July 21st, 2007
Life’s Music
“The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord.”
2 Chronicles 5:13
I haven’t seen too many Broadway Musicals, but one stands out WAY above the rest. The first time I saw “Les Miserables” I sat in wonder as the score, the set, the actors and actresses, the costumes and the musicians all worked their magic on my intellect and emotions. After purchasing the soundtrack I could relive those moments of grief as one woman loses her life in sacrifice, determination as the crowd rises up to fight injustice, and glory as we realize that we each donate something to society– whether good or evil. Even now as I write this the memory of the ending’s emotion – the rising swell into a perfectly-balanced turbulent mix of instruments and voices - gives me that beating heart that only great music gives. I do love great music – especially music which pulls at my mind and emotion. Which is why, I think, this picture in the Bible caught my attention.
Solomon completed building the temple sparing no expense. The gold, bronze, silver and tapestries must have gleamed in the bright Jerusalem sun. On the day when the treasured Ark of the Covenant was to be brought into the temple, declaring its completion, there was music. Not just a few people who decided to get together for a garage band, not even a practiced Broadway orchestra. This music emanated from musicians playing cymbals, lyres, and harps. Then they were joined by 120 priests playing trumpets. 120 trumpets. I love brass instruments - can you even imagine 120 skilled trumpeters playing together? The sound must have been awe-inspiring. But do you know the most amazing part? They weren’t there to perform a concert for their fellow priests or Israelites. They were there for one reason, “The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words:
“He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chron. 5:13)
Their focus, their abilities, their voices and entire beings were strained in praise of God’s goodness and faithful love. I know I write about that theme a lot. We are to praise God no matter what; we are to realize that our lives are here to bring praise to a Loving, Awesome Creator. And sometimes I am sure you get bored of reading those same sentiments. However, since I write what I think about, I guess I have to admit that the more I study the Bible the more I realize that those who God praises in the Bible are those whose entire lives reflect God’s sovereignty. They ask God for guidance in their decisions, and although they live their lives like any other human as far as eating, family and jobs, they do all of those things with the knowledge that their lives mean something only in the light of who God is and how he views us.
So, although you may get bored with my themes, I know they will pop up again and again because, although there are times when my life’s music may be way off key, I pray that God will use all of us as we reflect on Him and praise Him together to create such a cacophony of sound that the world will sit up and take notice of the God we praise!