Caught in the Music
I had a really interesting thought while I was at a free Broken Social Scene concert last night in the Byward Market.
There are all these kids, listening and dancing and being one with the music, throwing their hands in the air to what end? I couldn’t help but feel a parallel between this indie culture and the honest worship that I experienced at the Hillsong United concert I went to earlier this summer. I mean, we raise our hands to be closer to God, and I at least find this an involuntary action when I’m caught up in His glory. Could it not be that these kids are doing the same, whether they know it or not?
God is in all things, and is greater than we can ever hope to comprehend. So does it not follow that He might be influencing people’s lives, having them praise Him though music, even though they my not recognize it? I find music to be the most holy of experiences…
“ Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people? ”
I Kings 3.9 (The Message)
“ Do what God tells you. Walk in the paths he shows you: Follow the life-map absolutely, keep an eye out for the signposts, his course of life set out in the revelation to Moses; then you’ll get on well in whatever you do and wherever you go. ”
I Kings 2.2-3 (The Message)
“ But God told Samuel, ‘Looks aren’t everything. Don’t be impressed with his looks and stature. I’ve already eliminated him. God judges persons differently that humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart. ”
I Samuel 16.7
“ God brings death and God brings life, brings down to the grave and raises up. God brings poverty and God brings wealth, he lowers, he also lifts up. ”
I Samuel 2.6
“ Nothing and no one is holy like God, no rock mountain like our God. Don’t dare talk pretentiously — not a word of boasting, ever! For God knows what’s going on. He takes the measure of everything that happens. The weapons of the strong are smashed to pieces, while the weak are infused with fresh strength. The well-fed are out begging in the streets for crusts, while the hungry are getting second helpings. The barren woman has a houseful of children, while the mother of many is bereft. ”
I Samuel 2.2-5
Hannah’s prayer
“Then she ate heartily, her face radiant.” - 01 Samuel 1.18
Hannah had only one thing in her heart when she went before God at the temple and prayed. Her one desire, to bear a son, was the source of her dedication and her strength in prayer. Her prayer was so intense, and so personal that the preist Eli thought that she must be drunk.
When she left the house of prayer, she was so overcome by her outpouring of faith in God that she was glowing. That kind of radiance only comes from time spent directly in God’s presence.
It’s hard for me to imagine the glory of being so fully immersed in faith. God knows when we are being open with Him and He can answer us and fill us with His divine glory when we are receptive to it.
Hannah was ready. And so God granted her what it was that she so desired.
Am I ready? Can i open myself up to God and share my deepest of hopes and fears with Him? Will He answer me? I so wish to be radient in His presence…
How awesome is Ruth??
I’ve been reading Judges…
So I’m making my way slowly through Judges and I’ve been thinking a lot about how the Israelites continued time and time again to fall away from God’s way. They repeatedly sinned and worshiped false gods, and yet they would always come back to God when He proved that He was the one true god. And then they would forget again.
It must have been incredibly frustrating for God to have his chosen people disregard him in such a way. And so he punished them with war and drought.But He listened when they truely needed help…
Is God frustrated with the way that we, His creation, continuously fall away from His chosen way even today? Sure, Jesus died for our sins, but do we still not anger God with our transgressions?
It’s really difficult to stay true to Him in this world. We have an ancient text which really just doesn’t litterally apply to our day and age. We need to interpret it in such a way that we are still living according to His will, but also living a viable modern life.
