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.
In yesterday’s message, we studied Isaiah 61:3, which promises that the Messiah would give us “beauty for ashes.” This evocative and encouraging expression assures us that God will forgive us and will replace our failure with His beauty – that is, with all that is attractive in Him. We need a total transformation, and this is exactly what God the Son, Jesus
Christ, provides to those who trust in Him for His eternal salvation. As we approach Ash Wednesday, we are reminded of this truth. The hymn “Beauty for Ashes” that I am familiar with (written in 1889 by J. G. Crabbe) is available online in instrumental form only. Thus, we will listen to a newer song of the same name by Chris McClarney. Although the words and music are different from the older hymn, the message is much the same.