Music Stirs the Heart

But you, O heaven, rejoice over her (Babylon) fate.  And you also rejoice, O holy people of God and apostles and prophets!  For at last God has judged her (Babylon) on your behalf.  Never again will the sound of music be heard there -- no more harps, songs, flutes, or trumpets.  (Revelation 18:20 & 22)


   Music is a powerful medium.  A few notes can swell your chest with pride and bring you to your feet.  Tunes such as the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America bring me to my feet along with shed tears.

   Some musical rhythms cause me to tap my feet and clap my hands to the beat.  Other songs bring back nostalgic memories of the good old days and the simple lifestyle of yesteryear.

   I have two sons who own and operate a contemporary Christian music business.  My oldest son was a "first chair" trumpet player on his high school band, and my other son loves to play the steel guitar.  Together they read young people with the lyrics of the gospel in a musical format.

   Music played a large part in the lives of Old Testament people groups.  They used musical instruments to call people to assembly, to worship, to arms, and for entertainment.  The Psalms served as Israel's hymnal and singers gathered to chant and sing songs of praise and adoration.

   When David was a young lad he was called upon to play his harp when Kind Saul was tormented by a spirit sent from god. (1 Samuel 16:23)  After David killed the giant Goliath and saved Israel's army from defeat, women came out from all the towns and danced for joy using tambourines and cymbals. (1 Samuel 18:6)

   Music played a major role in the formation and protection of our country.  Who can forget the"fife and drum" of the Revolutionary War,

 or the tune Yankee Doodle Dandy and the Battle Hymn of the Republic during the Civil War.  Other tunes such as Over There and It's a Long Way to Tipperary were sung during World War I, and the white Cliffs of Dover in World War 2.  The Korean war brought to popularity the soundtrack of MASH.  Rock and Roll soundtracks became popular during the Vietnam War, and the troops top forty included such songs as Five Hundred Miles and Leaving on a Jet Plane.  


   Needless to say, music has infiltrated every fabric of American life.  It is the engine that drives business, pleasure, and worship.

Thought for the Day: God is an expert musician and can play all instruments with perfection.