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.
Probably the best-known hymn of the Church is “Amazing Grace” by John Newton. His story of conversion is dramatic: he was a slavetrader who became a Christian, a pastor (who mentored the prominent poet and songwriter William Cowper), and a hymnwriter. One key line is taken from John 9:25: “I was blind [but] now I see.” The entire chapter 9 records the miraculous healing of a blind man by Jesus and the reaction of the religious leaders. Although this man “was blind from his birth” (verse 1), the opponents of Jesus refused to believe this man’s simple testimony. Sadly, they remained spiritually sightless. We know, as did Newton, that our salvation is a miracle: spiritually blind, we see; spiritually dead, we live. When I was a boy, a bagpipe version of “Amazing Grace” actually reached number one on the pop charts (1972 – the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards). One of my favorite versions is by Ralph Stanley, who used an old Southern form called lining out to illustrate how folks sang in church when he was young. Another powerful live version is by Doc Watson, who was physically blind from early infancy. He died in 2012; he can see now.
We used this devotional last year, but people had trouble accessing the songs. You should have no difficulties now.