“The Power of Song”
There is a saying in the creative community here in Music City, USA, where I live: “It all starts with a song.”
This saying, of course, was intended to convey the importance of having a good song to start with in the creative/commercial process of going into the studio, producing the project, marketing it to radio and television, and trying to make sure the artist performing the song gets maximum exposure and sells records.
I believe that the people of God would do well to remember the importance of His gift of song to us.
God, our Father and our Creator, caused the universe (which means “one word”) to come into being by the power of His Word, His Voice.
He spoke creation into being. Some theologians suggest that God sung the universe into existence. Talk about a song!
Words are powerful. The words we speak can affect change in the people who listen to us. Proverbs says that “death and life are in the power of the tongue and they that love it (to talk) shall eat the fruit thereof.”
How many times have you replayed in your mind words that were spoken to you or about you- some good, some maybe not so good.
Music is also a very powerful gift. Music can change the atmosphere, can penetrate our defenses and affect emotional, spiritual and even physical changes in the hearer.
So what if you combine Holy Spirit-inspired words with Holy Spirit-inspired music? You have the power of song.
Most believers have no problem believing that they hear from God (indirectly at least), through the pastor’s sermon, message or homily. I believe that, though the above is an important means of receiving the Word of the Lord, there are many ways that God speaks to us today.
God speaks to us through His creation: “the heavens are telling the glory of God,” through our spouse (though sometimes we don’t like what we hear!), through our friends, children, circumstances, quiet time with His Word and also through corporate song.
Psalms 133 talks about the blessing of God’s people being in unity. When we sing “God-breathed” songs together corporately there is at least a threefold blessing that is received and given.
1. The power of the words that we sing. Many songs are filled with powerful truth and can give us a clearer revelation of Who Jesus is and Who He is in us! There is a creative power that is released as we lift our voices in faith and declare in song the words inspired by the Holy Spirit
2. The power of the music. David played his instrument before King Saul and the evil spirits tormenting Saul had to flee. Holy Spirit inspired music brings the atmosphere of heaven to earth and helps us to hear the inaudible sounds of the Kingdom of God come to earth!
3. The power of unity. In the west, where the exalting of individualism has too much importance, it is refreshing and vital that we remember that we belong to something much greater than ourselves. Again the 133rd Psalm: “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers (and sisters) to dwell together in unity. It is like the oil that flows down the beard and the robes of Aaron (we are a royal priesthood through Christ). For there (the place of unity) the Lord commands the blessing: even life forevermore!” (Emphases and parentheses mine)
If one person singing a song can melt a hard heart and help others to focus on the Solution instead of the problem, just imagine what power is released when many of us lift our voices together in love and praise to our God through Jesus Christ. Indeed, those praises become a throne for the King of kings as He makes Himself known in our midst.
“The Lord is our Strength and our Song!”