Orange Moon "The Sound of Music"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

 

   "The Sound of Music"

 

 

    In 1877, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph.  This provided the first means of conveying recorded sound, including music.  Until then, to hear notes, melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, one either had to personally produce them by voice or instrument, or hear someone else perform.  Contrast this with modern times, when most people have continual access to recorded sounds at our fingertips.  We can listen to music at all times, and nearly all places.

 

   "I got me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts" (Ecclesiastes 2:8).

 

    Solomon knew something about frequently available music.  Still, his experience paled in comparison to our current opportunity.  It remains very new in human history to have such continual access to the sound of music. People of previous generations could not imagine what has become commonplace.  As with everything in human experience, this offers the possibility of both the good and the bad, the beneficial and the harmful, and most importantly, the glory of God or the shame of sin.

 

   Our Lord of beauty made music.  Indeed, few things more confirm the existence of the great Artist and Engineer of all things.  Music is at once both profoundly technical and sublimely imaginative.  Even the most trained and skilled musician will attest to the reality that music exists as a reality that transcends human ability and creativity.  One popular artist said of a well known song he had written and performed, "I was lying in a hammock on a beach in Hawaii and the song approached and seemed to view me as a good home in which to live."  While the songwriter and performer spoke figuatively, it remains true that most musicians realize that something exists beyond the sound they seek to produce and convey.  

 

   "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Thy countenance" (Psalm 89:15).

 

   Whether we sing or play ourselves, or listen to others, of this we can be sure: music speaks to us of God's existence and His wonder.  Regardless of how glorious or distorted the notes, the simple fact of music's existence sings to our hearts that God is, that He is wondrously creative in both the artistic and technical sense, and that He loves us.  Indeed, our Lord made notes, melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, and He made us with the capacity to richly enjoy them.  Perhaps most wondrously, He will one day use His gift to musically express His heart to us…

 

"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing."

(Zephaniah 3:17)

 

Weekly Memory Verse

    Thou hast sent Me and hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me.

(John 17:23)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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