A Joyful Noise

Psalms 98:4-9
By Harold Dinsmore, M.Div.
© 2008 Harold Dinsmore

As you have noticed this morning, music makes up a significant portion of our worship.  Music is an avenue by which everyone may worship and praise the Lord.  We may be able to worship god by entering into intellectual assent but it is through music that we worship via our soul.  Every portion of our being is intertwined around the message, the melody, the harmony and the rhythm.  

               All through throughout the Bible music has played important roles.  From the Jewish festivals of the Old Testament to the new song of Revelation in the New Testament.  Music figures prominently in the worship of the Lord God Jehovah.

               I call to your attention this morning a passage located in the Old Testament: the book of Psalms with its 150 chapters.  It was on the top ten best seller list on ITV….Israelite T.V.  They were originally meant to be sung.  For instance, just prior to Psalm 88 it reads, “A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. To the choirmaster: according to Mahal-ath Leannoth.  A maskil of Herman the Ezrahite.  Notice also after verse 7 and 10 the word SELAH this could be interpreted simply as a pause in the song or as a musical notation.  In either case, Selah, when these passages are being read publically, do not need to be read.  Just know they are pauses.