Day Twelve

If I have learned anything over the past couple of months, it’s that there are a LOT of Christian songs out there. A lot of them are really good, and a lot of them…well, music is a personal taste, isn’t it?

I love music. I need music. Music, apart from Scripture, is probably the main place where I meet with God. It is my prayer language. So many times in my Christian walk, when I have had trouble expressing to God what is in my heart, a song has “randomly” popped up on shuffle and immediately become a point of connection to my heavenly Father. I know the Apostle Paul wasn’t thinking of music when he wrote in Romans 8 about how the Holy Spirit helps us to pray, but there have been countless times when the Spirit has used music to help me in my weakness (Rom. 8:26). For that I am eternally grateful.

But when we consider how music is part of our spiritual walk, there is a verse of Scripture we often overlook:

“The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.”—Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)

Music is such a wonderful gift to the church, offering us a chance to lift our voices, singing to God. In this verse from Zephaniah, though, we see a different picture—one of God singing over us. And here’s an interesting thing to note—both kinds of singing are centered in joy. Out of joy, we sing to God and lift him up as the only one worthy of worship, and out of joy, God sings over us and holds us close as those who discover our worth in his love and saving grace. This image from the prophet calls to mind a parent holding their child, finding joy simply in who they are. Richard Foster tells a story about this from his own life:

One day a friend of mine was walking through a shopping mall with his two-year-old son. The child was in a particularly cantankerous mood, fussing and fuming. The frustrated father tried everything to quiet his son, but nothing seemed to help. The child simply would not obey. Then, under some special inspiration, the father scooped up the son and, holding him close to his chest, began singing an impromptu love song. None of the words rhymed. He sang off key. And yet, as best he could, this father began sharing his heart. “I love you,” he sang. “I’m so glad you’re my boy. You make me happy. I like the way you laugh.” On they went from one store to the next. Quietly the father continued singing off key and making up words that did not rhyme. The child relaxed and became still, listening to this strange and wonderful song. Finally, they finished shopping and went to the car. As the father opened the door and prepared to buckle his son into the car seat, the child lifted his head and said simply, “Sing it to me again, Daddy! Sing it to me again!”

That’s the very image Zephaniah paints: God’s children, saved by his grace and quieted by his love, delighting in the joyful love song he sings over them. Judgment has given way to welcome and separation has been bridged by sacrifice, and our loving Father rejoices in his children who have come home. What a wonderful image for us in these days following Easter.

Heaven’s perfect melody
The Creator’s symphony
You are singing over me
The Father’s song
Heaven’s perfect mystery
The King of love has sent for me
And now you’re singing over me
The Father’s song

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupThe Father's Song · Matt RedmanThe Father's Song℗ 2000 Survivor RecordsReleased on: 2000-01-01Producer: Matt Redm...

Questions for Reflection

1) How has music impacted your walk with Christ? In what ways do you incorporate music into your spiritual practices and devotions? What about music helps you as you seek to grow in faith and devotion?

2) Have you ever stopped to contemplate the idea of God rejoicing and singing over you? How do you respond to that image? Is it one you can accept, or does it seem difficult to grasp? Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal his heart of delight and the song he has for you.

3) If we struggle to imagine God singing, it might be helpful to imagine Jesus worshiping and singing in his life as a practicing Jew. Perhaps he and the disciples sang songs of ascent together as they made their way into Jerusalem for one of the festivals. Read the words from this psalm of ascent, and imagine you are singing them with Jesus. How do these words and that image impact your heart and soul?

“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
’The Lord has done great things for them.’
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.”—Psalm 126 (NIV)

4) Today’s song references “Heaven’s perfect mystery.” What do those words mean to you? Sit for some time in silence, contemplating the mystery of God’s tender heart of love towards you.

5) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

“…the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.”—Psalm 18:18b-19