Sing to Yahveh a New Song

From all accounts, both historical and in the Scriptural texts themselves, it appears that things for the Levite musicians and singers became quite routine and complacency reared its ugly head. Things did not change as time went on. The Levites continued playing the same songs they did for hundreds of years and according to some historians, apparently even lost the knowledge they once had regarding their instruments and their music. If this were not the case, a book like this would never have had to be written.
     Like the musician who has lost his passion for his art by playing the same songs over and over and over for years, much religion today has evolved into a series of rituals, whether in form of doctrines or practices. Things that are not consciously thought about or even questioned. A common theme of David throughout his works was the admonition to sing a new song. Each generation brings with it the new songs of the people of the time. I firmly believe that each person has a unique relationship with God and something unique to bring to the table of life, some missing piece of the whole puzzle. Despite the comments of many of our generation, God is not static in His dealing with mankind, we may just lack the eyes to see His outworking in our lives and the world around us.
     As a performing musician and composer for many years, I came to realize many years ago that there was a time that had to be devoted to the rudiments of playing and composing. Hours upon hours of practicing scales, arpeggios, chords, transcribing improvisations, arranging, music theory, harmony, etc., had to be expended. At the end of the day however, there was the time when you actually had to go out and perform in public, write a composition, or teach a student. There is also a time that we must, or should, devote to studying and researching our beliefs, not merely accepting as fact what someone else has told us.
     To me the Bible is like a song. Take a song, any song, and give the music to five musicians and five singers and listen to each one perform it. You will most likely hear ten very different renditions of the same song. The notes are the same, some may be sung by a female voice or a male voice. One may be an alto, another a soprano, another a bass and an other a baritone or tenor. Or it may be played by a guitar, an oboe, a piano or any number of other instruments. Maybe a solo, maybe a duet, maybe a complete orchestra. One may perform the song classically with strings ala Vivaldi, another may perform the song with a Gershwin type jazz orchestra, one may perform it folk style, rock style, punk-rock, heavy-metal, or with a country flavor.
     The standing joke with musicians during the 70's was how many versions of the song Feelings there were. When I studied classical guitar with the late John Marlow (a protégé of Segovia) he always used his teacher's way of interpreting a song as the benchmark for his students. In part he was correct. As people, much of our core learning is obtained by mimicking those around us. We learn speech by repeating the sounds of our parents, we learn music by playing a composition in the style of our teacher. We can also assimilate biased, inaccurate information and prejudices from those around us if we are not careful.
     It was not until I had been playing for many years, that I finally was able to make a song my own. I had to memorize it, playing it over and over until I was able to hear and feel the subtleties of the music through my hands and instrument. Even though the notes may have been someone else's I was able to make the song my own, having relevance to my life, my abilities and my experiences. As I worked the many, many hours on this project, I felt a similar thing happening. When I was in my twenties I was absolutely positive that I had all the answers to everything, especially when it came to religion. Today, there are more questions that I did not know had to be asked than there are answers. As I have said to myself many, many times throughout the years, not having the answer to something is an understanding in itself.
     Maybe some of you who have read this book will expand on what I have been taught, learned and uncovered. Maybe one of you will take another small piece and add it to this great jigsaw puzzle we call life. When you devote the hours of research and study that was involved in the preparation of this book you cannot come away without being changed. Sometimes however, this change is hard to accept and deal with. One of the many changes I personally experienced was a loss of innocence when it came to the realization that the Bible in all its various forms, translations, and interpretations is not as consistent as I used to believe and was taught. By inconsistent, I am not speaking of the basic underlying truths and the basic manner in which our heavenly Father expects us to act towards Him, towards those around us and to the world we have been privileged to live in, but some of the nuts and bolts of the details of the texts and events.
     With all the problems associated with understanding and reading the Bible, it remains a book that should be part of your life and development as a human being. Hopefully, what has been presented here will spark your interest not only in the music and instruments of the Bible, but also in the underlying themes and teachings this marvelous book contains. We have a tremendous amount of resources at our fingertips today that were previously unavailable to any other generation. Use your time, resources and life wisely in the pursuit of truth, wisdom and our Father's thinking.
     But more than just pursuing knowledge, we need to apply the intent of what we read and learn in the Bible, any Bible. In my opinion, one of the important aspects of this statement is to find out about your beliefs and the God you worship (Deuteronomy 11:13, 11:22, 13:3; Joshua 22:5, 23:11; Matthew 22:36-38; Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-28. If your beliefs originate in the Bible, use the Bible as your benchmark. Do not use my thinking or what someone else has told you it means, find out for yourself what it says (Acts 17:11).
     Another aspect of this is simply by treating each other a little better (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 19:17-19, 22:39-40; Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-28, Romans 13:9-10; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8). Whether at work or in our family, we all need to have a much kinder, empathetic and humble spirit and heart when dealing with each other. We are all in same orchestra trying to follow the same conductor. This means taking what we have practiced and applying it in the real life situations, to the real people we directly and indirectly come in contact with. Find the song that is uniquely yours and sing it with passion each day not only to our grand God and creator, but also to those who share this very short time period of life with us.

     Make each day, a day to be glad in. Take time to learn about God, his works and his Word. It will make a better life for yourself, your family, your employer, your community, and a better world for all of humankind now and in the generations to come.

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