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.
Jonathan Edwards, the famous Puritan preacher from New England, said that all of the biggest problems in his ministry occurred during the month of March. A pastor friend of mine, now in heaven, agreed. I do not anticipate any particular difficulty; I try not to borrow trouble, for the interest payments are crushing. Perhaps the weather makes us cranky – or worse. A better path is available to us: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1); we should be “endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). The hymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” encourages us to get along with each other based upon our shared relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. We sing the first verse at the end of our Communion service, but I also like to sing the entire hymn at other times. Let us listen to a version by Darby Hughes.