Make a Joyful Noise! - 06 April 2021 - Plague Journal Day 390

Micah 6:8
Psalm 147:1-9  Zephaniah 3:14-17
Yes, your life matters.

We all are still sheltering in place, but I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?
   
 
If you read the Psalms, you know that music has always been an important part of the worship of God.
 

I think it's very interesting that we never read things like, "Only the best singers may sing to the Lord." nor "Let not the tone-deaf enter into His gates." nor "Unless he practices an hour every day for ten years the player shall not play his lyre unto the Lord." Nope. Nothing remotely like that.

  

Instead we are told over and over to sing to the Lord a new song, to praise Him with song and music and dance. We are all told to do this, not just the specially designated musicians among us.

But shouldn't we want the best music for our worship? Shouldn't we make sure we don't let those "amateurs" spoil our worship with less than stellar music?

The short answer is "No," that's not how music in worship should be approached.
After all, it's not like God needs us to give Him the best music there is. He can get the very best there could ever be at any time He wants it.
So what does He want from us?
I believe that what He wants from us, and what we should want right along with Him, is for us to express the Joy of worshiping Him through our music - whether singing or playing an instrument (or even dance!).

Now let me be clear. This is not meant as an excuse to do a bad job; rather it's an invitation to do the best job we can - now.
Again, we're not always asking for the best we could ever do, but for the best we have now - and that current best will come out of the Love we have for Him (and the Love He has for us), and the Joy it produces in our lives.

That's how we should approach the music we share in worship, and when we do, God will delight in it just as we do, and will sing over us as well.

Keep Calm and Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.