A thought I shared back in April 2011 originated from the story of the Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego found in Daniel 3. It centered on the decree issued from King Nebuchadnezzar in regards to the golden image of himself that was erected. Simple decree at first glance, at the sound of music, bow.
Bow, as defined by my dictionary of choice – The Oxford, states to bow is to bend the head or upper part of the body as a sign of respect, greeting, or shame.
So at the sound of instruments, all the people in the land, “whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.” (Daniel 3:7 NLT)
The sound of music almost always elicits a reaction, whether to dance, relax, turn it up, or turn it off. The sound of music almost always causes the mind to travel from its previous state to an emotion reflective of the words or beats of the tune. The sound of music is powerful, no wonder Jamaican dancehall artiste Beenie Man chanted in the 90’s “when the music hits, bredda yuh feel no pain”. (trans. – when the music hits, brother you feel no pain)
In the time of King Nebuchadnezzar, upon misunderstanding the interpretation of a dream, he built an image of himself symbolic of his reign and rule. This image was to be worshiped, revered…at the sound of music!!! He could have demanded that response at the declaration of a herald, but he chose music!
Today we don’t have a King Nebuchadnezzar, especially not in our western world, but we do have idols. In today’s world we don’t have golden images at which we bow(well with the exception of some of our world’s religions), but we do have idols. We don’t always have a tangible idol, but we do have idols. The Oxford defines idol as an image or representation of a god used as an object of worship, a person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.
What is your response to the sound of music?
Today, at the sound of music we mimic sexual gestures. At the sound of music we hold up fingers in the silhouette of a gun and “lick shots”. At the sound of music we boast of material things we have attained or dream of obtaining. At the sound of music we degrade others. At the sound of music we get depressed. At the sound of music we proclaim the act of “making love” without committing to live out and respect love. At the sound of music we stereotype. At the sound of music we perpetuate vain aspirations of physical perfection. At the sound of music we lose our inhibitions at the bottom of a cup or bottle, or at the butt of a spliff or some other emotion-altering substance. At the sound of music…we respond! We shape our thoughts, our life, our goals…at the sound of music.
What’s scary to me is that we’re at a time in this journey of life where millions are blinded into thinking that this is not the case. Tons are saying that listening to this or that music does not influence them. Thousands are saying they only listen to the beats, not the words. How then does the melody of a song whose words we are not listening to somehow creep from our lips at the most random of times? Exactly, even if the beat is all that we are “listening to”, the words, the message, the decree of the song has made its way into our subconscious.
So then I challenge us, be careful of what sound we’re letting in. What is the sound that we’re hearing, and how are we responding? Remember, this battle is not against flesh and blood…the enemy of our souls may very well never manifest as a red creature with horns and a tail. We do know he started out as a fair angel who was THE master of music prior to being condemned to his current role as Satan. We do know that he comes like a sneaky thief (moving quietly to enter his crime scene), seeking to devour, kill, steal, destroy. We do know that the sound of music signaled the destruction of Jericho’s wall, the triumph of God’s children, but in the story of the three Hebrew boys it signaled the time to submit and bow to an idol.
How are you responding? To who / what has your life bowed? At the sound of music, music that is dedicated to an idol(s), are you bowing or standing?
Tek it easy,
Cami.
Cami Speaks 