Thursday, July 7, 2011

Make a Joyful Noise!

In Ephesians 5:17-21 we are told, "Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God." (NKJV)

In scripture, music is generally associated with merrymaking, and ceases in times of great distress (Isaiah 55:12; Song of Songs 2:12; Psalm 137; Lamentations 5:14). It is interesting then that this passage tells us to sing and, "give(ing) thanks always for all things." It may be that as those who are deserving of wrath, any mercy, or grace shown to us is impetus enough for perpetual thanksgiving. This may account for giving thanks always. But what about "for all things?" This seems to carry the notion that we are to give thanks because all things are mercy and grace to those who are in Christ. For it is only "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" that we can give thanks for all things.

Imagine Paul and Silas sitting in jail and singing hymns. " But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." Acts 16:25 (NKJV) Notice they were not singing "in their hearts" as though the prisoners were listening to nothing. They were singing aloud from the steadfastness of their heart's conviction. As the psalmist says, "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise." Psalm 57:7 (NKJV) And what was the basis for the steadfastness of their hearts? In Paul's own words, " For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV)

Therefore, let us also make a joyful noise to the Lord!

1 comment:

Jason Farley said...

Good point on the perpetual merrymaking. Hadn't thought about the implications of a call to unceasing music before the Lord. It is sort of like "Set a Table in the midst of my enemies." You might think, 'Lord, is now really a good time?' and the answer? 'Eat and rejoice.'

And Even that is a lyric in a song.