Sing and make music

My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul (Psalm 108:1).

Music is a very important part of human life. Most radio stations include music as part of their programming. Many businesses play music in the background over a speaker system. In TV shows and movies, moments of transition, action, or deep emotion are always accompanied by a musical score. Most schools include a music department and offer concerts for the public. Musical groups tour the country and often play at community events. Some people download music to their computers, ipods and cell phones; others have large collections of records, tapes or compact discs. Music is woven into the very fabric of our culture.

Music can affect our emotions. Some businesses use music to influence employee productivity, using soothing melodies to reduce stress or faster rhythms to encourage a brisk work pace. Movies and TV shows use music to enhance the emotion of a scene, whether it be heart-pumping action, heart-crushing sadness, or a moment of tender love. Lots of teenagers use music to help them cope with times of anger, sadness, or fear. And the right mix of background music can liven up any party. Music can also help with education. Youth who are involved with a music program tend to perform better academically. Music can make it easier to commit information to memory—that’s why children are taught to sing their ABCs.

Music affects our emotions and helps us to learn—it is no wonder that music plays such an important role in the Church. If you go to worship in a foul mood or are preoccupied with troubling thoughts, you won’t get much out of the service. Music can help with that—it can influence your emotional state and get you into the right frame of mind for being attentive to God. Sometimes the sermon doesn’t connect with you; maybe the pastor used too many big words or you couldn’t follow his train of thought. Music can compensate for that—the hymns you sing are little sermons set to music, making it easier for you to remember what the Church teaches about our sin and God’s forgiveness offered through His Son Jesus.

Church music is not a nice extra—good devotional music is an essential part of worship. So when you are invited to open your mouth and sing, don’t be embarrassed and keep silent—God gives us music to gladden our hearts and draw us closer to Him.