2024-11-03
Psalm 22:3 KJV
The original King James Bible says, “O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” The New King James Bible says, “You are… enthroned in the praises of Israel.” You say, “Which translation is accurate?” Both are accurate. The word “inhabit” pictures a dweller who feels right at home. And the word “enthroned” pictures someone in a position of power and authority, someone who can give orders and make things happen. So God is at home in our praise; His power is released through our praise.
When God created the world, He did it with words – sound. So, God’s power can travel through sound. And certain sounds move His heart. Certain sounds invoke His presence. Certain sounds move Him to action. The key to deliverance, which means to be set free, is in having an encounter with God. And songs of deliverance can set the stage for such an encounter with God.
Read these three Scriptures carefully: “Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still” (Psalm 4:4 NKJV). “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7 NKJV). “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1 NKJV). Note the words “meditate,” and “be still,” and “rest,” and “wait patiently,” and “he who dwells in the secret place.” Now picture yourself “soaking” in the presence of God. Your emotions are quiet, your spirit is attuned to God’s presence, you can hear what He has to say and receive from Him what you need. That’s what happens when you surround yourself with “songs of deliverance.”
Soul food: Acts 9:1-19; 2 Cor 11:21-33; 2 Cor 12:7-10; Acts 16:16-40
Psalm 22:4 NLV
Die Nuwe Lewende Vertaling sê: ‘Tog is U die heilige wat woon waar Israel U prys.’ Die 2020 vertaling sê: ‘U is tog die Heilige, U heers waar die lofliedere van Israel opklink.’ Jy vra: ‘Watter vertaling is die regte een? Beide is reg. Die woord ‘woon’ beeld ‘n inwoner wat tuis voel uit. Die woord ‘heers’ beeld iemand in ‘n posisie van mag en gesag uit, iemand wat bevele kan gee en dinge kan laat gebeur. God is dus tuis in ons lofprysing; sy mag word deur ons lofprysing vrygestel.
Toe God die aarde geskep het, het Hy dit met woorde – klank – gedoen. Dus kan God se krag deur klank beweeg. Sekere klanke roer sy hart. Sekere klanke roep sy teenwoordigheid aan. Sekere klanke beweeg Hom tot aksie. Die sleutel tot verlossing word in ‘n ontmoeting met God gevind. Liedere van redding kan so ‘n ontmoeting met God moontlik maak.
Lees hierdie drie Skrifgedeeltes aandagtig deur: ‘…Oordink dit in die nag op jou bed en wees rustig’ (Psalm 4:5 NLV). ‘Wees stil in die Here, en wag geduldig op Hom…’ (Psalm 37:7 NLV). ‘Hy wat woon in die skuilplek van die Allerhoogste, sal rus in die skadu van die Almagtige’ (Psalm 91:1 NLV). Let die woorde ‘oordink,’ ‘wees rustig,’ ‘wees stil,’ ‘wag geduldig’ en ‘hy wat woon in die skuilplek,’ op. Stel jouself nou voor waar jy die teenwoordigheid van God in jou laat insypel. Jou emosies is stil, jou gees is ingestel op God se teenwoordigheid, jy kan hoor wat Hy te sê het en van Hom ontvang wat jy nodig het. Dit is wat gebeur wanneer jy jouself met ‘liedere van redding,’ omring.
Sielskos: Hand 9:1-19; 2 Kor 11:21-33; 2 Kor 12:7-10; Hand 16:16-40
2024-11-02
Handelinge 16:25 NLV
Selfs die wetenskap stem saam dat musiek genesende krag het. Ons het deesdae musiekterapeute wat mense in hospitale, skole vir kinders met spesiale behoeftes, ouetehuise en ander omgewings bystaan. Navorsers aan die Harvard-universiteit het, onder andere, berig dat musiek ‘n genesende balsem vir beroerte, Alzheimer se siekte en die fisiese stres van voortydige geboorte, is. Hulle het ook gevind dat musiek chirurgiese uitkomste kan verbeter, help om verlore spraak te herstel, newe-effekte van kankerterapie kan verminder, pyn kan verlig en depressie kan beveg.
Dr Gottfried Schlaug, ‘n neuroloog verbonde aan Harvard Universiteit, het vir die Los Angeles Times gesê: ‘Musiek kan ‘n alternatiewe toegangspunt tot die brein bied, omdat dit soveel verskillende deure in ‘n beseerde of siek brein kan ontsluit.’ Sy navorsing wys dat toonhoogte, harmonie, melodie, ritme en emosie, wat almal komponente van musiek is, verskillende dele van die brein betrek – dele van die brein wat ook belangrik vir spraak, beweging en sosiale interaksie is. ‘Met ‘n woord het Hy hulle genees, en hulle van die dood weggeruk’ (Psalm 107:20 NLV).
Dus, wanneer musiek die medium is wat gebruik word om God te prys en sy kreatiewe en lewensveranderende Woord uit te druk, begin jy die potensiaal van musiek om redding mee te bring, insien. Dit was vir seker die geval vir Paulus en Silas: ‘Teen middernag was Paulus en Silas besig om te bid en tot lof van God te sing. Die ander gevangenes het na hulle geluister. Skielik kom daar ‘n groot aardbewing sodat die fondamente van die tronk geskud het. Al die tronkdeure het oopgevlieg en al die gevangenes se kettings het losgekom!’ (Handelinge 16:25-26 NLV). Verander jou houding. Verander jou omgewing. Verander jou lewensuitkyk. Begin om jouself met liedere van redding te omring!
Sielskos: Jes 34-37; Joh 7:25-44; Ps 104:24-35; Spr 28:9-12
Acts 16:25 NKJV
Even science agrees that music has healing power. Today we have music therapists who play sounds that set captives free in hospitals, special needs classrooms, nursing homes, and other environments. Harvard University researchers, among others, are reporting that music is a healing balm for stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and the physical stress of premature birth. They have also learned that music can improve surgical outcomes, help to restore lost speech, reduce side effects of cancer therapy, relieve pain, improve mood, and battle depression.
Dr. Gottfried Schlaug, a Harvard University neurologist, told the Los Angeles Times, “Music might provide an alternative entry point to the brain because it can unlock so many different doors into an injured or ill brain.” His research shows that pitch, harmony, melody, rhythm, and emotion, which are all components of music, engage different parts of the brain – parts of the brain that are also important for speech, movement, and social interaction. “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psalm 107:20 NKJV).
So, when music is the medium used to praise God and express His creative and life-changing Word, you begin to see its potential to bring deliverance. That was certainly so for Paul and Silas: “At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed” (Acts 16:25-26 NKJV). Change your attitude. Change your environment. Change your outlook. Start surrounding yourself with songs of deliverance!
Soul food: Isa 34-37; John 7:25-44; Ps 104:24-35; Prov 28:9-12
2024-11-01
Psalm 32:7 NKJV
The psalmist wrote, “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.” When trouble comes, you can turn to God and hide in Him. How? By surrounding yourself with songs of deliverance. Ruth Ward Heflin gives us the road map into God’s presence: “You praise until the spirit of worship comes, you worship until the glory comes, then you stand in the glory.” And that is where “all things are possible.” God told Jeremiah, “I am ready to perform My word” (Jeremiah 1:12 NKJV). That includes His Word when it’s set to music. The harp David used to worship God on the hillsides while he tended his flocks was the same harp God used to deliver King Saul from the spirits that held him in the grip of depression.
That wasn’t the only time God used a musician to bring about a miracle. When the people of Judah faced extinction because of drought, Elijah, the prophet, said, “‘Now bring me a musician.’ Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Make this valley full of ditches'” (2 Kings 3:15-16 NKJV). God filled every one of those ditches with water and gave them a spectacular victory over their enemies. Singer Julie True says: “On a spiritual level, music bypasses our mind and goes straight to our heart, soul, and spirit. It touches places that nothing else can reach… Worship opens the heavens and moves God’s heart.”
Soul food: Isa 30-33; John 7:14-24; Ps 104:1-23; Prov 28:5-8
