Music Is a Gift
It is no accident that the final word in the book of Psalms is a hymn of praise! No matter what we encounter in our lives, God has the final say, and God’s final word is joy.
What better way to praise God than in song? Trumpets, lutes, harps, tambourines, string, pipes, cymbals – I’ll bet even the angels can hear the racket raised by this raucous band!
Music is so much a part of my life I sometimes take it for granted. There’s music on my iPhone, music in the shopping malls and stores, music in movies, TV programs and commercials, music in my car. There’s even music in my head – it’s a rare moment that I don’t have some song or other stuck in my head.
Music has the power to support or even change my mood. I have a playlist called, “Music for Dancing,” and one called, “Music for Crying.” I have “Favorites,” “Ultra Favorites,” and “Uber Favorites.” I have Pandora stations set for working out, for cleaning my house, for falling asleep at night.
My music is a near constant soundtrack for my life. It makes me wonder whether the music I listen to supports or contradicts the kind of life I want to live. I have music for when I want to be peaceful and faithful – songs of praise and trust in God (both religious and secular music can do that for me). But I also have music I listen to when I want to kick some serious booty. It’s my defiant, rebellious, I-don’t-give-a-hoot kind of music. I listen to it when I want to misbehave, to break some rules, to do what I know I shouldn’t.
To be fair, I’m human. I think everyone needs a kick-booty soundtrack. But at the end of the day, I want my last song to be this: “Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
Narrative Lectionary Text: Psalm 150
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty firmament!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with clanging cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!