I love music. I am not ashamed to say
that I love all music. In fact, I have learned over my 63 years of
existence that all music has some redeeming aspect to it, even if I
might not “like” it.
I often wonder what the ancient music
of our faith sounded like. What were the songs and hymns and
spiritual songs of Paul’s era like? What instruments did they use?
What kinds of melodies were employed and what were the words like for
their worship? Would we like it?
I wonder the same thing for the ancient
music of God’s people, the Jews. What was their music like? We do
know they used some instruments, because we see the lists of them in
some of the Psalms. But we don’t have to wonder at what they sang
as far as “lyrics,” because we have the book of Psalms.
The Psalms are called “Tehillim” in
Hebrew and this word means the “Songs of Praise.” One hundred
fifty songs of praise are in the Tehillim. I don’t know about you,
but I love to read the Psalms. They are comforting, challenging,
illuminating and, well, just incredibly beautiful. They cover so much
ground for the faithful follower, the honest seeker and the one who
finds their self in need of a touch from the Lord.
There is a special Psalm found in a
section that the Jews call the Hallel. This is the section from Psalm
113 to 118. The Jews recite this whole section when the moment
dictates great praise to God and joyous circumstances. The Psalm that
I am talking about is Psalm 117. It is the shortest Psalm in the
whole Tehillim, yet I believe it is one of the most powerful in the
whole book of Psalms.
It says, “Praise the Lord, all
nations; laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great
toward us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the
Lord!” (NASB)
Now in two short verses God’s care
for the world, His worth to all people and His nature are revealed.
In just two verses! If you don’t mind my paraphrase, “God loves
the world and His truth is unchangeable, so we all better honor and
glorify His name. Hallelujah!”
Wow! What a message!
With so much negativity around today, praising something, anything, is pretty refreshing. Even more so for the followers of God to lift His name in PRAISE! He does deserve it.
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