Dr. Martin Luther once wrote, “Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul.” He also said, “Music is an outstanding gift of God and next to theology, I would not want to give up my slight knowledge of music for a great consideration. And youth should be taught this art; for it makes fine, skillful people.”
I have been thinking about Luther’s words ever since I had my heart warmed and my soul calmed by the powerful singing of choirs, children, and congregation during the Trinity School 50th Anniversary Service that was held on September 28th. 362 people worshiped that Sunday and raised the rafters with song! The Christ-centered message of those hymns and choral pieces brought a few tears to my eyes.
Later that Sunday, while refrains from some of the anthems still replayed in my head, I opened my Bible to the Lord’s very own hymnbook, Psalms, and I turned to a favorite verse. “My strength and song is the LORD, and he has become salvation for me.” (Psalm 118:14 Evangelical Heritage Version)
Those words have often brought me strength. Those words have often dried my tears. Those words have settled a peace deep down in my soul when life tipped upside down!
“My strength and song is the LORD.” The LORD—that is a special title for our God. A title drawn from the Hebrew language. So special that Jewish people refrained from speaking it out loud. “Jahweh.” “I Am.” Our LORD is unchanging. Dependable. Ever faithful. Human relationships sometimes sour. A friend turns against a friend. A marriage falls on the rocks. A son or daughter no longer speaks to mom or dad.
But rest assured, that will never happen with the Lord. “My strength and song is the LORD.” Not might be. Not once was. When you need him the most, he is always there. “I will never leave you, and I will never forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5, EHV) That’s his guarantee. “When you cross through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross the rivers, they will not sweep you away. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, and the flame will not set you on fire. Because I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:2-3, EHV) That is our Lord’s solemn vow. He cannot and he will not fail in keeping it.
“(The LORD) has become salvation for me.” “Salvation.” That’s one of those 64-cent church words, isn’t it? If there’s “legalese,” a term for the language of lawyers, then I guess we also need to admit there’s “churchese.” Technical church language. What does this word “salvation” mean? Quite simply, “to be saved.” “To be rescued.” You fall out of the fishing boat into the “Big Pond,” and you hope your fishing buddies don’t keep streaming merrily along, imbibing a cold beverage, sharing yet another whopper of a fishing tale and watching for another salmon to strike. Instead, you pray they stop. Throw out the life ring. And rescue you from certain death in the icy waters of Lake Superior.
That’s “salvation.” Our LORD has rescued us from certain death—every last one of us. For he has said, in his inspired word, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, EHV) And “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) But can those words actually apply to good people like you and me? Yes. The words apply to “all.” But how can it be?
To find out, we need to define the word “sin”, lest you think, “I’ve never robbed a liquor store. Never committed murder. Never physically or emotionally abused anyone. Never led the police on a high speed chase. Never threw a rock through a window in a riot. Nor do I have a meth lab in my basement. There’s no sin in my life.” Ah, if only it were so.
But our Savior Jesus knows otherwise. In his famous Sermon on the Mount, he taught, “You have heard that it was said to people long ago, “You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.” But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be subject to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, “Raca,” will have to answer to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, “You fool!” will be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22, EHV) Did you ever lose your temper with someone—even just once? Did you think someone was a fool, because they didn’t agree with you on politics? If so, Jesus’ words strike pretty close to home, don’t they!
But in case they don’t cut close enough, our Savior also taught, “You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery,” but I tell you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28, EHV) Even a single, wayward thought steps over the line of God’s holy law? Yes! Just a single misstep in a lifetime is too much, for in that same Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also commanded, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48, EHV)
But that’s impossible! That means we’re all sunk! On our own - yes. Apart from the LORD? Yes. But “(The LORD) has become salvation for me.” He’s provided our rescue. He threw us a lifeline—and that lifeline is Jesus, the sinless Son of God who hung on Calvary’s center cross! There, with his blood, he washed away all our sins.
“My strength and song is the LORD, and he has become salvation for me.” The sweet refrain of that verse, along with the warm memories of our school’s 50th Anniversary celebration, continue to put a song in my heart. I pray they will also put a song in yours.
Privileged to serve,
Pastor Glenn L. Schwanke
PS: If you’d like to watch our school’s 50th Anniversary worship service, which also includes Pastor Eugene Kock’s memorable message, surf on over to Trinity’s YouTube page. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppvi2_JIDvE
I have been thinking about Luther’s words ever since I had my heart warmed and my soul calmed by the powerful singing of choirs, children, and congregation during the Trinity School 50th Anniversary Service that was held on September 28th. 362 people worshiped that Sunday and raised the rafters with song! The Christ-centered message of those hymns and choral pieces brought a few tears to my eyes.
Later that Sunday, while refrains from some of the anthems still replayed in my head, I opened my Bible to the Lord’s very own hymnbook, Psalms, and I turned to a favorite verse. “My strength and song is the LORD, and he has become salvation for me.” (Psalm 118:14 Evangelical Heritage Version)
Those words have often brought me strength. Those words have often dried my tears. Those words have settled a peace deep down in my soul when life tipped upside down!
“My strength and song is the LORD.” The LORD—that is a special title for our God. A title drawn from the Hebrew language. So special that Jewish people refrained from speaking it out loud. “Jahweh.” “I Am.” Our LORD is unchanging. Dependable. Ever faithful. Human relationships sometimes sour. A friend turns against a friend. A marriage falls on the rocks. A son or daughter no longer speaks to mom or dad.
But rest assured, that will never happen with the Lord. “My strength and song is the LORD.” Not might be. Not once was. When you need him the most, he is always there. “I will never leave you, and I will never forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5, EHV) That’s his guarantee. “When you cross through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross the rivers, they will not sweep you away. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, and the flame will not set you on fire. Because I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:2-3, EHV) That is our Lord’s solemn vow. He cannot and he will not fail in keeping it.
“(The LORD) has become salvation for me.” “Salvation.” That’s one of those 64-cent church words, isn’t it? If there’s “legalese,” a term for the language of lawyers, then I guess we also need to admit there’s “churchese.” Technical church language. What does this word “salvation” mean? Quite simply, “to be saved.” “To be rescued.” You fall out of the fishing boat into the “Big Pond,” and you hope your fishing buddies don’t keep streaming merrily along, imbibing a cold beverage, sharing yet another whopper of a fishing tale and watching for another salmon to strike. Instead, you pray they stop. Throw out the life ring. And rescue you from certain death in the icy waters of Lake Superior.
That’s “salvation.” Our LORD has rescued us from certain death—every last one of us. For he has said, in his inspired word, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, EHV) And “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) But can those words actually apply to good people like you and me? Yes. The words apply to “all.” But how can it be?
To find out, we need to define the word “sin”, lest you think, “I’ve never robbed a liquor store. Never committed murder. Never physically or emotionally abused anyone. Never led the police on a high speed chase. Never threw a rock through a window in a riot. Nor do I have a meth lab in my basement. There’s no sin in my life.” Ah, if only it were so.
But our Savior Jesus knows otherwise. In his famous Sermon on the Mount, he taught, “You have heard that it was said to people long ago, “You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.” But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be subject to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, “Raca,” will have to answer to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, “You fool!” will be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22, EHV) Did you ever lose your temper with someone—even just once? Did you think someone was a fool, because they didn’t agree with you on politics? If so, Jesus’ words strike pretty close to home, don’t they!
But in case they don’t cut close enough, our Savior also taught, “You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery,” but I tell you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28, EHV) Even a single, wayward thought steps over the line of God’s holy law? Yes! Just a single misstep in a lifetime is too much, for in that same Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also commanded, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48, EHV)
But that’s impossible! That means we’re all sunk! On our own - yes. Apart from the LORD? Yes. But “(The LORD) has become salvation for me.” He’s provided our rescue. He threw us a lifeline—and that lifeline is Jesus, the sinless Son of God who hung on Calvary’s center cross! There, with his blood, he washed away all our sins.
“My strength and song is the LORD, and he has become salvation for me.” The sweet refrain of that verse, along with the warm memories of our school’s 50th Anniversary celebration, continue to put a song in my heart. I pray they will also put a song in yours.
Privileged to serve,
Pastor Glenn L. Schwanke
PS: If you’d like to watch our school’s 50th Anniversary worship service, which also includes Pastor Eugene Kock’s memorable message, surf on over to Trinity’s YouTube page. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppvi2_JIDvE
RSS Feed
