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All the Best Tunes
Psalm 81:1, 2 (New International Version)
Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Begin the music, strike the tambourine,
play the melodious harp and lyre.
Psalm 100: 1, 2 (New International Version)
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Psalm 92:1-3 (New International Version)
It is good to praise the LORD
and make music to your name, O Most High,
to proclaim your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.
Psalm 150:3-6 (New International Version)
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
James 5:13 (New International Version)
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pp. 79 to 86.
Look up these words and insert the word that fits the message in the blanks below.
- Prayer
- Praise
- Music
- Psalm
- Worship
What is the adoration, devotion, and respect given to God called?
This is worship and thanks to God.
A spoken or unspoken address to God. It may express praise, thanksgiving, confession, or a request for something such as help or somebody’s well-being.
A sound or group of sounds that creates a desired effect.?
A name for a song or poem of praise, especially one in the Bible?
HERE’S WHAT I THINK
You really like the music of a certain Christian artist. But when your dad hears you playing it, he freaks out and tells you, “That’s not appropriate music for a Christian to be listening to!”
“But Dad,” you tell him, “It’s Christian music. Listen to the lyrics. They’re about Jesus and God!”
I can’t even hear the lyrics,” he tells you. “All I can hear is that beat, and it sounds satanic to me. That’s not music you can use to praise and glorify God, no matter what kind of words you stick with it. Turn it off and get the CDs out of the house.”
What do you think? Could Dad be right is it only the lyrics that matter? Are there some styles of music God can’t bless? How does a Christian go about choosing the right music to listen to?
Log on to Http://RealTimeFaith.adventist.org to post your responses. Be up-front and honest. Say what you think.
You can write your responses here if you want to share them with the class later.
Read Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:13-17
“Lucifer might have remained in favor with God, beloved and honored by all the angelic host, exercising his noble powers to bless others to glorify his maker. But, says the prophet, ‘Thine heart was lifted up because of they beauty, thou hast corrupted they wisdom by reason of thy brightness. . . [Eze.28:12-15, 17] Little by little, Lucifer came to indulge a desire of self-exaltation. Thou has said. . . ‘I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of congregation. . . . I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the most high. [Eze.28:6 Isa. 14:13,14]’ instead of seeking to make homage to himself. And coveting the honor which the infinite Father had bestowed upon his Son, this prince of angels aspired to power which it was the prerogative of Christ alone to wield” (The Great Controversy, p. 494).
Music is of heavenly origin. There is great power in music. It was music from the angelic throng that thrilled the hearts of the shepherds on Bethlehem’s plains and swept round the world. It is in music that our praises raise to Him who is the embodiment of purity and harmony. It is with music and songs of victory that the redeemed shall finally enter upon the immortal reward” (The Voice in Speech and Song, pp. 424, 425).
“Music has occupied the hours which should have been devoted to prayer. Music is the idol which many professed Sabbathkeeping Christians worship. Satan has no objection to music if he can make that a channel through which to gain access to the minds of the youth. VSS 420.3
- What was Lucifer’s job in heaven?
- What did Lucifer say he would do with his throne?
- Who did Lucifer say he would be like?
- What was on Lucifer’s covering?
- What did Lucifer want more than serving God?
- In your opinion, how did Lucifer begin to feel that caused him to be thrown out of heaven?
If you like music, you’re not alone. Music can have a huge influence on our lives. We can listen to music that lifts us up or brings us down. Music can be a touchy subject because tastes are so different. You’ve probably had the experience of having someone trash your favorite music and say, “That’s awful! I hate that style of music!” Is it just a matter of taste, or are there rights and wrongs when it comes to music? What kind of music, if any, should a Christian never listen to? What kind of music is appropriate for praising and worshiping God?
As a Christian, you have a responsibility to choose music, just as you do to choose reading material, TV programs, movies, friends—everything that influences you. The question “Will this help me grow spiritually?” has to be at the top of your list—even ahead of “Does it have a good beat?” and “Do my friend like it?” Think about the songs you love to listen to. What do they glorify? What do they center around? Are they drawing you closer to the Lord?
How does your music make you feel?
In your opinion, would Satan be the world’s leading authority on music?
Could even “good rock” be influenced by Satan?
Why would Satan make so much controversy around music?
Where did music originate?
What was its purpose there?
Read Philippians 4:8; Colossians 3:16; Proverbs 14:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14.
Read Psalm 100:1, 2; John 4:24; Psalm 96:8; Psalm 29:2; Psalm 95:6; Matthew 18:20; Psalms 150:3-5.
Refer back to the definition for worship in Sunday’s lesson.
- What is worship?
- Is there more than one way to worship God?
- After doing today’s reading, list some of the ways we can worship God.
- How much of your church service is devoted to music?
“As part of a religious service, singing is as much an act of worship as is prayer. Indeed, many a song is prayer” (Education p.168).
- Do you think from the study this far, that Satan wants you to worship God?
What Does This Have to Do with Me?
How do you make your choices about music? Too often we don’t have any standard at all for making choices—at least, not a standard we’re aware of. “It sounds nice.” “It makes me feel good.” “My friend gave me this CD.” But those reasons won’t cut it. If you’re going to be poring words and music into your ears and your brain several hours a day, you need to have standards.
Stretch your mind. Try listening to types of music you don’t normally enjoy. If you’re a hiphop fanatic,Try some classical and some country this week. If you can handle only heavy metal, try some light, happy pop tunes. And if you listen to only secular music, tune in to your local Christian radio station, or ask a friend to lend you some Christian CDs.
As you listen to your own music and other people’s choices, ask yourself some questions: What are the lyrics talking about? Do they fit with my spiritual standards as a Christian? How does this music affect the way I feel? (Music always affects the way we feel—it goes directly to our emotions.) Do some serious evaluation. Is there anything you need to drop from your CD collection because it’s coming between you and God? Are there songs of praise you can add to your listening list to bring you closer to Him?
Today’s Reading
“Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted” (Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 38).
“Music when not abused is a great blessing: but when put to wrong use, it is a terrible curse. It excites, but does not impart that strength and courage which the Christian can find only at the throne of grace while humbly making known his throne of grace while humbly making known his wants and with strong cries and tears pleading for heavenly strength to be fortified against the powerful temptations of the evil one. Satan is leading the young captive. Oh, what can I say to lead them to break his power of infatuation! He is a skillful charmer, luring them on to perdition” (Testimonies for the Church, Vo. 1, p. 497).
They [young men and young women], have a keen ear for music, and Satan knows what organs to excite to animate, engross and charm the mind, so that Christ is not desired” (Sons and Daughters of God, p. 179).
How Does It Work?
Write Your Own Song. . . .
You don’t have to be a musician—or even a really good writer. A lot of songs are just words and feelings set to music. You can do that.
Find a piece of instrumental music you like (no words) that matches the way you’re feeling right now. Put it on your CD player, and sit down and listen to it (perhaps repeated several times) with a blank piece of paper and pen in front of you. Write words and phrases that express what you’re feeling and what you’d like to say to God right now. See how easy it is? You’re composing your own psalm!
(Note: if you read the actual Book of Psalms, you’ll notice it’s OK to express bad, sad, or mad feelings as well as songs of praise!)