It always amazes me when I think about the fact that we all have two eyes, two ears, one nose and mouth, cheeks and eyebrows, yet each of us has a distinctive look—even twins. Another distinctive is our voices.
If someone calls from the other room, you know which sister you hear. If a friend calls you on the phone, you know which friend by the voice.
We can tell much by the tone of the voice. He comes in from work and slams his things on the counter. The story of his tough day is biting, sharp, angry, fraught with frustration. We hear it in his tone.
She has pleasant conversation with her friend. The tone is light, warm, giggly. Daughter comes in from school, animated, a pitch higher; she can’t get the words in quick enough. She aced her test, met the new boy, and got the lead role in the school play!
Whether we’re bitter, sad, questioning, or excited, one can hear it in our tone. It starts from the time we are born. The sounds from baby tell us if he’s hungry, afraid, happy, or mad.
And then there is the sound of music. We all have our tastes from country to classical. Sometimes music calms us with gentle serenity. Other times we delight in something bold, loud, triumphant, and exciting.
As I have enjoyed watching the Olympic ice skaters this week, I have been aware of how much the music enhances their programs. The triple-this and quad-that would not be nearly as exciting without the crescendos of the music.
The graceful, artistic flow over the ice would not have nearly the same depth without the music that matches it. Likewise, rich, energetic music brings us right along with the skater into their final grandiose climaxes.
Do you remember when Joshua and the troops were ready to go into Jericho? Each day they were to march around the city. Imagine how intimidated the people in Jericho must have felt as they heard the pounding of marching feet around their city walls.
On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times… On the seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!” Joshua 6:15-16
Marching, trumpets, and shouts. Then the walls came tumbling down. What a climax!
They often used trumpets in battle and in victory, shofars to call to attention or call to prayer, stringed instruments, tambourines, and voices in worship. Though our instruments and songs are different, we too, use these to lift up our praise to God.
I think about how far we have come from the Gregorian chants of old to the beautiful and powerful texts and tunes of today. It makes me wonder what the music of heaven will be like. Beyond our imagining. No doubt, glorious!
Listen this week for the myriad of sounds around you. Praise Him for sound—even for the sound of quiet.
~ Joyce ~