Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.
- Ludwig Van Beethoven
Psalms in the Night…
With so many wonderful Biblical promises and powerful examples of God's interaction with mankind, see Psalms of Delight, Psalms in the Night are a way of exploring and sharing some of the difficult and challenging thoughts, feelings and experiences God's people encounter while endeavoring to fully enjoy His presence and power, protection and provision. In ever more genuine and meaningful ways. For themselves and their children, family and friends.
Psalms in the Night are written in concert with Psalms of Delight. Both series contain Modern Psalms meant to comfort and inspire those seeking the Omni-God revealed in Scripture.
Another Day In Paradise Summary
Music moves people. Does it move God? If so what kind. Clearly we hope worship songs do, though given the level ubiquitous levels of worldliness and Me-ism today, even in the church, it's not a given as most believe. What of other forms of music might? Those filled with echo's of regret over sin and sorrow? Does God the Father's heart grieve with concern when hearing lost humanity's laments?
Another Day In Paradise
Modern Psalm in the Night 19
Are recording artists present day psalmists for the lost? Do You find the different genres and styles, music and lyrics telling? Pop, desperate for love and tossing it away. Jazz, smokin in bars and singing the blues. Country, gettin fired and stupid drunk. Rock, screaming for sex and slamin dope. Rap, shaking bootie's and bustin caps. Then their's Christian versions of each, for better and worse.
What an odd music video humanity must seem from eternity. Billions of new lyrics and melodies, actions and emotions rising every day from Earth. Individuals and societies performing a symphony of solos, too often a concert of sorrow.
You got to admit they're revealing with moments of truth. The way I see it, since humanity's gone to all the trouble, why not take advantage? The right cord can capture a moment. A bar or two and You get the point. This morning I'm thinking of Phil Collin's "Another Day In Paradise." Nothing too heavy, I appreciate the mood. You know the tune:
She calls out to the man on the street, sir, can you help me?
Its cold and I've nowhere to sleep, Is there somewhere you can tell me?
He walks on, doesn't look back, He pretends he cant hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street, Seems embarrassed to be there
Oh think twice, its another day for, You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, its just another day for you, You and me in paradise
She calls out to the man on the street, He can see she's been crying,
She's got blisters on the soles of her feet Cant walk but she's trying
Oh think twice, its another day for, You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, its just another day for you, You and me in paradise
Oh lord, is there nothing more anybody can do, Oh lord, there must be something you can say
You can tell from the lines on her face, You can see that she's been there,
Probably been moved on from every place, cos she didn't fit in there
Oh think twice, its another day for, You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, its just another day for you, You and me in paradise
This morning it's not the humanitarian lyrics as much as the sad and haunting message and melody I want to share. Easier on the ear than Milton, Phil's singing about paradise lost or that we're lost in it. Something no one knows better than You.
Familiar Refrain
How many songs and poems, novels and movies share the sentiment? Thousands? Millions? Doesn't it move Your Father's heart to hear Your children's' breaking? I can't believe it doesn't. Yet for the most part You remain silent in the face of a world of suffering.
I know the apologetics. Free will. Sin. Satan. I also know combined and multiplied a million times they're not even close to enough to tie Omnity's hands. I don't get it. I know You want to jump in. I'm a dad with just a drop of Your love and if I had Your resources, nothing could keep from rescuing even the worst of my kids from torment. I'd tear their prison doors off their hinges. I'd haul them out of their dungeons with or without their permission and knock some sense into them later. I'd wake them the hell-up, put my Spirit in them and kick em out the door to rescue their siblings. And by the way, when I was done, I'd burn the prison and it's guards down to the ground for good measure.
I understand we've got, "God so loved the world..." and that's no small thing. The price of the Atonement's literally off the charts. Then that's kinda my point. Having gone billions of extra miles as Creator and Savior why let sin or even the Evil One and his army's stand in the way? The Bible says Your holy numbers ALL! Scripture repeatedly declares You want ALL to be saved. I know that's not all it says but You're clearly in the business of salvation. So save us! Finish what You've started. Invade the hearts and lives of all Your church. Fill at least teen and adult Christians with the fruit and gifts of Your Spirit. Transform us into the New Creations Scripture describes. Dispel the darkness our distance from You creates!
Maybe it's not that You can't but that You won't. Maybe we deserve what we're getting. Who can deny You've warned us a million times? When it comes to offering holiness and mercy You're clearly off the hook. But how does it feel knowing billions of You're kids are still on it? I'm banking there's undeserved mercy at the cross yet. I know You're aware the odds we're up against. Our enemies are too great for us. They're advanced and ancient, we're fools born yesterday who die tomorrow. Have pity on us. Rend the heavens and come down.
Prayer can change things. Even You. Mary's intercession changed the time table for Christ's first miracle. The Canaanite mom with the possessed daughter overcame the disciples rejection and Your objection. Both turned Your no into yes by not taking no for an answer.
I pray You're haunted by humanity's sorrowful refrain more than I am. And I'm troubled day and night. With "Heaven to gain and Hell to loose" I beg You to break through. This may be our mess but we're Your creation whom You love. Show us Your love we've read about. A better love than we've yet experienced. A better love to sing about...
"Love Is" by Vanessa Williams and Brian Mcknight
"They say its a river, that circles the earth
A beam of light shining to the edge of the universe
It conquers all, it changes everything
They say its a blessing, they say its a gift
They say its a miracle, And I believe that it is
It conquers all, but its a mystery
Love breaks your heart
Love takes no less than everything
Love makes it hard, And it fades away so easily
In this world we've created, In this place that we live
In the blink of an eye the darkness slips in
Love lights the world, Unites the lovers for eternity
Love breaks the chains, Love aches for everyone of us
Love takes the tears and the pain, and it turns it in-
To the beauty that remains
Look at this place, It was paradise, but now its dying
Ill pray for love, Ill take my chances that its not too late
Love breaks your heart, Love takes no less than everything
Love makes it hard, And fades away so easily. Oh oh oh
Love breaks the chains, Love aches for everyone of us
Love takes the tears and the pain, and it turns it in-
To the beauty that remains."
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