Sunday, April 29, 2018

Psalms 117 Laudate Dominum

I'm currently reading through the Psalms daily for my devotional.  And I've hit an interesting spot where the shortest chapter in the Bible and the longest chapter in the Bible are only two chapters apart. 

Psalms 117 has only two verses.  In the English Standard Version, it is only twenty-eight words long.  This is also the middle chapter of the King James version of the Bible.

"Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!"

In researching the Psalm, it seems this psalm is probably the closest example we have of a work that is reminiscent of religious music of we would recognize.  This passage is a simple processional.  Something repeated as the Levite singers and musicians would go through their formal activities in relation to the Tabernacle and the Temple.

It's part of the Hallel (Hallelujah), a grouping of six psalms that are recited as a unit on joyous occasions.  In particular, this is part of the Egyptian or Exodus Hallel, celebrating the deliverance of God's people.  This particular part of this Hallel is the most Messianic component, looking for all nations and peoples to praise the Lord.  The Hallel is also possibly the song or hymn that Jesus and his disciples sang after the Last Supper, before heading to the Mount of Olives.  Given it's position in the Exodus Hallel regarding deliverance and it's Messianic interpretations, this is very fitting.

It has been set to music by William Byrd, Johan Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Antonio Vivaldi.  It's even in an Ace of Base song.

What really struck me in research is this:  "The main body of the song consists of two, eight bar phrases that are able to be repeated over-and-over as needed." Psalm 117. www.musicofthebible.com/psalm117.htm.

So it seems, repetitive choruses are not new to contemporary Christian music; rather they existed back in the formation of our faith.  We have other examples of this as well.  The creatures around the throne are continually saying one line over and over again.  "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"  I imagine it like Revelation Song.

Truthfully, I never understood this criticism.  Like in anything else, repetition is a useful tool: for emphasis, for unity, to teach, to explore and develop.  As a musician, though the words may remain the same, repeated choruses are where the harmonies can change, the volume can swell.  It's even where jazz style exploration can occur.  

I also do not buy into worship wars.  Good music is good music and good theology is good theology.  I do not care if it was written by Philip Bliss and Horatio Spafford, Bill Gaither, or TobyMac.  I do not care if it is played on an organ with a vocal wall of sound from a choir, if it is played by a small bluegrass quartet, or if the volume is cranked up to eleven with drums and guitars a-blazin.  Give me it all in the same service.  So long as it accomplishes the purpose, which is to bring glory to God on high.

Plus, there are some sentiments that deserve repeating.

"Holy, holy, holy, I want to see you"

"Your love, your love, your love changes everything"

"God you're so good"

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"

"How great is our God, sing with me..."

Sing it again.
"Praise the Lord, all nations!
Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!"




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