Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. (Psalm 33:1-4, ESV)
What is it about music that captivates us? What is it about melody that touches us deeply in our hearts? What is it about a song that can cause our spirits to soar to a place high above our normalcy of what we are immediately experiencing around us? Music can be a balm like consolation to the deepest of hurts and it can bring a joyful outlook to the bleakest of surroundings.
It was through song and music that a horribly tormented Saul was quieted through the soft voice and melodies of David. Essentially the psalms are really songs … full of emotion from heartache to joy, speaking of deep yearning and struggle but often offering both glimpses of hope and the assuredness of God’s enduring love.
Midst all struggles, music can break into the realm of the difficulty with the assurances of God becoming interrupting notes plunging into stifling discord with a beckoning melody of hope. Love is much like music in this way. We can be touched by the smallest of kindnesses that come from those who love us and we can be encouraged and sustained by the faithfulness of love through all times and all circumstances.
Thus the love of God becomes the melody of hope we can sing, even if it comes out a bit silted and hesitantly in our disconcerting times when we have to wait on the Lord. Somehow our faith carries us until we can sing the joyous refrain as rescuing and sustaining God comes with His steadfast and enduring love bringing mercy and compassion as a soothing song. There is a melody to the love of God and it is always compassionate and joyous. Something good will always happen, when we sing along.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16, ESV)
Suggested Reading … Psalm 33
