The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "A CONCERT OF GOD’S WORD" for Wednesday, 14 September 2016 with Scripture: Psalm 100:1-5

The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "A CONCERT OF GOD’S WORD" for Wednesday, 14 September 2016 with Scripture: Psalm 100:(0) A psalm of thanksgiving:
(1) Shout for joy to Adonai, all the earth!
2 Serve Adonai with gladness.
Enter his presence with joyful songs.
3 Be aware that Adonai is God;
it is he who made us; and we are his,
his people, the flock in his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
enter his courtyards with praise;
give thanks to him, and bless his name.
5 For Adonai is good, his grace continues forever,
and his faithfulness lasts through all generations.
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Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.[Psalm 100:1 (NRSV)]
When I was a little girl, I took piano lessons. Playing piano was not something that came naturally to me, and my teacher assigned me only the simplest tunes. Within a year or two, I stopped taking lessons. Several years later, I picked up my old piano books and began to play the familiar melodies. For whatever reason, this time I was interested in learning to play and practiced daily. I progressed to playing more advanced pieces and eventually had many pieces memorized. Although in the beginning I stumbled and hesitated, over time the music found its way into my heart. Once, on vacation, I even performed an impromptu concert for the guests of the inn where I was staying.
Decades later, I am going through the same procedure trying to memorize scripture. I initially stumble my way through, then at some point the scripture moves from my head to my heart. As I speak the verses, the words come pouring out of my mouth with even more joy, enthusiasm, and love than those songs I played long ago on the piano. Alas, I have long since given up the piano, but God’s word is something I’ll never give up. Who knows when I might be called upon to perform an impromptu concert?
Read more from the author, here.
"Continuing the Concert"
The Bible, and in particular the Psalms, is rich with references to making music and singing in order to honor the Lord. In fact, the introduction to many of the Psalms includes notations such as, “Triumphant song of confidence” (Psalm 27) or, “To the leader: with stringed instruments” (Psalm 61). God’s people are meant to worship God “with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving” (Psalm 42:4) and to “enter his presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2b). Additionally, there is an emphasis on such music making being conducted in groups, as with the Songs of Assent (Psalms 120-134). So, although I certainly appreciate the haunting beauty of a single violinist performing a solo, the images and sounds that come to my mind when thinking about praising God tend to be more along the lines of an orchestra combining all their different instruments into an intricate story of both individual and shared adoration.
When I received an early copy of my printed meditation “A Concert of God’s Word,” it had been many months since I read what I’d written. After I reread it, I was struck by the thought that the words on the page, the words I’d written, would be translated into hundreds of different languages and dialects and I felt, not proud, but humbled. I thought about the scripture passage from Psalm 100 being read aloud in all of the marvelous instruments of our respective languages. And then I thought about that day of Pentecost over 2,000 years ago, when the flame of the Holy Spirit came and touched each of those gathered, filling them with the ability to speak in different languages so that all who were in Jerusalem that day heard words from God in their own language. What an amazing concert that must have been!
Over the few years that I’ve been memorizing scripture, I have been in situations where being able to recite, or “play,” God’s word to an audience of one or many has been a blessing. Even more wonderful have been those times when I’ve began to recite a verse and another joins in with me. It’s my hope that people who up to now have believed they are incapable of memorizing scripture might be motivated to try in order that they might be in the position to also play God’s words to an audience in need of hearing it--to offer to them “a lamp to their feet and a light to their path” (Psalm 119:105).
The very first scripture verse I memorized was Isaiah 41:10: “Do no fear for I am with you. Do not be afraid for I am your God. I will help you, I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
What was yours? What will yours be?
Peace be with you all![Amy Hayes Burling. Amy blogs at http://mrsbsbrilliantblog.blogspot.com/.]
The Author: Amy Hayes Burling (Florida, USA)
Thought for the Day: When we keep scripture in our hearts, we are never far from God.
Prayer: Loving God, thank you for your gift of music and for the truth of your everlasting word. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer focus: CHURCH MUSICIANS
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