The Sound of Music

By Connie Arnold

Our spirit soars upward on the prelude to the musical The Sound of Music. Even without the video, we visualize the blue skies and open spaces, and Maria opening her arms wide to embrace life. Music has the power to open our eyes to possibilities.

Wagner’s Wedding March, Here Comes the Bride, brings all attendees to their feet, eyes to the rear of the assembly, waiting expectantly for the first glimpse of the splendor of the bride. After the ceremony, Mendelssohn’s Wedding March begins with the sound of trumpets, announcing that something new has begun. In this case, it is the new life of the wedding couple together.

The first songs an infant hears are from his mother as she sings a lullaby. Whether the lullabies sooth the mother more than the baby is questionable, but they are important. Songs such as Rock-A-By-Baby or the song assuring the infant that fourteen angels are watching over it from head to feet in When I Go To Sleep At Night by Engelbert Humperdinck. More than likely, songs heard by the little ones are of another variety—the ones most favored by the singer.

We can conclude that songs open up a path, leading to something and preparing our minds and hearts to receive that which is to come. Songwriters bare their souls with the lyrics, and the melody carries their message to the listeners.

When the children of Israel were safely on the other side of the Red Sea out of Egypt, they sang a song to the Lord. Praises have risen from the mouths of man ever since there was a cause for rejoicing. I do not think an outside force taught them to sing; they only had to listen to the beat of their hearts.

The prophets of God in the Old Testament knew the power of worship music. We tend to think that prophets had a channel open and in tune with God at all times, and at a moment’s notice, they could come back with God’s answer to the people’s inquiries. But the prophets lived in the secular world of their times, and we can allow that they dealt with some of the distractions of the day.

Elisha performed twice as many miracles as his mentor, Elijah, but he did not pull solutions out of his own understanding. Elisha had regard for King Jehoshaphat of Judah and agreed to inquire of God on his behalf over a critical situation. But before he prayed to the Lord, he said, “But now bring me a harpist,” (2 Kings 15, JKV).

Elisha entered the presence of God with music. “And while the harpist played, the hand of the Lord came upon him and he said…” (2 Kings 15b-16, KJV). If Elisha could not expect to hear from God before his heart was ‘in tune,’ I think we can learn from this. On a more personal note, I’ve seen my mother enter her place of private prayer with her Bible and her songbook.

David’s music resounded over the hillsides, in caves, on the throne, sitting still, and on the run. The praise in the form of song is heard throughout the Old Testament. David invented instruments and wrote songs for the choir leaders. It is said he made over 4,000 instruments for his choirs.

The monks were the first worshipers to bring music into the church through chants. No musical instruments were heard except the human voices. I doubt if we would have heard any musical flourishes, just praise words spoken to God.

Most church-goers have experienced changes in music in the church. My first recollection is of a ‘song’ leader standing upfront behind the lectern simply announcing the song numbers from a hymn book. The inexperienced piano player would do a brief introduction, and the song would begin. As things progressed, the song leaders would begin directing with hand gestures. An organ was added. Occasionally, a guitar or an accordion would add to the accompaniment. Specials could be heard with four-part harmony rather than all voices singing the melody. Bands or orchestras were added as talent allowed.

As music education increased, special singers heard in church most often presented practiced numbers, pleasing to the congregation’s ear. All churches did not progress the same way or the same route. There was no right or wrong method.

To drum or not to drum. Loud amps or only mics for the vocalists. Hymn books or words flashed up on the wall. The song leaders are now tagged as worship teams. Closed services or live stream. The options are wide and varied.

Music can be entertainment. Sentimental songs touch our hearts and moisten our eyes. Lively music can get our toes to tapping. There is power in music. There is a risk of being swept away. But music is good. “Musick has Charms to soothe the savage Breast, to soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak,” William Congreve’s play, The Mourning Bride, 1697).

The church is unable to accommodate everyone’s taste in musical style. If the tune does not resonate with your heart, check out the words. Songs are usually birthed from someone’s heart, whether through pain or celebration. “He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God,” (Psalm 40:2, MSG).

Regardless of the type of music you hear in corporate worship, its goal should be to accomplish one thing—to lead you into the presence of God. Elisha requested the music of a harp, allowing him to be prepared to hear from God. Church congregations should view hymns, choruses, and other worship music as heralds of the coming of a word from God.

In our quiet time, we can offer our praise to God with music that uplifts and opens our heart. When we are one-on-one with God, He can soften our heart by the words and thoughts He longs to give us in praise, then we can raise our petitions. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know,” (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV). What an exciting promise.

___________CSA