Melodic Mondays
Those of you who know me know that I love music even though I am not musical myself. I listen to good music as often as I can. It is beneficial to the brain, valuable to the vocabulary, and strengthening to the soul. Isaiah 12:2-3 is a lovely passage that includes this soaring statement of surety: “The Lord JEHOVAH [YAHWEH] is my strength and my song.” This could be translated, “God is my mountaintop and my music.” Yes, He is! Each Monday, I want to study this subject and suggest a song to listen to. Anyone reading this devotional has easy access to any song. (I am an exception because I do not go on a computer or other information device.) If you do not like my suggestion (and we all have different tastes), you can think of or search for one that speaks to you. Then, it can become a source of encouragement throughout the week.
Matthew 27:27-33 records Jesus’ journey from Pilate’s hall to Golgotha, the place of crucifixion. It was not a lengthy trip, for the city of Jerusalem at that time was quite small; any location within the city was no more than a mile from Golgotha. However, for our beaten and bleeding Savior, it was too long. In His severely weakened state, He could not carry the Cross (as was required as part of the punishment), and “they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear His cross” (verse 32). Jesus’ way to Golgotha is called the Via Dolorosa, a Latin phrase meaning “road of sorrow,” and it is the title of a relatively modern song. Let us listen to a version by Laura Bretan.