1 Chronicles 6:32
They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order.

I am musically inclined and my selection of music is "interesting". One of my co-workers was in my car and looked in my CD holder and told me that it's "just not right" that I'd have John Cash, Flatfoot 56, and Klezmer Madness all in a row. Not to mention Patsy Cline and Mercy Me.

The reason that I have orchestral music, Jewish party music, bluegrass and celtic punk is that music has the ability to put you in a "mood". Music can bring you deeper into a mood that you're already in, or it can bring you out of one mood and put you in another.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Music in church is that way also - I've been in churches where all of the music feels like "party music" - it doesn't put me in the right "spirit" to come closer to God.

I've also visited a church where the congregation didn't sing - they just listened. That felt like I was being "entertained"; I wasn't worshipping.

Psalm 47:1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

Music should make you want to participate! Clap - all peoples! Shout to God!

But there's another side - a side that I miss...the side that brings us to a greater intimacy with our Lord.

Stop and consider - the church is the bride and Christ is the bridegroom...

Stop and consider - the human experience that makes the Christ and His bride example work.

When a couple is dancing, what sort of music brings them closer?

Psalm 77:6 I said, "Let me remember my song in the night;let me meditate in my heart."

Music has the ability to bring us to a place of quiet worship, with hearts and hands uplifted. I can sing praises, "Clap, Clap Your Hands..." and I praise God.

But when I sing "A Mighty Fortress" or "How Great Thou Art" - I don't clap, I raise my hands in the sanctuary; those are the songs that open my heart to worship.

Those are the songs I can't listen to as I drive because when I think of all that God has done in my life, I find tears in my eyes - good tears.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.