Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Thursday, March 10th

I love symphonic band music. (Nerd alert!!) Most people probably do not know that about me. I spent years of my life playing in punk and metal bands (that’s a different blog for a different day) but few things get me stirred up like a great piece of symphony. I especially like the music of David Holsinger. Holsinger is a composer with a signature sound. He is the master of what I call the “build up and release.” In one particular piece entitled “To Tame the Perilous Skies,” Holsinger creates a musical tension of different voices all calling out their various melodies with great power. The tension builds to a crescendo until; the bottom just drops out. All that remains is a sustained chord in the high woodwinds. To me it always sounds like a voice of truth singing out in triumph over all the voices whose purpose is only to unsettle the soul. However, it is the tension that makes the “release” that much more beautiful; that much more heart stopping and memorable.

I liken much of Job chapter 19 to those last few moments in “To Tame the Perilous Skies.” Job lets each of the voices sing out; each one creating a dissonance against the other. For the first 7 verses Job highlights the bad theology of his three companions. Then verses 8 through 12 are a harsh melody in which Job lets his heart “sing out” towards God. Job is hurt and does not hide it. Then Job layers on a counterpoint in which he cries out about how this situation has affected his relationship with others. He is a stranger and an unknown man to all who see him. All those voices… all those emotions… all building towards a release. And what will be that release? Rage towards God? Denial of His power? Giving up on life or on his relationship with Jehovah? No… it’s verse 25. “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth.” It’s voice of truth that silences all other “melodies and instruments.” It is the exhale.

Unfortunately for Job the “symphony” is not yet done. Truth has sung out strong; but lies are still trying steal the show. Zophar the Naamathite conducts those twisted thoughts on God in chapter 20. Zophar follows suite with his other friends in applying what they believe about God, to Job’s situation. Keeping in mind that Job’s “situation” is one that started in the heavens and its purpose has not yet been revealed.

My prayer today for my life and for yours in that the “still, small voice” of our loving Father is the voice that will soon and very soon subdue all the other voices that try to take center stage in our lives. His ways are higher than our ways. Sing over us today, O Lord.

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