Introduction
My intention for this study is to challenge you into a deeper level of worship and a more intimate relationship with Christ.
First of all it is necessary to get to know a little more about the tool that we will be using; music. Let’s start with music in the Bible. Music is mentioned in the Bible 233 times, praise is mentioned 2,455 times, and worship is mentioned 2,187 times. The history of Hebrew music, as well as the history of Israel’s higher civilization in general and the organization of the musical services in the temple, began with King David’s reign. Not only has the creation and singing of Psalms been ascribed to David but also the inventing of musical instruments.
2 Chronicles 7:6
And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
Notice that is says, “Because his mercy endureth forever, when David praised by their ministry.” ATTENTION: God’s mercy covers us when we praise!
The word music that is used here comes from the word Sumphonia, which literally speaks of a union of sounds, a symphony, or a concert of instruments. THE BAND ON STAGE AT CHURCH, THE WORSHIP TEAM!
How Important is Music?
How important is music today? For the answer to that question all you have to do is turn on your TV. You’ve probably already seen programs and channels that are dedicated to music, concerts, artists, etc. not to mention thousands of commercials that use music to promote their product or event. Go into any mall, grocery store or even a funeral home and you will here music being played. This entire world is affected by music. Music is a universal language that crosses age, race, ethnic group and culture.
Music Is Powerful!
Music is a powerful tool used to influence and cause emotions to erupt. Music affects your soul and spirit, sometimes negatively and sometimes positively. In the early nineties the world was shocked to hear of the gruesome acts of Jeffery Dalhmer the Milwaukee cannibal. This man would get his victims to enter his house where he would drug them and then kill and eat them. According to his own testimony, music played a big part in his actions.
For many years now, scientists have studied the effects that music can have on animals, people and plants. They have found that different types of music can change growth patterns in plants and even affect behavioral patterns in animals as well as human beings. They have even proved that if plants are exposed to certain types of music long enough, it has caused them to die.
Music is capable of bringing out emotions that have long been buried. Adding words to the music makes it even more powerful, now add visual images and you have three powerful tools; music, words, and visual images. These have been and will continue being used to influence the thoughts, emotions and soon even the very decisions or will of the human being.
It is interesting to note that when a relationship ends between a couple, many times those involved will become even more depressed when hearing a certain melody or song, and they will at times continue behaving this way for months or even years simply because that melody or song connects them to the other person
Is it possible that spirits can connect themselves to music? How does music become music? According to the dictionary, music is the art of arranging sounds in time so as to produce a continuous, unified, and evocative composition, as through melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre. But how does music reach us?
Music travels through airwaves known as sound waves. Sound is composed of a series of vibrations that travel at certain velocities. Our ears capture these vibrations and translate them into a language without words that our bodies understand and react to accordingly. This is why you will see a baby dance to music even though they may not yet be able to speak.
Ephesians 6:12 says…
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Music Is Spiritual!
Music moves through the air until it reaches our ears. You cannot smell taste or see it, but you can feel the vibrations of its tones. Though it cannot be seen, it affects all of our senses. This study will help us get to know a little bit more of the power that music has, but even more importantly it will help us know the responsibility that we have as musicians for the Lord.
The reason I say it’s more important to know our responsibility is because a tool without the proper knowledge of its designed purpose will always be abused, i.e. have you ever used a butter knife as a screwdriver? Sure, it may work, but sooner or later you’ll twist that knife and end up tearing up your bread trying to butter it, and as we have already established that music is spiritual, this can be very dangerous.
There’s so much to learn about God’s design for us as worshippers… I hope you join me as we focus on finding out who we are and what we have been called/designed to do.
Johnny
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