Not much like a quartette and its mute audience! Or how does this compare, with the way we hand over the praise to some who do not even profess to feel it?

"And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy." [3]

There is not much "joy" like that behind most of the choir curtains in our day; but by such means one would be pretty sure of good music. We are not told whether the women took part in the ordinary public music in the temple; but on all special occasions of deliverance and thanksgiving they had their full share. We people in this Western world are so silent in our joy as in our grief,--as apt to bow the head for gladness as for sorrow,--we know nothing like those grand spontaneous bursts of music that once resounded on the sh.o.r.es of the Red Sea, or echoed through the hill country round about Jerusalem.

"Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously."

[4]

That was from the men. And answering them came the softer voices of Miriam and "all the women," cheering them on:

"Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously." [5]

This was no written music they had met to practise; it was fresh out of their hearts; with all their enemies "dead upon the sh.o.r.e," and Israel free.

Or listen to the chorus of women that "came out of all the cities of Israel" to meet the army, when David had conquered the Philistine in single-handed fight.

"And the women answered one another as they played, and said,

"Saul hath slain his thousands"--

"And David his ten thousands"--

You perceive that they understood music in those days; every word in the great swell of song so distinct, that Saul heard every word--and "was very wroth."

So "at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem" (think of _dedicating_ a city wall! how they must have believed Ps. 127) the dedication was kept

"With gladness, both with thanksgiving, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps." [6]

And as the bands of people went up to Jerusalem to the three great feasts, they sang and chanted from time to time as they marched along, the Levites at their head beginning the song, and the rest joining in.

"I was glad when they said unto me--" [7]

"As the mountains are round about Jerusalem" [8]--and all the rest. Ah what music! You see the Bible is a great favourer of sweet sounds.

But all this, you will say, was public and special,--not meant for recreation. Let us listen to the Bible music which is private and personal, and you will find it every bit as sweet.

"Praise the Lord with harps. Sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise." [9]

Are you not glad of that word "skilfully"? You see you may cultivate your talent to the last point, and may have any amount of new music.

The Lord's people are not meant to be bunglers, in any line. And yet some seem to think it is no matter how they sing holy words! This "new song" may perhaps be what David speaks of in another place:

"He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our G.o.d." [10]

For as "his mercies are new every morning," [11] so should also our praises be; new, fresh, vigorous; not always the same old words to the same old tune. "The songs of Zion," so sung, are wondrously sweet; even the poor captives in Babylon were called upon to sing them for the pleasure of their heathen captors.

"The songs of Zion." Many of you imagine they are all pretty much alike; all solemn and tedious and slow. But listen.

"I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."

[12]

Can anything be gayer than that? Or anything sweeter than this:

"My heart is fixed, O G.o.d, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise." [13]

Or where will you find richer chords that this:

"I will sing of thy power, yea, I will sing of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble." [14]

New, skilful, and then comes in another requirement; songs should be sensible.

"I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." [15]

Know what you sing. Does this keep out all _but_ sacred music? I should not think that. But it _does_ forbid singing you know not what in a foreign tongue, or mere dead nonsense in your own. I cannot see, for my part, why it is much better to sing "idle words" than to say them. How vapid, how senseless, is many a song one hears from a pretty mouth and a sweet voice. And in music as elsewhere, there is no middle ground: whatever does not edify--build up--pulls down.

"It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools." [16]

How run the directions?

"Singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord." [17]

Can you do that? If not, music is no true recreation to you. Whatever chills your feeling for eternal things, making them seem dull and far away, is no breath of life-refreshment, but comes bearing the fumes of death.

Do you think you would never sing at all, unless you sometimes forgot such solemn thoughts? Ah there you are mistaken.

"Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart." [18]

Not forgetfully, but in full remembrance.

"Is any merry? let him sing psalms." [19]

"Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage." [20]

Now somebody will say that I have wandered quite away from recreation, and gone off to church. But no; I am speaking of heart and home music.

You all know that there is no _recreation_ about most of your music now-a-days. You bore yourselves and other people with much practising, and when you have learned, as you think, then you drop it all. Who is ready with a song for some weary, tuneless life? or who "keeps up her music" till the tired years of her own? Work for it, pay for it, drop it,--that is the record. Your music, as it is, is a dead thing; and I want you to put the principle of life in it. For whatever you begin for your Master, you will also hold fast for him.

Read over these words and ponder them well:

"He that had received the five talents, went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents." [21]

Every gift the man had, was used for Christ.

How precious a gift this musical power is! how usable a gift.

"A very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument." [22]

How much it can do for ourselves, for the world.

"David took an harp, and played with his hand; so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." [23]