Music in Our Hearts

sunday

JULY 17

Evidence

Music in Our Hearts

Exod. 28:33–35; Psalm 47

Music has always played an important role in worship. When God in­structed Moses regarding the robes of the sanctuary’s high priest, He in­structed that the hem of the priest’s robe should have gold bells on it. While these bells did not play a specific set of notes, their ringing sounds “made the worshipers conscious that [the high priest] was officiating on their behalf in God’s presence, and prompted them to follow him in their thoughts and prayers as he went about the different parts of the priestly ritual. The sound of the bells joined priest and people together in worship. . . . By faith we too may hear the sound from the sanctuary that directs our hearts and minds upward to where Christ sits at the right hand of God to make intercession for us (Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1–3; Heb. 8:1, 2).”1

Many years later, psalms were written to be sung in the temple, which continued the sacrificial services and worship of the sanctuary. Psalm 47 is one such psalm. It “is a festal anthem of purest praise to Jehovah, who is exalted as God not only of Israel but of all nations on the earth. . . . As an anthem for public worship Ps. 47 was probably sung antiphonally by two choruses, one singing vs. 1, 2, and 5, 6, alternating with the other singing vs. 3, 4, and 7, 8; both uniting in singing v. 9.”2

Today, the heavenly courts are filled with songs of praise. When we wor­ship God through music, we are privileged to join that symphony. “Music forms a part of God’s worship in the courts above, and we should endeavor, in our songs of praise, to approach as nearly as possible to the harmony of the heavenly choirs. . . . Singing, as a part of religious service, is as much an act of worship as is prayer. The heart must feel the spirit of the song, to give it right expression.”3 Today, the sanctuary reminds us of the heavenly sanc­tuary, where Christ is interceding on our behalf. Though sacrificial offerings are no longer required, we are to offer songs of praise and thanksgiving to God for His Son Jesus, who sacrificed Himself for our sins.

REACT

What is your favorite song, a song that really moves your heart? Sing it now in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.

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1. The SDA Bible Commentary, 2nd ed., vol. 1, pp. 649, 650.

2. Ibid., vol. 3, p. 746.

3. Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 594.

“Music forms a part of God’s worship in the courts above.”

Rachel Leer, Aspers, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.40