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 JEHOVA [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.
Luke 2:8-20 tells us that the first people to hear of the birth of Jesus were shepherds. They were not highly regarded by the wealthy upper class, and they were considered ceremonially unclean by the religious establishment. Yet, they were chosen by God not only to hear the angelic proclamation but also to visit Jesus. The wonder of this event is captured in “We Are the Shepherds” by Johnny Cash. The controlling motif of light is consistent with Jesus’ presentation of Himself as the Light of the World (John 8:12; 9:5).