Music
Stories
THE WONDER OF WORDS: BOOK 2
ONE-HUNDRED MORE WORDS AND PHRASES SHAPING HOW CHRISTIANS THINK AND LIVE
"Next to theology I give to music the highest place and honor. And we see how David and all the saints have wrought their godly thoughts into verse, rhyme, and song." So wrote Martin Luther in tribute to music. The word music comes from the Greek word "mousa," meaning a Muse. In Greek mythology, the Muses were a choir of nine sisters who were tha daughters of Jupiter (the father of gods and men) and Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory. Poets and artists would pray to the Muses when they wanted inspiration. The Muses usually dwelt in the mountain glens of Pieria, in east central Greece. It was there that these nine sisters taught Apollo, the god of the sun, about song and music, and about healing. Eventually, Apollo went from being the pupil of the Muses to being their master. According to Greek belief, the poet composed his songs in a kind of divine madness. The Muses were thought to enter the poet and utter poems through him. The poet was an instrument of heaven. "Mousa," the Greek word for Muse, is the root of the word "museum" (temple of the Muses) and music (the art of the Muses).
The Bible contains the words of many Hebrew songs and chants. The book of Psalms, for example, was the hymn book of Israel. Harps, drums, trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments are mentioned in Psalm 150. The Bible traces music to Jubal: "He was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ." (Genesis 4:21, KJV) In the book of Job, music is pictured as present at the creation of the world: "In the dawn of that day the stars sang together, and the heavenly beings shouted for joy." (Job 38:7, TEV)
The power of music can be seen in an incident in King Saul's life. "Whenever the evil spirit ... came on Saul, David would get his harp and play it. The evil spirit would leave, and Saul would feel better and be all right again." (1 Samuel 16: 23, TEV) Music has power in the family gatherings of home life, in the stirring songs of national life, and in the hymns and anthems of religious life.
The Bible contains the words of many Hebrew songs and chants. The book of Psalms, for example, was the hymn book of Israel. Harps, drums, trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments are mentioned in Psalm 150. The Bible traces music to Jubal: "He was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ." (Genesis 4:21, KJV) In the book of Job, music is pictured as present at the creation of the world: "In the dawn of that day the stars sang together, and the heavenly beings shouted for joy." (Job 38:7, TEV)
The power of music can be seen in an incident in King Saul's life. "Whenever the evil spirit ... came on Saul, David would get his harp and play it. The evil spirit would leave, and Saul would feel better and be all right again." (1 Samuel 16: 23, TEV) Music has power in the family gatherings of home life, in the stirring songs of national life, and in the hymns and anthems of religious life.
