God of Music

 

God of Music

As we worship God, one aspect of His divine activity seems to be singing.   We worship the Great Musician with music.  Zephaniah 3:17 says,

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 

The word here is a ringing cry or shout, but that is what singing is—sustained emotional speech.  Whenever we speak of God involved in activities we struggle to understand what is anthropomorphic expression and what is literal.  After all, God does not have a mouth or vocal folds as we do.  But, of course, that does not prevent Him from making any sound He wishes, or communicating in any way.

God created music.  He was the one who decided it would be one of the primary ways in which we worship Him.  He is clearly pleased by its righteous expression.  And we know that God does sing.  Jesus certainly did.  Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26 record Jesus singing.  Hebrews 2:12 seems to describe a day when both the Sanctifier and Sanctified join together in singing.

There is something deeper here than what we normally imagine.  Music, but especially singing as the Bible describes it, is full of truth, but also full of emotional response.  In its highest form it is deep truth and the response of the heart to that truth.  God clearly wants us to respond with our minds and hearts.  This pleases Him.  And He requests singing of His people.  May our music, our singing truly please the One who created music for His own pleasure.