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• The Music of the Psalms

  Dec 21st 2012

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  OUTREACH SITE:   The Syrian situation is building.  The following post was extensively updated at 16:45 EST.

  US, Czech, Jordanian and Polish Forces Begin Active Fighting in Syrian WMD Offensive

  COGWA NEWS:  I have just received this notice forwarded to me by COGWA persons.

  Confidentiality Notice: The contents of this message, together with any attachments, are intended only for the use of the individual(s) to which they are addressed. Please do not forward this communication or any attachments to other third parties without the written permission of the author. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any distribution, or copying of this message, or any attachment, is strictly prohibited. Thank you.

  Dave Register is unhappy that he is not being allowed to hide his deeds in darkness.  Remember that all that is needed for evil to flourish, is for good men to do nothing.  Remember, that only evil hides itself in darkness, and that the light of truth reveals all both good and evil.

  Dear Dave:  I have no intention of keeping silent and hiding evil, or essential facts from the brethren.  If you are ashamed of people seeing your deeds; then do not do them!  Do you not know that God and his Holy Angels see everything that you do?

  I utterly reject your [or anyone else's] attempt to prohibit publication of the truth.

  You are NOT a private person when you are acting in your capacity as an example for the brethren; and your deeds in regards to your responsibilities [like any other person who sets himself up as an example for the flock] will be noted.

  Hiding evil only perpetuates the evil; and proclaiming the good should not offend anyone.

  Brethren in all COG Groups and congregations should feel free to pass on what is going on in their congregations;  the good should be proclaimed and the evil should be made known for the good of all the brethren.

  The loyalty of the brethren should always be to Almighty God and not to help conceal and perpetuate evil.

  And if I do make an error you are invited to send in a comment correcting the point.

   

  The Music of the Psalms

  In consideration of the series on the Psalms, I wanted to put up a post of psalms music before this Sabbath.

  HWA and bis brother established a hymnal based on the Quaker idea of what was acceptable for Sabbath.  Dwight then rewrote many biblical psalms to the traditional Quaker style of Sabbath singing and a kind of piano music.

  I will agree that some of these psalms are good and acceptable for the Sabbath, however the piano is a modern invention as is the Quaker style with its musical inhibitions. Yet, there is so much more that can be done in singing the psalms to worship before God.  The psalms of David were NEVER intended to be a Quaker style  inhibited thing.  They were intended to be a real and genuine worship of God and a teaching resource for the Temple services and especially a teaching and worship event during the Festivals.

  My purpose for this post is to show how wonderful the psalms can truly be if they are presented in the way that God and David intended; as a truly inspiring and quality teaching tool of worship for our Incredible Mighty One who is our Magnificent Deliverer and High Tower of Strength..

  I wanted to present some examples of the psalms and how they can be a source of powerful imagery about the ways of God and a means of great rejoicing before God.  I ask you to listen to each of these very different presentations to see the powerful witness that the psalms can be.

  In the COG the biblical Festivals are no longer God’s Festivals, they have become our Festivals with a focus on our pleasure,s instead of on making God our Chief Delight and Pleasure.  In the Kingdom we shall hear grand choirs singing Psalm 119 and the other psalms at the Festivals of God;  Oh what a JOY to behold!  Oh what wondrous and grand festivals they shall be!

  The first presentation is  Psalm 118 Adonai Li (The Lord Is For Me) in English and Hebrew.

  The second presentation is a joyful rendition of Paul Wilbur- Come Let Us Go Up which is a wonderful song for a Feast dance.  Why not have a Festival psalms dance instead of the carnal dancing that goes on?

  Finally here is a concert type presentation of four songs by the talented Marty Goetz.

  If only Gerald would give presentations like this in his auditorium!   If only the church groups would at least cooperate together to search out or write out some really great presentations of the psalms and record them for the brethren!

  This begins in Hebrew and  quickly changes to English.  The program lasts approximately half an hour and includes four psalms and prophecies of Christ.  The third song is really excellent for a Feast presentation.

  A Psalm Enchanted Evening.

  The fourth song has some poetic features that need some explanation.

  As our hearts beat and pump the blood of physical life,  Jesus Christ and the Father fill us with the Holy Spirit of spiritual life eternal; so that in a certain way, as we internalize the very nature of God through obedience to him, and through the presence of his spirit, as we become like Chirst; God become our very heart that gives us life!

  God through his spirit, becomes the spiritual  heart within us that gives us eternal life!   And through the sacrifice of Christ, reconciliation with the Father, enables the gift of the spirit to the repentant; drawing the called out to Christ as his bride.

  The last song covers these two points in poetic allegory with the phrase the we are the bride taken from the side of Emmanuel, anticipating that we become the bride, through the broken heart of [spiritual] Israel [Christ as the heart of his spiritual Israel, his bride; Christ sacrificed for us his bride!]

   

  

  

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  • jeannie

    December 21st, 2012 at 11:45

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    I may have missed something but I know personally that D.REgister puts that same “confidentiality” on all his emails!!! Well maybe I should not say ALL but do know that he generally does this. I really honestly do not feel that he is doing this to cover some evil. I realize you and others and probably myself do not like the after sabbath activity of white elephant sale so close to xmas and I do agree it is not the “time” to be doing that. It seems that we cannot sit still for even 1 weekend but have to make it like we are getting into the activities of xmas with all the potlucks, actual day of xmas activities that I have seen go on in COG’s and ofcourse the “winter weekend”. I have heard all their arguments of this is a good time to do these things as the kids are off school etc..but I don’t think they are considering that they are getting a bit too close to the “FIRE”, meaning the pagan practices. Frankly I don’t think most of the COG corporate people are thinking very deeply about many things. I will also say that this is not everyone. Seems like I often play the devils’ advocate but I still hate to hear so much of this EVIL intent that so many feel about some of the ministers. I think they are wrong in many things they are doing, they are not being a proper example in many instances and there are alot of real bad situations with sexual and other problems amongst the ministry. I had atleast 4 of my ministers through the years in no. calif be put out or involved with sexual issues. That isn’t a very good record. So there is something wrong in Dodge. I have also been in the homes of many ministers who I do think are sincere and also sincerely deceived. I just think we better be so sure that what we are saying about a minister and that includes D. Register, is correct and that we are not imputing motives. and James I do not understand when you post this “confidentiality” thing , where is the info that Dave wrote? Maybe I missed something?

    Please go back to the Winter Weekend post on “Its Party Time”, for the situation. Dave also disfellowshipped a good and zealous elder recently for his presenting information on the Biblical Calendar to himself and the COGWA administration. James
  • no longer a member

    December 21st, 2012 at 16:12

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    James, the music on the links you gave seems to have a Jewish flavour and may not be what everyone likes. Music is constantly changing in style and popularity and we all have different taste. I can imagine this type of music could be used as special music but I think it would be a difficult style for a congregation to learn as it is different to what we are used to. People become very set in their ways and I’m sure God appreciates our praises in any form as long as it is sincere. Most of us still enjoy the music we have sung for many years.

    May I point out that David and the psalms ARE Jewish! However it was my intention to broaden peoples views beyond the limitations of the Quakers [who are no more converted then the Messianics] and to provide some ideas of what has been and can be done.

    Also understand that Jesus Christ was born into and grew up in the Jewish nation. In that sense Christ was also Jewish. Indeed true Christianity is merely the religion of Moses with a “Jewish” Messiah. And we are to beome fully Jews in the spiritual sense. Romans 2:28-29 And many ther verses like rev 3:9.

    There is always some inertia over the existing material, I would encourage people to search out more psalmic songs and music; and after some further exposure to what can be done,to then write some new songs themselves.
  • jeannie

    December 21st, 2012 at 17:36

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    James, I well know about the disfellowhip of elder by Register and I know why and that is why I say what I do. I do not agree with the reasons why he did it but if you are in the corporate mindset than that is what you have to do…won’t say anymore…I am just saying that all of us will answer to God for what we commnicate. Again I will say no more.

    Sorry that was not the point. The point was the Bingo gift exchange for the Winter Party, and how when I published his announcement on that, the protests forced Dave to back down and change his gift giving plans making him very angry. He then sent out a reminder to his congregation not to share his announcements with others. I can tell you that Dave’s original announcement was shared with me because some were very upset about gift exchanges at Christmas time and wanted to expose Dave’s plans. James
  • Tim McCaulley

    December 21st, 2012 at 19:27

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    Music like language has changed throughout the ages of humanity. However the emotions that drive its creation have remained the same. To promote one language (Hebrew) over all the other tongues of humanity and to denigrate any musical style (the “Dwight Armstrong” or “Quaker” style of hymns)used to reflect how this or that people sought to honor God, or even the instrument(s)
    used for accompaniment (piano) seems like a pointless distinction that presumes motives that only God can know for sure.
    All we really know about the Psalms is that they were song lyrics. There are no music manuscripts to indicate either melodies to which those lyrics were to be sung or instrumental arrangements that accompanied the psalms’ original performances.
    Those dead saints from Abel to Abraham, to Moses, to Elijah, to the 12 apostles have no idea of what our music sounds like nor we theirs because virtually all the instruments we now use to accompany our musical performances did not exist in their present form back then.
    Yet God, who knows our hearts, must surely appreciate the sincere praise or devotion to him no matter what the style of the music or in what tongue it is sung.
    Paul(who was multi-lingual including Hebrew)spends much of I Cor 14 explaining that speaking in an unknown tongue is useless unless someone translates. That’s my reaction when I, as a speaker of English, hear someone who speaks both English and Hebrew singing in Hebrew to an audience that primarily speaks English.
    Though there are many advantages to being a Jew, as Paul explained to the Romans, they are not the sole repository of ALL human talent, ability, or capacity to express adoration and praise to their Creator. Can’t we enjoy all styles of music seeking such an end without abandoning or putting down others seeking the same end in their own unique language, style, and arrangement?
    Tim McCaulley
    Jacksonville FL

    That is no reason to remain closeted in a closed mind about the various potentials for psalm music. To remain closed mindedly addicted to Dwight’s style is a part of the worship of HWA, WCG and tradition by many. It is also the Quaker style of; all things joyful are forbidden, estremist fringe of the Catholic Protestant religion.

    In fact Dwight’s lyrics often cut out major parts of a psalm, twist others and destroy their full meanings and instruction, bringing them down in quality to mere praise while destroying much of the message.

    We do know that David was a man after God’s own heart and that he was joyful and resorted to dancing in pure exhuderant rejoicing before God; not limiting himself to the pagan based religious style used by HWA and Dwight. Remenber that the Dwight psalms were forced into the 19 and 20th century pagan mainstream religious music mold.

    Our hymns are virtually dead music devoid of any real enthusiastic rejoicing, or the fullness of the psalm messages. And the organizations have come to mirror that lack of zeal and enthusiasm. This has deprived us of much of the instructions contained in the psalms which should be sung each Sabbath for our instruction, as well as in praise of God.

    I am not saying that an exhuberant dance is desirable for the Sabbath, but most certainly we should be singing the psalms and dancing in joy at the Feast instead of having carnal worldly dances.

    On Sabbath we should be singing a psalm that applies to the message to be presented.

    God wants us to have an abundant life of joy, not limited to one man’s style. There are so many colours in a rainbow; so many colours in the morning sun: why see only one?

    Dwight does have a few good psalms and I am not criticizing his efforts particularly, I am saying: Let us expand our psalm music to their full potential.

    Can you imagine a program of really well done psalms instead of pagan opera’s at the ambassador auditorium. Would that not be pleasing to God and a gift of godliness to the local community? It would have brought in the religious of all stripes to hear David’s songs of praise.

    Gerry has the opportunity to do this with his auditorium, why not use that asset to help preach the Gospel instead of for presenting heathenism?

    James
  • JMM

    December 21st, 2012 at 19:42

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    Toronto CGI has a vibrant song service that incorporates some of the music you suggest. It very inspiring and surprisingly easy to learn.
  • Just Me

    December 22nd, 2012 at 09:28

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    I happen to like the “Jewish” style, which is a misnomer because when one says that it is assumed it is “Hebrew” and must be the orginal ways these songs were presented. No one really knows However, John Wheeler and others have done extensive work in decoding the musicality of the text of the Psalms, and has come up with what is closer to what was intended: Here are a couple of links.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGZLkfgmt28

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMx8RkS17GA

    I think many are misunderstanding me with this.

    Do not think that I take one style over another. I am not choosing one style over another. I am trying to expose people to various styles as very many COG folks do insist on the one style only.

    Please have a listen to this http://www.rakkav.com/biblemusic/

    I am also against some of the mistakes made by Dwight. His music may be good for that time and level of understanding, which does NOT mean that we must remain at that level. As we grow in understanding, our music should also grow in its quality and adherance to the true intended meaning.

    Also some of his arrangements are better than some others. We should study the psalms and correct mistakes amd ambiguities in our music, as singing error is the same as teaching error. James
  • Just Me

    December 22nd, 2012 at 09:46

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    Here is a better link that explains the work done to restore the music of the Psalms. http://www.rakkav.com/biblemusic/

    Thank you. I had just put that up muself. Again I am not trying to condemn Dwight who did his best in his time; I am trying to grow and advance on that, and to expand the musical horizons of the brethren about the psalms. James
  • Tim McCaulley

    December 22nd, 2012 at 10:01

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    James I think you and I agree on the essentials in this matter–I would to add three other factors to help explain the current state of musical performance among the corporate churches of God:
    The first is that corporate COG’s treat music (and everything else having to do with “church”) as something to be done on the cheap. Many song leaders got their responsibilities as a reward for being a favorite of the pastor (or because their spouse could play piano accompaniment) rather than for any proven ability to perform the duties connected with such responsibilities and too often their service was worth its cost.
    The other is the addiction to uniform ritual for its own sake rather than as an honest expression the devotion of the people doing it to God. We all know that at a corporate COG service there WILL be 6 songs (3 preceding the initial prayer, 1 after the first message, 1 after the announcements, and 1 before the final prayer). It’s almost Roman Catholic in its rigidity (at least there is no Latin–though from what I understand even RC’s don’t do that anymore outside of the Vatican)
    The final factor is the traditional corporate COG prohibition on any expression of emotion for a musical performance–applause, cheers, expressions of approval like “Amen” are forbidden.
    The essence of musical performance is that it is supposed to be a conversation between the performer(s) and the audience. In the case of both special music performance and congregational singing the audience also includes God whom we should think can and will inspire whatever comes forth in response to such performance.
    By prohibiting any audience response to any musical performance at any time you have reduced musical performance to shouting into an empty void. This void cannot be filled by the speaker getting up and merely saying something like, “well we certainly appreciated that fine performance”, because it is not immediate and it always sounds canned.
    These three factors and their enshrinement as rigid and unbending tradition conspire to strangle any and all excitement, joy, praise, and life out of just about any musical performance taking place in any corporate church of God services.
    Tim McCaulley
    Jacksonville FL
  • Rolf Ungar

    December 22nd, 2012 at 11:08

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    I can remember in the 80′s, my expressing an opinion that that WCG could do much better in it’s music and, all of it’s productions as experienced members were not being harnessed that would gladly volunteer. For this I was considered odd at best, and divisive at worse.
    Could it be that some genial Levite cantors are among us that could lead us?
    Or, that since the brethren are training for the Priesthood of Melchizedek it matters not who steps up to serve?
  • Larry Hardison

    December 22nd, 2012 at 11:27

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    Tim says, “The final factor is the traditional corporate COG prohibition on any expression of emotion for a musical performance–applause, cheers, expressions of approval like “Amen” are forbidden. … By prohibiting any audience response to any musical performance at any time you have reduced musical performance to shouting into an empty void. This void cannot be filled by the speaker getting up and merely saying something like, “well we certainly appreciated that fine performance”, because it is not immediate and it always sounds canned.” This is conclusion is in my view incorrect.
    ………..
    Applause is encouraged for the children and youth groups. However, it is discouraged for adults simply to level the field. Not all have equal talent, voices or ability; and their selections may not be widely appreciated, yet their desire and attempts are made with a sincerity of attitude. Thus there can be a major difference in the “appreciation” level from the audience. By restricting “applause, cheers and expressions of approval” all musical performances are treated equally; however, this does not restrict invdividuals from personally conveying their appreciation to the one(s) who have preformed. Generally the ministry will compliment the artist on their presentation to one degree or another, thus conveying the audience’s appreciation as well.
  • VVCP

    December 22nd, 2012 at 14:57

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    I agree with Tim, applause and all forms of expressing our feelings should be allowed and encouraged in our worship service.

    If the special music is for the purpose of praising God then applause, or the lack thereof, shouldn’t be a concern.
    It should especially not be such a concern that because of that nobody can clap. And if for some reason someone performs a lackluster song with not much applause, this would force the artist to perform better next time. They are adults, they can deal with it.

    I personally would clap for all performances, because you know the intent is good, even if the performance was lacking in some way.

    Clapping is just a natural response to a good musical performance. This Quaker style of no emotion has to go.

    I only wanted to expand peoples experience in music and it appears that we are getting into deep water here.

    I will hopefully finish the Psalms tomorrow, and after that I will do a full post on music and Sabbath services, Festvals and special music.

    Please everyone wait for that. James
  • Just Me

    December 22nd, 2012 at 15:16

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    One of the problems I have always had with music in the COGs (and most other churches) is that very thing, that the music is a “performance” for the benefit of the audience, rather than leading that audience in worship. It is not for the audience to “appreciate” or for the performer’s ego, but for the praise of our God; I never liked getting applause for it.

    I only wanted to expand peoples experience in music and it appears that we are getting into deep water here.

    I will hopefully finish the Psalms tomorrow, and after that I will do a full post on music and Sabbath services, Festvals and special music.

    Please everyone wait for that. James
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