Music in My Ears
Tom Barnard
I
have a dentist friend who whistles while he works. He’s pretty good at it, and he is equally good at what he does when he works inside the mouths of his patients. I can’t whistle; it must be a physical thing. I don’t hum much either. And I’m never asked to sing. But I still hear music in my ears. Does that count? I believe it does. The Psalmist David said it beautifully in 34:1.
“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Dr. Keith Pagan is a university professor emeritus of music who lives in San Diego, California. He keeps tabs with the music offerings at churches in his city. This week he included in his weekly blog some of his thoughts about Christian music. He quoted a friend who said to him, “It is surprising how these songs stick with you.” Then he expanded on that thought:
They do stay with you…that’s the point. A well-written tune successfully married to words that matter will stick with you…a lifetime. That’s why the lyrics we use should be carefully considered. They stay with you. You will find yourself hearing them, saying them, praying them, over and over. Some are poems of praise by which we worship Him. Some are prayers of petition, by which our deepest needs are presented to Him. Some are personal testimonies by which we praise Him, worship Him, and thank Him for hearing and answering our prayers and petitions. All are of great benefit when you are awake in the night. So, rejoice in the gift of melody and Scriptural lyrics and the ability to remember them! Sing the words over and over again. Let your spirit be carried by His Spirit to an altar of Prayer, Petition, and Praise.
Martin Luther could not have said it better.
When I want to be blessed, I turn to one of the hymnals I have collected over the years. I keep them on a shelf next to my favorite Bibles. I thumb through the index for titles thatgrab my attention. When I find one, I read all of the stanzas. I repeat the verses that stick in my mind. If I am by myself, I think of the tune and in my mind recite the lyrics. I don’t need to singout-loud; in fact, singing may distract me from the depth of the meaning of the hymn. I like the thoughts of the late William McCumber: “Profound hymns embodying great biblical truths will inform the mind, gladden the heart, and brace the will for our spiritual pilgrimage.”
Here is one of my favorites, written by Charles Wesley. The hymn tune is a familiar one from Gesangbuch, Wirtemburg, 1784:
Come, let us rise with Christ our Head And seek the things above,
By the almighty Spirit led And filled with faith and love.
Our hearts detached from all below Should after Him ascend,
And only with the joy to know Of our triumphant Friend.
Enthroned at God’s right hand He sits, Maintainer of our cause,
Till ev’ry vanquished foe submits To His victorious cross.
Worthy to be exalted thus The Lamb for sinners slain;
The Lord our King who reigns for us, And shall forever reign.
To Him our willing hearts we give, Who gives us pow’r and peace;
And dead to sin, His members live The life of righteousness.
The hidden life of Christ is ours With Christ concealed above;
And tasting the celestial pow’rs, We banquet on His love.
The words are a bit tricky to memorize, but the tune is an easy one to master. Look it up. And sing!
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