“…the season of singing has come.” (Song of Songs 2:12, NIV)
One of the troubles with leaving the holidays is that we can emerge from them with one song or another stuck in our head. With carols playing over and over, it’s nice sometimes to pick up the chorus of an especially God-honoring hymn to lift us during the busy days with family, friends, and fellow travelers and shoppers.
But now that those days have ended, shedding those tedious songs—however fine they may be in their content—would be a blessing of another kind!
I hope you’re laughing a wry laugh with me in the midst of this discussion, but the truth is that music plays a rather large role in all of our lives, whether or not we consider ourselves musicians. I even know of competitive golfers who use a song in their heads (or on their headphones) to keep from over-thinking their swing mechanics while they’re pounding balls on a range somewhere. And if the rhythm works adds to a golfer’s smooth repetition, all the better.
So there’s no reason to run from songs all the time. In fact, to do that would be to run from the positive pictures of music that Scripture provides (and these are a very few examples):
“David put men in charge of music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there. They ministered with music before the tabernacle.” (1 Chronicles 6:32-33)
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music.” (Psalm 98:4)
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.” (Luke 15:25)
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25)
“Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19)
The idea is clear: music is good for God’s people. Singing his praises is to be our practice, our experience, and our enrichment. Yes, as we leave the holidays, it may be important to you to shake that one lingering song free from the tangles of your brain. But it’s just as necessary to find songs of praise and joy that will carry you into and through the year ahead.
—
Jeff Hopper
January 3, 2012
Copyright © 2012 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday through Friday and is archived by passage and topic at www.linksplayers.com.