With My Song I Will Praise Him

Can you imagine life without music?! Really; have you ever considered what life would be like without a song? I cannot even begin to comprehend that scenario. I recognize that I am not the average person (those who know me well suppress your giggles please). I have grown up in a musical family, making music my life’s vocational focus. For me, music is somewhere just below oxygen.

There would have been no Blackwood Brothers Quartet without a song. It was the music of the old church hymns that shaped the destiny of our family for the last hundred-plus years. “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” taught us that we could take everything to God in prayer. “It Is Well” with my soul reminded us that no storm of life could overwhelm us if we held on to Jesus. “Rock of Ages” reminded us that the water and the blood that flowed from His side would be for us the double cure to save from wrath and make me pure.

When I think of music I can’t help but hear my daddy’s voice. J. D. Sumner’s “I Can Feel The Touch Of His Hand”, Whitey Gleason’s, “His Grace Reaches Me”, Albert E. Brumley’s “I’ll Meet You In The Morning”, and while I’m at it, “He”, by Jack Richards & Richard Mullen, or “Down From His Glory”, by William E. Booth-Clibborn are, to me, among the greatest recordings of our era.

Who can hear the words, “The hills are alive with the sound of music” and not hear that soaring melody in their heart, or “Climb ev’ry mountain”, or “I believe for ev’ryone who goes astray someone will come to show the way”? May I pause right here and mention that my heart is stirred just hearing these songs in my head? Is this just me?! Surely not! There is power in these songs! Why? Because God ordained music with a power to awaken our souls and to encourage us toward living life to the fullest!

Before there was a world or a heaven, music existed in the timeless presence of God Almighty! “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the God of creation!” Before there was time, angels sang His praise. When time will be no more, praise will resound in His presence.

Music has the ability to transport us to a moment in time and accompany us as we relive that moment; our first kiss, our wedding day, the birth of a child, the funeral of a loved one. Music is the soundtrack of our lives. Every culture throughout history has made music. David composed love songs for God on the hillsides of Judea. Psalmists today compose songs of praise to God because our souls ache to voice our belief in something (Someone), and music is the language of the heart.

My journey this morning began with some time in God’s word. After reading the 23rd Psalm I turned a page and my eyes fell on a verse that I have often quoted and usually add to my signature when signing a Bible or autograph for someone. The verse is Psalm 28:7, which says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him and I am helped: Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.”

When we sing “He Touched Me”, “What A Day That Will Be”, or “The Blood Will Never Lose It’s Power” we are singing the truth of our Christian belief, whether of our experience or our expectation. “How can I say ‘thanks’ for the things You have done for me? Things so undeserved yet You gave to prove Your love for me. The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude. All that I am and ever hope to be: I owe it all to Thee. To God be the glory. To God be the glory. To God be the glory for the things He has done! With His blood He has saved me, with His power He has raised me, to God be the glory for the things He has done.”  Andrae Crouch, “My Tribute”

Imagine life without music? Impossible.