Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

I guess I’ve been a bit silent for a few days—wow!—6 days. I won’t go back through my journal to identify reasons. But I do know that mountain conditions were such to motivate me to run up there with Thano on Tuesday. We had another great time together in that incredible beauty. Apart from that, there has been a lot of work stuff pushing and pulling on me.

Becki is about to run off to her water aerobics session at a nearby pool. And I had better attempt to get some work done.

Blessings on your evening.

Love, Dad/Ray.

How would you describe a vibrant Bible believer?—someone with a passionate HEART AFTER GOD? What qualities and characteristics would you assign to a person with that orientation? Are they the kind of people who are all depressed over the political landscape, preoccupied with stock market trends, eager to retire so they can finally relax and enjoy life? The kind of person I envision to fit that classification would resonate with these verses from Psalms 98—and also be an active participant in those responses and activities—joyous, shouting, singing, worshiping—just plain happy over the awesome blessing of knowing and experiencing such a special personal relationship with the King of kings—the Sovereign Lord of the universe.

In the event that you agree that these qualities are appropriate Biblical evidences flowing from a vibrant believer, but at the same time recognize that they do not necessarily characterize you, yet you wish they did, allow me to offer a little suggestion. I suggest that you simply get alone in a setting where you won’t draw attention to yourself—where you are free to make all the noise you choose with shouting and singing to the Lord—and just let ‘er rip!—doing so as if this kind of passionate behavior did characterize you! Driving your vehicle alone with the windows up is a good option. It’s called “strengthening the evidences.” You sure wouldn’t be hurting anybody. Maybe just loudly reading Psalm 98 several times could do the trick. You may even discover that this very act of intentional engagement rubs off with a fresh new dimension of psycho-spiritual therapy and worship that you didn’t know you needed. Yes—it may not be popular behavior, and it might be kind of revolutionary, but what do you have to lose?

Is there anyone out there in the whole world who can clearly and intelligently explain to me how some Bible believers construe that musical instruments are out of order in the context of Biblical worship? This psalm is one that I think obliterates that notion. Now I’m not suggesting that you take your piano or guitar with you driving when you make all that worship noise. But there is something powerful and pleasant flowing from symphonic worship as blended with aptitude and opportunity.

The bottom-line motivation for all this can be extracted from a recent reading—“For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods” (Psalm 96:4).