The Voice of Singing

February 10, 2009

Today's Reading: Exodus 31, 32 and Acts 2

Sometimes, when I am reading the Bible, there are times that I wish I had been around for. For example, during the parting of the Red Sea, where everybody had to have been pumped up for God after seeing Pharaoh’s army bite it.

And yet, not more than who knows how long (but not too long) later, the Golden Calf happens. To this day, I still don’t know how that could have happened. I mean, what is it that the people thought that Moses could do or not do by being absent? I mean, the guys is in a conference with God, Moses didn’t leave an ETA of when he would be back. Get over it, people, and wait.

Instead, they go and create their own God. Seems a tad bit extreme, don’t you think? What really bugs me is that all the ruckus that the Hebrews were creating with their debaucheries interrupted the meeting between God and Moses.

Moses has some interesting things to report: “It is no the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat, it is the sound of singing that I hear.”

In all honesty, I could not think of a more worse defeat of the Hebrews than the Golden Calf. It’s like when you hear those stories of the really successful pastor whose career is sadly cut off abruptly once it is discovered that he has had an extramarital affair.

So why in the world was the song of singing heard? Let’s contrast that last unfortunate low note in the Old Testament with a high note in the New. The whole scene with the Upper Room, the Tongues of Fire, and Peter’s kickin’ sermon would be another place I would go if I had keys to a time machine.

I can’t imagine that there wouldn’t be singing at this event, especially with all the Holy Spirit moving. I imagine there would have been songs in several languages.

So why is it that singing in the Old Testament is not a sign of either victory or defeat, when it should be one or the other?

Is it possible that music is something that exists apart from victory or defeat? Perhaps. Maybe there is something to this whole “there’s no such thing as Christian or secular music” after all.

In other words, you can sing and not worry about whose side you are on. I realize that flies in the face of those who believe that you shouldn’t listen to certain types of music, but sometimes, you have to ask yourself how much it matters.