GodReflection: Power Words

Music wasn’t an elective at Hillcrest Elementary School. I bumped into music as a kid at church, on the car radio, and blaring from my sister’s bedroom.

The goal at school was to learn about music.

To conquer the musical scale the entire class purchased plastic flutophones.  The teacher taught me to play the scales as I covered and uncovered a select number of its seven different size air holes.

My one accomplished tune totaled 13 notes.

It didn’t take long to see I didn’t walk the pathway of music. Not once was I inspired to move on to the saxophone or to purchase a guitar.

Although I can sing a mean bass—I am not God-wired to walk the Music Pathway.

However, I did grow up in a singing church. In addition, I enjoyed two-weeks each of four or five summers in a music camp. My pathway crisscrosses the Music trail and I dabble along its bends and trajectory in my attempt to worship Creator God.

Those who walk the Music Pathway as their primary connection to the Holy are in a different league. Their iPhones and iPods lack capacity to hold the multiple genres of music that align their hearts to God’s heart.

For them, during public church worship times, everything other than music must seem to be an add-on.

They would be fine if worship consisted of music from the opening welcome to the final word. Could they have their way, even the last word of the worship hour would be a song that ended in amen.

These people keep weekly music, monthly sing-ins, and annual singing events alive in my church tradition. There is always time and place for another song. Music fuels their pathway as the major building block to interface with the Holy.

Perhaps, shepherd David anointed by God as King David, stands as the clearest example of a man who walked the Music Pathway.

He authored the major portion of the Book of Psalms that serves as the hymnal of Scripture and the hymnal of God’s people.

Listen to the heart of the Shepherd King as he walked the Music Pathway:

My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. 

He sang to the Lord the words of these songs:

I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise. 

The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies . . . . I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.

By way of King Solomon, God writes this tribute to the Shepherd Musician who wore deep the trail of the Music Pathway. The honored words come at the dedication of the Holy Temple—a place of worship—envisioned by David.

The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the Lord’s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the Lord and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.”

Here is what I think.

God is creator of music. He wired some of His children with unique circuitry to tap into His heart through music.

Their walk stands in witness to a God who hums my name and put my concerns to music.

Father God, 

Beginning with the song of Creation in Genesis chapter one through music you demonstrate from eternity to eternity the story of your people and your purpose. 

The colorful music imagery in the Book of Revelation focuses hearts on the eternal.    

Music comes from your heart. 

May I honor those whom you select to wear deep the Music Pathway as they join close to your Holiness. 

As I walk the trails of my divine wiring, may I soak in the music of fellow travelers and claim bits and pieces as our trails intertwine. 

And, may you smile with pleasure as I attempt some of your soul notes along the way. 

Perhaps, I can at least hum in harmony with the music people as I walk my own God-given trails of Builder, Thinker, and Intellectual. 

Through the name of the Holy I pray, 

Amen. 

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – A GodReflection on Music as a Holy Path Word of Power.

Gary@Godreflection.org     www.MakeYourVisionGoViral.com