There's something much more compelling about a hymn tune than just its melody. It has something to do with the words that the poet has rhymed, yet even more than that. I expect it is God's Spirit that works in the tune, while the pipes are "singing." The words given to the tune, the tune itself, and the Sublime Spirit...all three working together, really touch a person's heart.
We pipers must thank God for all the fine old hymns; the beautiful new ones as well, and for all the opportunities given to pipe with such an effect upon the hearts of our fellow men and women, that their very souls are touched, ultimately saving them from hopeless graves. The following poem explains this, in that the Holy Spirit leads a person to extend God's message of salvation, once he or she has accepted Christ as Lord of his or her life. Clair Hess, Senior Editor of Our Daily Bread tells us there is a compulsion to tell others.When I gave my life to Jesus,
He became my Lord and Friend;
Now His power is flowing through me,
As His message I extend.
The Spirit dwelling within the Church Piper gives him or her joy when helping others praise Christ. The Spirit provides melody in the piper's heart causing a love for the hymns he or she plays. Consequently, the piper will perform better and will bring joy and blessing to those receiving the Bible's message in music.
We must think of music as God's gift to mankind, and that in piping one is saying, "Thank you God for music, and thank you for how it provides a way for all to recognize your great love for us. With it, we must also tell others about God's love."
The next time you are practicing to play the pipes at a service in which God is to be praised, and you are choosing your medley of hymns, take a few extra minutes for your personal spiritual enrichment to read very thoughtfully, the words of the hymns you are about to play. Make an effort to learn the words as well as the tune, for God has given you a talent enabling you to express Spiritual feelings and Biblical truths with both music and words. You are sincerely encouraged to use this gift and develop it.
Church pipers know the thrilling satisfaction of "speaking" by way of their pipes, to tell the age-old Biblical truths that are practical today. We have a wonderful opportunity to revive them in the hearts and minds of those who appreciate good piping, piping that sings with power and distinctness in a heart-toned manner of speaking, that reaches hearts directly, where mere words might lose their way.
The inspiration for these paragraphs was Ephesians 5:19 which says, "Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord."
Keith,
ReplyDeleteI really admire your passion for what you do. You're doing a really great job with your new blog and we look forward to reading each new post.
I share your thoughts as well. Many more blessings to you my friend. "Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe." (Psalm 150:4)
ReplyDeleteThank you Raul for your comment. I'll add that Paul’s greatest emphasis was on the need to express oneself clearly in church so disbelievers would come to recognize the worst secrets in their hearts and fall on their faces before God. There, they would ask forgiveness and a new direction for effectiveness in their lives.
ReplyDeleteClearly spoken words that provide accurate facts will positively influence those to whom they are directed. Paul made the analogy to the pipes, that when they are played skillfully, to produce a familiar tune with accompanying words, they will do as much to edify the Spirit of God as the well-chosen and articulate words of an orator. God must be edified in music and word. The pipes, he suggested, can do this exceedingly well.