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.
Last week, we considered Revelation 5:12, a heavenly hymn: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” Verse 13b adds these words to the song: “Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the lamb for ever and ever.” Handel combined these verses (and added “and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood” – Revelation 5:9) in his famous oratorio Messiah. Most appropriately, “Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain” is the final song (except for the “Amen Chorus,” my favorite part of the oratorio). The version by the London Philharmonic is quite good (and is the one with which I am most familiar).