The life span of a singer/ song writer seems shorter than the national average . Can you think of one that died way too early?
In 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and their pilot Roger Peterson died in a plane crash, a tragedy that has been remembered as “The Day the Music Died.” Jim Croce (Time in a Bottle; Bad Bad Leroy Brown) passed just as he was becoming a star. I was shocked when Karen Carpenter died young. The latest to go was Prince at age 57. The list goes on and on.
Rocking and rolling all night long and partying every day takes a high toll.
We have spent two weeks in the songs of David as we read THROUGH the Bible. He was a sing/song writer of the highest caliber. We catch him when he is down right mad at God. Sometimes he is ticked off at somebody and sings of his hope for revenge. Other times he is overwhelmed by the majesty of God. His songs take on a very personal nature as he confesses sins. Frequently his music is a review of history. His songs of the the outdoors make me almost smell the campfire and feel the cold night air as he watches the stars. He writes of aging and worship and futile idols and wicked people. Mostly he sings of the greatness of God.
Carry Underwood was recently mocked for including her passion for God in her concerts. David would've loved that criticism and I bet he would have written a song about it too.
If you write songs about God you never run out of superlatives. Here's a sample:
No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite its great strength it cannot save. BUT the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those who hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. Psalm 33
I am forever marked by the music of my youth. Sometimes I listen to it now and wonder what I was thinking. Then I read the songs of David and I know exactly what he was thinking. God is so big.....so awesome............so indescribable.......yet somehow he cares for me.
Jeff Moore wrote a song that said, "We don't have the words to say what an awesome God you are, but when words are not enough, to tell you of our love, listen to our hearts."
The music never dies because God is everlasting.......and so are those who hope in his unfailing love.
Humming as I type, MB