Heavy Metal
Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious. Psalm 66:2 NASB
Sing the glory – Are you finished shouting (Psalm 66:1)? Great! Got that one out, didn’t you? Now pick up an instrument and play. Oh, it could be your voice, of course, but the verb is equally at home with playing an instrument. So, I recommend heavy metal guitar. That’s how you can remember zammeru’ kavod, literally, “you play heaviness.” The weight of the world has now been shifted to the heaviness of glory, and God is the proper recipient of this song. We shouted joyfully. Now we can play heavily.
Most men I know pretend they don’t like to sing. If it weren’t for the stigma of sounding bad, we might let loose with a note or two. We really would like to like singing, but we’ve grown up in that terribly restrictive culture where emotional expressions are not allowed for males. At least that’s what we’ve been told. But the truth is that when no one is listening, we just might catch ourselves singing along to a song on the radio or humming a tune in the shower or, heaven forbid, enjoying a melody in a movie (and pretending that we could sing it too if we really tried). Let’s be reminded that nowhere in Scripture does it say the people who sang praises to God were trained opera stars. I suspect they were just as bad, and as good, as we are. The only real difference is that they didn’t grow up Roman. Next time you have a chance to listen to Tevia in Fiddler on the Roof, see if he isn’t just like all the ordinary people in a Hebrew culture of praise. In fact, you don’t have to wait to find out. Here he is:
Wouldn’t it be nice know exactly who we are, why we are here and what God demands of us? Well, maybe if we sang more and stewed less we could answers those questions. Maybe life really is a melody that has been playing in the heavenly spheres for ages and we just have to catch the tune to join in. Maybe every one of us comes equipped to play or sing our part and we just need to let go of all those anticipated embarrassments in order to join the choir. Anyway, today is a day for singing a lighthearted song of praise. Try it. See what happens.
Topical Index: zammeru’ kavod, sing, play, heavy, glory, Psalm 66:2
Skip on heavy metal guitar.
Me on the drums. (I’ve been a drummer all my life, fortunate to
have played with a few of the greats.)
More importantly, I’ve always been grateful to know the spiritual reality
behind music. It can transport you away from “it all”. Both musicians and
athletes have enjoyed the rare but awesome experience of “being in the zone”
where you are literally lifted out of your conscious self to a pure oneness with
the music or athletic team endeavor. It’s quite an “enlightening” experience
and I knw exactly Who gives it to us! To Him be the glory!
The question is Rich when you are in the zone are you playing the music or is the muisc playing you?
the same question can apply about worship. Are we worship in the Lord or worshiping the worship? And anyway shout for joy with a sound of Triumph Hallelujah praise him with the symbol Praise Him with the shofar come on and praise the Lord.
Speaking of heavy metals, there is a current series going on about heavy metal toxicity. This is day 5 of the series, which tells of detox strategies. Check out theheavymetalsummit cot com. One of the symptoms of heavy metal overload is that you can lose the ability to experience emotion of any kind (along with a very long list of other neuro problems, too). Lose the heavy metals: find the joy!
Skip, I love seeing this lighter hearted side of you. I think this Asian/Indonesian/Philippine trip has been beneficial and full of God’s good surprises. I’m happy for you.
And now…I dare you to do an “Unplugged” video of you singing. ??
If enough of us vote in agreement with Judi, will you do it? Here’s my “yea” vote!
That might be more than my fragile ego could handle, but . . . I thought the idea was to feel free to express yourself without the world watching. 🙂
Totally get it. You couldn’t pay me to put a video out there of me singing. ?
I’m sure it would better than mine, but, who knows, maybe I will try a blues tune someday.
You know we would all love it…and be “judgement free” ?
Appreciate the comment, “Wouldn’t it be nice to know who we are, why we are here and what God demands of us?”
Thinking on this. Sing….”Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:16