Does anyone have the interpretation?

Last week we addressed the practice of special music (which refers to music which does not directly involve the congregation). We discussed how we are often tempted to view this type of music in the service as a performance and respond to it by admiration, and even worse, applause. The last post pointed out, that the music is to inspire us to focus our attention on God, not on the people singing or playing. But how can music, whether instrumental or vocal, direct us to the glory and magnificence of God, if the words cannot be understood, if there are even words to be understood as is often the case in instrumental works?

Well, the interpretation has arrived. This week in church, we had three wonderful examples and answers to our question. We had three places in the service where music was played in what is usually a non-participatory manner. And yet in these instances, the selection drew the congregants in to worship the LORD. First, the handbell choir played an interlude. What made this worshipful was the inclusion of the words in the program. This helped the hearer not only enter in and truly worship with the musicians, but also be edified. Second, a soloist sang an excerpt from Handel’s Messiah in an operatic voice. While the words were more difficult to discern because of the nature of the singing, again, the words were included in the program so that that the congregant was able to “enter in” and be encouraged. Lastly, the choir sang a musically beautiful piece from a Gabrielli work which involved voicing which was difficult to understand and therefore difficult to discern in its meaning. Again, the bulletin provided the words to the piece. I was particularly edified as this lavish music and glorious text (Psalm 95) both served to symbiotically stir my heart in worship of our great God and King.

I Corinthians 14:6-12 says, “Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?… 9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air... 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” May we, as we seek the character and heart of our God in His Word, learn to appreciate the value of the Word in a musical setting, and be rightly edified and challenged as we encounter the Living Christ and God.