Tip of My Iceberg

Music is the true rhythm of life. It impacts our minds and thoughts with the melodies that fill us. The author, Victor Hugo, once said, ” Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” The different genres, various singers, the incredible diversity of instruments all combine to make sounds pleasing–or maybe not so pleasing–to those listening.

It’s not uncommon for me to be singing under my breath as I work or humming as I go from one place to another. I get a song stuck in my head and it’s on a constant loop through my brain throughout the day. Sometimes that’s soothing. Other times, annoying.

Isley, Ryken, and Cal all love to sing. Isley and Ryken are in musical theater at their school, both with opportunities to perform in front of real audiences throughout the year. When Isley auditioned this year as a freshman, she was accepted into the Company, the highest of performing group in their school.

She was thrilled.

She sings constantly. Practicing numbers that will be part of a show. Ryken, also in the show, sings quite a bit, not yet with the same vigor as his older sister. But he’s getting there.

Cal has a passion for the stage show, “Hamilton”. He’s memorized many of the songs and is fascinated by the history it portrays. He sings the songs as he does whatever he’s doing.

The poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, said, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” It speaks to how each of our hearts uniquely hears. The beauty of music is that it can be a background soundtrack, playing while one is doing something else entirely, or it can be the very heart of our focus.

Music has been a reality throughout history, a way to memorialize certain situations, to soothe the hearts of those hurting, to make statements about who and what we care about.

Rarely is music seen as the fulcrum of a battle.

Jehoshaphat was king in Judah in 873 B.C. He was held in high esteem by his people, being known for his goodness as well as his power. He had strengthened Judah after his father, Asa, had weakened it with unwise alliances.

There was a time when the armies of Moab and Ammon went up against Judah, a fact that terrified Jehoshaphat. He sought God’s wisdom on what to do in light of this attack, and God’s response was a surprise.

“After consulting the people (prophets), the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising Him for His holy splendor. This is what they sang: ‘Give thanks to the Lord; His faithful love endures forever.’

“At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. The armies of of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other.” 2 Chronicles 20:21-23

The enemies of Judah were routed, and not a sword was raised by Jehoshaphat’s army. The king had listened to God, done what He had said, as unorthodox as it was, and found himself victorious.

Music wasn’t just a powerful weapon in the hands of a faithful king. It gave Jehoshaphat the means to conquer an enemy that he couldn’t have with soldiers alone.

Isley, Ryken, and Cal use music to lighten their spirits, to combine with others in group melody, and to encourage those who listen to them.

God sings His melody over us, a song of love and compassion, of comfort and courage, of hope and forgiveness. In the noise of the world, it’s often hard to hear His soft song, but if we listen, we’ll hear His heart’s love song to us.

It’s a song worth listening to.