I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Psalm 104:33 (NIV)

PART 3 – Music, Truth and the Universe

Go to  PART 1  |  PART 2

In John 4:24, the word worship comes from the Greek word Proskuneo, and it means “To kiss the hand of the one we revere.” It's a sign of reverence, honour, loyalty and love.

The thing we sing about most is love. Music seems to be the ultimate medium to express matters of the heart.

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent” Victor Hugo

“Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.” Martin Luther

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” Plato

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” Maya Angelou

“The only truth is music.” Jack Kerouac

“Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom & philosophy.” Beethoven

Music is the natural kissing the divine. The connection point of what can be explained held and seen, to the unknown, the unspeakable, and to the wind that moves ever between our fingers.

I was at a Coldplay concert in Sydney last year, and while they were playing “Oceans” from their latest album, I was transported to another place, ‘feeling' welled up inside of me and worship poured out. While I write these small musings, I listen to composer-pianist Dustin O'Hallaran. His music opens up something inside of me, I can’t explain what happens, but I feel connected to God… it makes me cry, laugh out load and catch my breath. It speaks to the unexplainable deep within me.

It's no wonder that music is our response to the holy and sacred nature of God. John Mark MacMillan says, “Worship is not a means to an end, it is the end.”

Worship is part of our connection with God. It's how we touch him, see and know him, express to him and of him… We don’t have to sing certain words, or a certain number of fast and slow songs for music to inspire worship… worship IS connecting with God. It's a divine kiss.

In a poem called ‘Music,' Anne Porter writes,

“Music opens a wound in us
An ache a desolation
Deep as a homesickness
For some far-off
And half-forgotten country…

And when music comes to us
With its heavenly beauty
It brings us desolation
For when we hear it
We half remember
That lost native country…

And shining at the heart of it
Is the longed-for beauty
Of the One who waits for us
Who will always wait for us
In those radiant meadows

Yet also came to live with us
And wanders where we wander.”

Sing to God, respond to him with music. Not to be found acceptable, or because it's the thing to do. Not because it's on the run sheet or is a requirement of devotion. Sing because when you look into the heart of God, music is the only way you can express what you see, feel and discover. And it's the only way you can communicate the depth of your heart. Sing because music transcends the natural and connects us with God.

Go to PART 4 “For Him and His Glory”

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