Yesterday we noted the request for one of the beautiful songs of Zion while exiles were in Babylon. Even when the message of a song is not taken to heart, the singing can still be considered beautiful and pleasant. In this sense the song can become a performance even without any higher purpose. However, has life become merely an act or is our heart truly engaged as God desires?
It is very possible to be engaged in ritualistic and seemingly holy activity without it truly being so. This was the case with God’s people during the days of the prophet Amos. Though they claimed to desire the day of the Lord to act on their behalf against their enemies, they themselves had become enemies of God in their unfaithfulness. Therefore, the Lord’s coming would be darkness rather than light for them, as well as a time of dread and fear. (Amos 5:18-19) And though they continued celebrating their feasts, joining in solemn assembly, and making their required offerings — due to the lack of a genuine relationship with God — all those things were despised by and unacceptable to Him. (Amos 5:21-22) As this revealed their heart was not truly engaged in their drawing to worship, we go on to read. . .
“(23) Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. (24) But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:23-24 ESV)
Though the songs of their worship may have sounded lovely to their own ears, they were met by God’s as being noise, but not a “joyful noise” to which the psalms allude. (i.e. Psalm 95:1 & 2; 98:4 & 6; 100:1) It was noise which brought God no joy at all!
We cannot be in tune no matter how good the four-part harmony of our hymns might sound to us if our heart is not duly engaged toward God. We need to have a heart for God to sustain the proper heart for song. Then, even if we were tone deaf — not being able to carry a tune in a bucket — the praise can still be beautiful to Him! May we therefore maintain a sincere heart for God so that our life and the songs of it will be acceptable worship as a joyful sound to His ears!
Have a great day WITH THE HEART TRULY IN TUNE WITH GOD!
Carl
