Nehemiah 11
This chapter tells us about how the leaders lived in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people lived in the surrounding towns of Judah. But now that the wall was finished, the city needed to be populated.
So they cast lots, probably similar to us throwing dice, to bring one out of every ten to also live in the City of Jerusalem. Others also decided to move there, too, instead of on their ancestral property, and they were honored for doing so. We have here the lists of who moved to the city, and also the towns that they moved out of.
And, Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the House of God. For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day (vs.22-23).
This, in the middle of the list of all those who chose to live in Jerusalem, shows us how God values music. He had gifted that specific part of the tribe of Levi, the sons of Asaph, with musical abilities for singing and playing instruments. And even this foreign king gave honor to the sons of Asaph, because they led the worship of the people in the House of God.
God loves music so much that He put a whole book of music in His written Word--the book of Psalms. Here we don't have any melodies, only the lyrics, because God loves a new song. And He knows that every People in every Nation in every Time will have a different culture, and will write melodies in their own style, according to their own culture, to worship our God over all.
God loves variation and diversity, as He unites us as one in our faith. So we can all sing of our God and His character and personality with different tunes and melodies and tempos. And in our differences in our songs, we will be united in our praise and worship.
God made our bodies to work in amazing ways. Just as a carrier will allow an herb or medicine to be absorbed through our skin to reach the affected place that needs healing, so our brains are able to absorb the message of the lyrics through the tunes and music.
That's why I am careful about what I subject my ears to hear, and I listen to Christian music on my radio, so that His principles of life and living will permeate my brain to form His attitudes.
I have KLOVE playing on my radios in my home and in my car, and they like to issue "30-day Challenge"s to listen to only Christian music for a month, and testimonies from listeners who have taken them up on this challenge show that God's ideas presented musically can change lives.
It doesn't matter what gendre is used, when God's ideas are presented lives change, whether in today's rock, country, rap, olde time hymns; or in African or Chinese rhythms.
I think that's why God loves music so much. But our enemy also knows this, so much of the World's music promotes murder and adultery and other ungodly attitudes and twisted views of reality. People who say, "I don't listen to the words," are still getting the messages.
O my Father, thank You for music! Thank You for those who know You who are writing new musical scores for Your songs in Psalms and other parts of Your written Word, and their testimonies of how good You are to them in so many ways. Thank You that we don't have to wait until we're in Heaven with You to worship You, but we can let everything we do and say and think be in worship of You.
Show me how to let every moment of every day bring praise and honor and worship to You, Father, even while I still walk on this Earth. And may I feel Your smile and joy upon my ways, as I walk with You.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
