Ode to JOYce - "Music Matters"

I’ve been thinking about the purpose of this blog. The subject is obviously important otherwise seven people would run out of things to say after six months. Everything from the new song/hymn debate to musician etiquette to our most recent romp through the good and bad of Christmas music has been discussed, and all with more varying perspectives than you can shake a stick at. (Okay, that’s how they say it in the Ozarks where I grew up…) As a result of being a part of this experiment, my world, which I didn’t realize was so narrow, has been broadened. I’ve been forced to rethink some viewpoints and have changed some opinions I previously held.

So, music does matter. I borrow the following from my mentor and now colleague, Joyce Scott, who wrote this amazing document a few years ago, and which I’m proud to share with you.

Does music matter?
Ask Moses – why did the Lord tell him to SING his final sermon? (Duet 31:19)
Ask Saul – how did he get rid of the evil spirit that troubled him? (I Sam. 16:23)

Does music matter?
Ask Elisha – what happened to him when the minstrel played? (II Kings 3:15)
Ask David – why did four thousand praise the Lord with the instruments he made? (I Chron 23:5)

Does music matter?
Ask the priests at the dedication of the temple- what caused the glory of the Lord to fill the house of God so that they could not stand to minister? (II Chron 5:13-14)
Ask Jehoshaphat – how did he win the battle against the children of Ammon, Moab and mount Seir? (II Chron 20:21-22)

Does music matter?
Ask Paul and Silas – how did they evangelize the Phillipian jail? (Acts 16:25)
Ask the dead in Christ – when shall they be raised incorruptible? (I Cor. 15:52)

Ask the Author of the Bible – why is music mentioned over 500 times in 44 of its 66 books – and why is the largest book and the central book the songbook – and why did he COMMAND His prophets to use music in His house?

Music DOES matter IF-
The musicians are sanctified (II Chron 5:11-14), and skillful (Ps. 33:3)
It matters IF –
The music is based on the Word of God (Col 3:16) motivated by the Spirit and directed to the Lord. (Eph. 5:18-19)

Music matters BECAUSE –
We FEEL what we sing. Music expresses our spirits in a way that words cannot do. It involves our heads, hands and hearts simultaneously. It allows all of us to actively participate at the same time. It promotes unity. It helps us to reach up and out. It imprints truth in our minds.

Does music matter? Do we ever have a church service without it?

It matters IF HE is our music! (Ex. 15:2, Ps 118:14, Is. 12:2)

Thanks, Sister Scott, for the hard work of putting this together. And thanks to all my fellow musicians who live these words – I know HE is pleased!

Merry Christmas.