Psalm 57:7 (NASB), “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!”
Have you ever noticed how everyone loves music, but not everyone has the exact same musical taste? While one person might agree with another person’s love for one particular song, those same two people may disagree about a different song. It’s like food. Everyone loves to eat, but no two people have an identical palate. God made us unique for His pleasure and will.
Jonathan Edwards wrote, “Every saint in heaven is as a flower in the garden of God, and holy love is the fragrance and sweet odor that they all send forth, and with which they fill the bowers of that paradise above. Every soul there is as a note in some concert of delightful music that sweetly harmonizes with every other note, and all together blend in the most rapturous strains in praising God and the Lamb forever.”
Think about the following questions: What kinds of music do you like to listen to when you’re sad, happy or feeling adventurous? Who are your favorite singers? What are your favorite songs? What are your favorite instruments? All of these answers show how unique your love for music is and how each of us has an individual musical expression.
Your unique expression of music was meant to make your worship to God special and personalized.
Zamar describes a kind of praise to God that involves the use of musical instruments, often times with singing. Remember that singing with instruments while we worship is a form of prayer because it is communication with God. God can also give us His words to sing spontaneously over music as well. This is called “prophetic worship” (1 Chronicles 25:1). Singing, praying and prophesying go hand in hand when it comes to worshipping God with music.
Though God doesn’t expect everyone to learn a new instrument to perform “zamar,” you can do this kind of praise by using the instruments God already gave you, your hands and feet. The next time you hear a great praise song, clap your hands and tap your feet to the beat.
For those who do play an instrument, use your talent to worship God. If not, you can learn to play an instrument with practice and dedication (if that’s your desire). Maybe your church could use you in the worship band or you could be the worship leader for your family devotions. No matter your musical skill, be sure to worship with others who are talented in music, either at church or with recorded music. Whatever you do, use music to worship God!
Reflection
What kinds of music do you like to worship God with?
Action
- Worship God today either with an instrument you can play or with others who are talented in making music.
- Sing, pray and prophesy when you worship God with music.
- Keep your music library exciting with a variety of styles and songs from both the past and the present.
