soul music
by marvin williams
Posted under
God,
God's presence,
God's provision,
Holy Spirit,
christian living,
daily devotional,
faith,
fellowship,
fellowship with God,
praise,
worship (14 comments)
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Psalm 103:1-22
Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me (vv.1-2).
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Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord; it is fitting for the pure to praise Him (Psalm 33:1).
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How can you become more intimate, intense, and intentional in your worship this week? How can you practically worship God with every part of your life?
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Soul music is a term adopted to describe popular black music in the United States as it evolved from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. It’s a style heavily influenced by gospel music. Soul music is known for its intimacy, passion, intensity, rhythmic sounds, and spiritual roots. In essence, it’s an expression of the soul. I believe this is what David had in mind when he wrote Psalm 103, a soulful ballad that took the people of God into the beautiful place of sincere expression of worship to the Lord.
David began this soulful song with “Let all that I am praise the Lord” (v.1). This phrase was an expression of the intimate relationship between David and Yahweh, the covenant-making and promise-keeping God of Israel. David’s soul music was an intimate expression of love and gratitude to the God who loved him first. David’s soul music was intense. He praised the Lord with his innermost being, which for him was a physical, emotional, and spiritual experience. He didn’t hold back anything in the worship and praise of his God. David’s soul music was intentional. It found its power and passion in constantly remembering God’s blessings. When David thought about God’s provision, he couldn’t keep from singing and giving Him praise.
Biblical soul music starts from within our hearts and expresses itself outward. If we want to experience the journey of intimate, intense, and intentional worship of God, we need to get close to Him. This happens as we spend time talking to Him and listening to Him. Don’t hold anything back. Relish how gracious, merciful, and loving God is as you offer up a sacrifice of praise.
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“Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!”
Psalm 147:1
Amen!
When we take time to think about his goodness and amazing grace, we really begin to see how fitting it is to praise him. Thanks for reading and for commenting.
Thanks for sharing. It reminds me that to properly and sincerely praise God requires me to be a “soul man.” God bless.
Ah, yes! This kind of praise does require you to go to deep places in your soul. It has made me a Soul Man (www.marvinlwilliams.org); I think you already knew that. : )
There are days when I have felt like David. I just want to let it out how I feel about my God as well as show others that His outpouring of His love, Grace, Mercies, and His Spirit do transform us.
Our lives should be a Life of Praise!!
Let it out! Let it out! : ) You are absolutely right – praise and worship should be a lifestyle. Everything that we do has the potential of becoming an act of worship to our God – playing with our kids, mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, and even singing in church, or listening to a message. When we see all of life as worship, we won’t have to wait until Sunday to engage in worship. Thanks for your comment.
Yet you (God) are holy,
Let all that is in me praise His name.
enthroned on the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3
When we praise God by telling Him we appreciate what He has done for us, thanking Him for the people in our lives and the things He has provided for us and all that He has created – it takes our focus off of our selves and our circumstances and puts our focus on Him – our loving Father, protector, provider, deliverer…etc. I could go on but I think you get the idea.
Absolutely! Worship is not about us, and yet so often we make it about the music we like, the sermons we prefer, the place that makes us the most comfortable. Shame on us. As you have so beautifully stated, worship is about focusing on
God. When we focus on him for who he is and not for what he does for us, then I believe we soar to a new intimacy in worship. Thanks for the comment. Blessings on you this coming year!
When I think about the goodness and all God have done for me my voice sing out thank God for saving me.All I can said is make a joyful noice unto God everyday My focus is alway on God who give me strength everyday of my life.
Sing is the soul music to God ears
Music is a good minsterity to God
In believing what the message is saying
Thank be to God to give some of us a voice to sing to him
Even those of us who can’t carry a note in a bucket, can sing and praise God with all we have. Isn’t it wonderful to know that when our worship and praise is directed toward God, and it comes from a sincere heart, that God receives it and gives us the blessing of his wonderful presence. Thanks for the comment.
It is wonderful to be able to worship the Lord with your whole being. Yes, I praise Him and worship Him with joy for all the blessings and good things in my life. Then, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” I rejoice and sing songs of praise. . Yet, there are times when troubles, sorrows, hardships come my way and I am only able to cry out, “Lord I cannot bear this anymore…” Then, my anguished soul is only able to cry for His help. Then, my wretched being is unable to Worship Him. Then, my lips forget to sing His praise. .
I am yet to learn to say like King David, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1-3
Oh Lord help me to worship you at all times! jjw2855
I wish someone would put these psalms to soul music format, that is a cd I would definitely check out and possibly purchase!
Psalms to Soul Music…
I like the format/sound/style of soul music and love reading the psalms…
Long ago I took the advice of reading a proverbs a day for the days of the month (in addition to my regular reading and studies), but eventually wanted to move on, and I found a few psalms (or one psalm highly reflective and meditated upon) a day really took the space of that practice well.
Maybe if you have enough influence you can ‘bend the ear’ of a few musicians?
For a while now I have known that I yearn for intimacy and I thought I could get the intimacy from humans. I realize now that I need it in my relationship with God and that’s where I will seek it now. I do enjoy singing my praises, I find it relaxing and rewarding. Our most important relationship in life is with God. I now realize parts of the relationship that are needed that have been missing. Thank you so much for the post.
As I read this, I know exactly what you are talking about. Many mornings and all throughout the day, I have a song and or praise in my heart for God. Even through my storms, I sing them. However, today I feel a little perplexed and dispondent. So, I am praying for my soul music to replay. I need it. I am having difficulty on my job with a couple of people and I have allowed it to steal some of the passion that I have for my job. Please pray for me.