Love
LOVE
Praise, Prayer and Music intertwined
Hi, it’s me, PB, again. We’ve now passed both Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. Pastor Leanne, in her February 9th blog post wrote of the similarities and differences in the two days. One thing not highlighted is the role of music as a significant factor in love, praise and prayer.
Music
Music has always played an influential role in my life, and clearly, music has done and continues to do that in the life of the church. Many classic hymns are built on biblical references and biblical stories. But music goes beyond hymns to praise songs, to even pop songs, in all of which we see praise and love expressed. So, since this is a blog about prayer, the question is, can music be a prayer? Biblically, we know many of the Psalms were used as songs as well as prayers.
But, think about this: If an expression of love for God is a prayer, shouldn’t this song be a prayer? “I love you Lord” is a very sweet love song,
I love you, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship you
Oh my soul rejoice
Take joy, my king
In what you hear
May it be a sweet sweet sound
In your ear.
Sung by Maranatha - it can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYV0ce3ybEA
This song was written and composed by Laurie Klein. She was a young mother who, in 1974 in her rural Oregon home, wrote this simple song while quietly studying the Bible before her toddler awoke. What love and praise! Maybe you can use this song as a prayer of praise and love? Maybe play it while meditating on the thoughts expressed? It can be habit forming.
We have an abundance of hymns and songs of praise: Often thought of by many as the most beautiful Hymn, “Amazing Grace” – is it a Spiritual? Is it a prayer?
CBS Sunday Morning, December 25, 2022, wrote a recap of the story of Amazing Grace. It did not originate from American Black spirituals as I had thought, but began with a sermon 250 years ago. A former slave trader wrote the lyrics and used them in a sermon in a small town in England in 1773, to later be put to music by an American Baptist, William Walker, in 1835. The CBS recap includes videos of its different uses in American history, from the civil rights movement to Vietnam to Covid. It’s worth taking some time to review the story of “Amazing Grace.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-story-of-amazing-grace/
What about pop songs, like Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen?
The Hebrew word Hallelujah means “Praise the Lord,” and Cohen wrote about many different kinds of Hallelujah.
“While some may argue that it is not necessarily a Christian song, many people feel very moved by it and feel closer to God when they hear it. The hauntingly beautiful chords and the way the singer's voice lifts with emotion makes Hallelujah a powerful addition to your worship playlist!” Godtube.com
There are many versions of Hallelujah. Some have more Christian lyrics. One I found was a Christmas version. You can listen here: https://www.crosswalk.com/culture/music-video/a-christmas-version-of-leonard-cohen-s-hallelujah-that-will-give-you-chills.html
This is a clear expression of God’s love - is it a prayer?
Praise
When we praise God, we are often thanking God for something, like the beauty of this creation we enjoy, or for an outcome we had been praying for. When we pray to God, it’s a communication with God! So, where do the two meet (i.e., pray and praise)?
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to Your name, O Most High.
(Psalm 92:1)
Is praise that is sung a prayer?
What do you think? ( Care to comment below? How has music shaped your faith, your life, your spirituality?)
Praising God and Praying for you,
PB
Community Presbyterian Church
32202 Del Obispo
San Juan Capistrano. CA 92675
949-493-1502