praise before his God. Instead of rejoicing with him, the record says she was “filled with contempt.”
God obviously enjoys exuberant praise in music, as he accepted David’s offering. However, he rewarded Michal’s negative spirit with barrenness. She was the daughter of a king, and the wife of a king, but she never became the mother of a king.
At the dedication of Solomon’s temple music played a central role.
“The Levites who were musicians . . . were dressed in fine linen robes and stood at the east side of the altar playing cymbals, harps, and lyres. They were joined by 120 priests who were playing trumpets. The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets. cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words:
“He is so good!
His faithful love endures forever!” 2 Chron. 5:12, 13.
Could God handle all this joyful noise? Once again we have opportunity to see how he responds to exuberant worship in his name.
“At that moment a cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their work because the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.”
Vs. 13, 14.
I believe the book of Psalms ends by describing a glorious praise service.
“Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his heavenly dwelling; praise him in his mighty heaven!
Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!
Praise him with a blast of the trumpet; praise him with the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing.
Praise him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that lives sing praises to the Lord!
Praise the Lord!” Ps. 150.
Do your praise services resemble that?
The great Protestant Reformation brought with it new music to stir the hearts of the people. Through the years every major move of the Holy Spirit has been accompanied by new music with which to praise his name.
Keep in mind that heaven’s former choir director well knows the power of music to bring people closer to God. You can be certain he will always be present to stand against any such outpouring.
When a young minister I remember thumbing back and forth through the church hymnal trying to select songs that might grip the hearts of my members. Such pieces were relatively rare.
Then, years later, I attended a service that rekindled my love for the Lord. The visiting group called themselves “The Heritage Singers,” and they brought us a new sound that awakened the sleeping saints. I still remember that special day.
One of their most beautiful songs was “There’s Just Something About That Name.” Listening to that haunting melody I had a vision of just how wonderful my Savior really is. When they loudly sang “The King is Coming!” I felt as if he really was about to return in glory. My whole spiritual being was refreshed due to their heartfelt musical offering.
When they returned to that area many months later, I was sitting front and center anticipating another infilling. What a disappointment! Instead of the former heart-stirring melodies they were into some other kind of music that just didn’t do it. It was more complex and less pleasing to the ear.
What happened? It seems to me that professional musicians often are tempted to leave the simplicity of Spirit-inspired selections, and move on to something they consider more fitting. They feel the need to raise what they perceive as the musical standard of the congregation. When I was in college, a certain highly educated and well-known choir director brought a group to sing for the student body and community. I’m sure the pieces he selected were very complex and that the singers mastered them only after much practice. However, instead of being impressed, most of the poor people in the pews thought they had merely gotten lost and were off key. Frankly, there was no real blessing to be had for average people—and most of us are pretty average.
Anyway, the Heritage Singers chose to move on to uncharted territory, and thus things were back to normal. Instead of exuberant and joyful praise we had “song service.” I personally found the latter deadly dull, and timed my drive to church so that I would arrive just as they were droning out the last song.
It’s happened again, the lifting to new heights followed by a precipitous drop. As I mentioned previously every new major move of the Holy Spirit brings with it a new music. In the mid-1950s the greatest ever move of the Holy Spirit began, the mighty Renewal that since has swept around the world. And what glorious songs it brought forth!
There was joyful music to awaken the saints out of their deep slumber, to breathe spirit into the dry bones. Happy songs like “The River is Here,” “We Will Dance on the Streets that are Golden,” and “Shout to the Lord!” There were songs of high praise such as “Father I Adore You,” and “Glory to God!” Since we’re engaged in the last great conflict between good and evil, songs like “We Will Ride,” called the church to action. It was glorious. Instead of leaving home late I always arrived early so as not to lose a moment of blessing. I found myself singing in the shower again.
Last Sunday evening I drove once again into Washington State to hear these songs that stir my heart for the Lord. I felt confident because the music group of this particular congregation had often blessed me. However, another music team was visiting and instead of the wonderful old music I heard a new style that failed to lift. There was no strong tempo, and the melody wandered up and down the scale as if it didn’t know just where to go. We call strong music “memorable” because it is easy to remember and hard to forget. The little tunes they played Sunday didn’t survive beyond the end of the service. There was virtually no dancing in the Spirit, as there was nothing to dance to. The previous time I was there they played the powerful music of Renewal, and the church was full. This time there were no more than 15 people in attendance; most must have been forewarned.
Recently I ordered two CD’s that feature the all-time favorite Renewal music and I play them even as I work at my computer. So I can still enjoy these powerful songs, but I would also like to share them in a corporate music setting.
The final wave of the Holy Spirit hasn’t swept over us yet, but when it does I believe it will bring with it the most glorious music this side of heaven. Much of it likely will come direct from the heart rather than from a printed sheet. Since we will be engaged in the climactic battle of spiritual Armageddon, there probably will be the most powerful war songs ever heard as well.
And then, sooner than we believe, millions of voices raised in total adoration around the throne of God! There is no way our finite mind can comprehend such an event, but it is something I long for. With John I say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
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