Psalm 119:7a I will praise thee with uprightness of heart,

I was just speaking with my best friend last night about the power of music to lift us up and beyond that which is seen. I have been moved of late by the power of music to instill in me a place of elevation that I honestly do not deserve. Such is the power of music.

It is within my experience to have witnessed something truly sad in my fellow worshippers. So powerful is the sense of music in praise that if they do not feel the music, their praise is absent. They complain, it is too loud, it is that “new stuff”, its old and outdated, I cannot sign to that, the sound system isn’t very good, and on and on and on go the grumblings.

Praise begins in the heart.

We all love to be elevated beyond where we are with the power of music. It is emotional for sure. God has given us the gift of joy in music but is that a sincere replacement for God worship? The music is meant to be an expression of the love that already exists in the heart of the believer, not a replacement for it.

Psalm 119:7b when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

It is only after we have learned God’s righteous attributes that we can praise Him for them. It is easier to allow the music to lift us up to a place we do not belong, it is easier than seeking and learning and experiencing all Gods righteous judgments. When the music stops and you exit the door and enter back yet again into this world we live in, were is your praise then?

Psalm 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Or do you need the music to set the mood?