By: Gladys Raquel Hernández
Music has been an element, an essential means of worship to God which has been carried out since the Old Testament times until now by the people of Israel: the first people chosen by God, His pioneer and loved people, in order to take the Good News of salvation all over the world.
The Christian music, through the different musical instruments played individually or jointly, giving even a greater harmony, is a way of expression, of communication, of manifestation of feelings, thoughts and emotions under deep inspiration, on the part of those people who play it, accompanied also by deeply inspired songs, new songs, psalms, hymns, poems, poetry and praises. Likewise, the Christian music is a blessing channel for all God´s faithful people, considering that it allows them to enter God´s presence.
God´s Word establishes that God enjoys Himself through His faithful people´s praise. We can view the following biblical verses:
“Everyone in Jerusalem and Judah, celebrate and shout with all your heart! Zion, your punishment is over. The Lord has forced your enemies to turn and retreat. Your Lord is King of Israel and stands at your side; you don´t have to worry about any more troubles. Jerusalem, the time is coming, when it will be said to you. “Don´t be discouraged or grow weak from fear! The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you. And he will refresh your life with his love” (Zephaniah 3:14-17)
“City of Zion, sing and celebrate!. The Lord has promised to come and live with you”. (Zechariah 2:10)
God´s faithful people celebrate the Lord´s Greatness. We can view the following biblical verses:
“Sing, people of Zion!. Celebrate the greatness of the holy Lord of Israel. God is here to help you”. (Isaiah 12:6)
“Moses and the Israelites sang this song in praise of the Lord: I sing praises to the Lord for his great victory! He has thrown the horses and their riders into the sea. The Lord is my strength, the reason for my song, because he has saved me. I praise and honor the Lord - he is my God and the God of my ancestors”. (Exodus 15:1-2)
The time is coming when the people of Judah will sing this song: Our city is protected. The Lord is our fortress, and he gives us victory”. (Isaiah 26:1)
“After the battle was over that day, Deborah and Barak sang this song: We praise you, Lord! Our soldiers volunteered, ready to follow you”. (Judges 5:1-2)
As soon as David caused the Levites to bring back the arc of the pact to Jerusalem, there was music and joy. We can view it.
“David then told the leaders to choose some Levites to sing and play music on small harps, other stringed instruments, and cymbals”. (1º Chronicles 15:16)
As we can appreciate through these previous biblical verses, every time a battle was won, when something was recovered, when people conquered any city, overcome the enemy, or celebrated a victory, there were musical instruments being played and voices singing.
We can picture this description:
“The singers come first, and then the musicians, surrounded by young women playing tambourines”. (Psalm 68:25)
The combination of musical instruments and songs is an order of God. We can view it:
“Sing as you play tambourines and the lovely sounding stringed instruments. Sound the trumpets and start the New Moon Festival. We must also celebrate when the moon is full. This is the law in Israel, and it was given to us by the God of Jacob”. (Psalm 81:2-4)
God´s faithful people combined instruments, voices and new songs which came directly from divine inspiration. We can view it:
“Praise the Lord with harps! Use harps with ten strings to make music for him. Sing a new song. Shout! Play beautiful music”. (Psalm 33:2-3 – Psalm 144-9)
“And you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you. Many will see this, and they will honor and trust you, the Lord God”. (Psalm 40:3)
The following biblical verses establish that all the inhabitants on this earth must praise the Lord with new songs, in complete joy
“Sing a new song to the Lord! Everyone on this earth sing praises to the Lord, sing and praise his name”. (Psalm 96:1)
“Tell everyone on this earth to sing happy songs in praise of the Lord”. (Psalm 98:4)
Psalm 96:2-4 – Psalm 98:1 – 100:1-2 – 149:1 – Isaiah 42:10 – 1º Chronicles 16:23-24
We can sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with joy:
“Make music for him on harps. Play beautiful melodies!.(Psalm 98:5)
“As long as I live, I will sing and praise you, the Lord God”. (Psalm 104:33)
“…. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God”. (Colossians 3:16)
“Sing praises to the Lord! Tell about his miracles”. (Psalm 105:2)
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened”. (Acts 16:25)
There exist praises and new songs in front of God´s Throne:
“And a new song was being sung in front of God´s throne”. (Revelation 14:3)
God´s Word establishes that God gives us songs at night.
“Every day, you are kind, and at night you give me a song as my prayer to you, the living Lord God”. (Psalm 42:8)
“The Lord´s people will sing as they do when they celebrate a religious festival at night”. (Isaiah 30:29)
It is possible to enter God´s presence with praises:
“Come to worship him with thankful hearts and songs of praise”. (Psalm 95:2)
The faithful People of Israel sang and praised the Lord in thanksgiving because He is good. We can view it:
“They praised the Lord and gave thanks as they took turns singing: The Lord is good! His faithful love for Israel will last forever”. (Ezra 3:11)
“At that time you will say: Our Lord, we are thankful, and we worship only you. We will tell the nations how glorious you are and what you have done”. (Isaiah 12:4)
God´s Word teaches us to sing God´s justice and glory:
“Sing about his glorious name. Honor him with praises”. (Psalm 66:2)
God´s Word uses exaggerated words to make us praise the Lord. We can view it:
“All of you faithful people, praise our glorious Lord! Celebrate and worship. Praise God with songs on your lips and a sword in your hand. Take revenge and punish the nations. Put chains of iron on their kings and rulers. Punish them as they deserve; this is the privilege of God´s faithful people. Shout praises to the Lord! (Psalm 149:5-9)
God´s Word establishes that the dead will rise to life and will praise God when Jesus returns to the earth to take His church with Him forever:
“Your people will rise to life! Tell them to leave their graves and celebrate with shouts. You refresh the earth like morning dew; you give life to the dead”. (Isaiah 26:19)
God´s faithful people sang Jacob´s redemption which is like our redemption through Jesus Christ. We can view it:
“Tell the heavens and the earth to start singing!. Tell the mountains and every tree in the forest to join in the song!. The Lord has rescued his people; now they will worship him”. (Isaiah 44:23)
It is possible to praise the Lord with the spirit as well as with the mind:
“…. Sometimes I should sing with my spirit, and at other times I should sing with my mind”- (1º Corinthians 14:15)
We can praise with joy:
“… If you are feeling good, you should sing praises”. (James 5:13)
God´s Word establishes that even the stars in the sky praise the Lord. We can view it:
“What supports the foundation? Who placed the cornerstone, while morning stars sang, and angels rejoiced?”. (Job 38:6-7)
Praises were accompanied by sacrifices in front of God in the Old Testament times:
“… Now that you are once again acceptable to the Lord, bring sacrifices and offerings to give him thanks”. (1º Chronicles 29:31)
“I am God Most High! The only sacrifice I want is for you to be thankful and to keep your word. Pray to me in time of trouble. I will rescue you, and you will honor me”. (Psalm 50:14-15)
Other biblical verses which refer to praise sacrifices are:
Exodus 15:2 – 1º Chronicles 16:8-9 and 29:13 - Nehemiah 12:27 – Psalms 7:17 and 9:1 - Psalm 30:12 – Psalms 42:5 and 11, and 43:4-5 - Psalm 50:23 – Psalm 57:9 - Psalm 65:1 – Psalm 67:3 and 5 - Psalm 69:30 – Psalm 71:22 - Psalm 79:13 – Psalms 92:1 and 95:2 – Psalms 96:6 and 99:3 – Psalms 100:4, 105:1, 106:1, 107:8-15-21-31, 111:1 and 113:1, Psalms 116:17, 117:1, 118:21 and 119:7-62-164 – Psalms 135:1 and 138:1 – Psalm 136:2 – Psalms 140:13 and 145:3 – Psalm 146:1-2 - Psalm 147:7 and 12 – Isaiah 38:19-20 – Jonah 2:9 – Zephaniah 3:19-20 – Matthew 11:25 and 21:16 - Luke 10:21 and 24:53 – Romans 15:11 - 2º Corinthians 8:18 - Ephesians 5:19 - Hebrews 2:12 and 13:15 – Revelation 5:13 and 19:5.
The psalms 145, 146 and 147, refer to the praise to God for His kindness and mercy, for His justice and for His favor towards Jerusalem. Psalm 148 exhorts all the Creation to praise the Lord God. Psalm 149 exhorts the people of Israel to praise the Lord God with musical instruments. Psalm 150 finishes with a universal calling of attention. We can view it:
“Let every living creature praise the Lord. Shout praises to the Lord! (Psalm 150:6)
Worship to God is more than singing, more than the combination of musical notes, more than a song, a psalm or an hymn… It means to surrender our heart to God and it implies meditation, respect, obedience and service to God, and sometimes, silence in front of the Lord. We can view it:
“He told his servants: Stay here with the donkey, while my son and I go over there to worship. We will come back”. (Genesis 22:5)
“Moses quickly bowed down to the ground and worshiped the Lord”. (Exodus 34:8)
“Everyone on this earth will remember you, Lord. People all over the world will turn and worship you, because you are in control, the ruler of all nations”. (Psalm 22:27-28)
“Everyone on earth, now tremble and worship the Lord, majestic and holy”. (Psalm 96:9)
Other biblical verses that refer to worship to God are:
1º Samuel 1:3 - Nehemiah 9:6 - Psalm 5:7 – Psalm 29:2 – Psalm 66:4 - Psalm 86:9 - Psalm 95:6 - Isaiah 27:13 - Isaiah 66:23 – Zechariah 14:17 – Matthew 2:2 – Matthew 4:10 - Matthew 28:17 – John 4:20, 22 and 24 – John 9:38 – John 12:20 – Acts 8:27 – Acts 10:25 – Acts 17:23 – 1º Corinthians 14:25 – Hebrews 1:6 – Revelation 4:10 – Revelation 14:7 – Revelation 15:4 – Revelation 19:4 and 10 – Revelation 22:8
Praise and worship to God imply exaltation, glorification, thanksgiving, honor, magnification and service to our God Creator and Heavenly Father.
“And now, because of Jesus Christ, we can praise the only wise God forever! Amen.” (Romans 16:27)
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