By Agustinus Ryanto
Have you ever found yourself lost in thought, humming a tune? The melody wraps around you like a warm embrace, and the lyrics etch themselves into your memory. Maybe a tear escapes, or a smile graces your lips. Curiously, despite life’s unchanged circumstances, you feel a gentle relief in your heart.
I’ve encountered this too. It makes me wonder: does the emotional response to music stem from my melancholic tendencies? Or could a song truly guide us on an inner journey, perhaps even a spiritual one?
I’m not really familiar with music. No one in my family plays an instrument or sings. However, when I started attending church on my own initiative in the early 2000s, I became more acquainted with music, even though I can’t play any instrument myself. God’s influence captured me, and during my teenage years, I spent a lot of time in church—participating in fellowship, public worship, and the choir. Music was always present in these events. As I grew into adulthood, the church music stayed with me, shaping my identity. For instance, during times when I felt worthless due to family rejection, the simple lyrics and melody of the song “Jesus Loves Me” (which I often heard on a cassette) reminded me that I was truly loved by Christ.
In this post, I’d like to emphasize that the songs and hymns we hear and sing aren’t mere rituals or meaningless tunes—they have the power to touch hearts.
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Music holds a significant place in Christian worship and daily spiritual life—it’s practically inseparable. The use of music in worship rituals dates back to the Old Testament. Before King David’s time, ancient Israelites used music for various purposes: social gatherings, work, encouragement during battles, celebrating joyous moments, and expressing sorrow. However, it was under David’s reign that music became intentionally coordinated for worship. In 1 Chronicles 23:3-5, we learn that David appointed 4,000 of the 38,000 Levites as singers and musicians. These individuals received training from 288 skilled musicians descended from Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun (1 Chronicles 25:7). And let’s not forget that the famous songbook, Psalms, was authored by David himself, its timeless words continuing to inspire us today.
Besides serving as a form of worship, spiritual music—especially hymns—has a clever way of bypassing our sometimes forgetful minds. While many of us might struggle to recall last week’s sermon or events from a decade ago, the songs we sang in Sunday school or during worship services remain vivid. The melody, intertwined with the lyrics, aids our memory. But it’s not just the song itself that lingers; it’s also the emotions and atmosphere we experienced when those songs filled the air.
That is why our faith also has a deep connection with singing. The Book of Psalms, in particular, reveals much about God’s character. Among the Psalms, chapter 51 holds a special place for me—it recounts David’s heartfelt confession of sin when the prophet Nathan confronted him. Thousands of years later, I encountered this Psalm during a time when I grappled with guilt.
The words echo: Have mercy on me O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your great mercy blot out my transgressions. (v. 3).
As the soloist sang the refrain, followed by the cantor, the same remorse that once filled David’s heart seemed to seep into mine. It wasn’t merely the sentimental atmosphere of worship; it felt like a fruit of the Holy Spirit’s work, convicting us of our wrongdoing (John 16:8).
There are so many hymns and songs circulating around us these days. Regardless of the musical traditions within our church denomination, I’m convinced that songs created, arranged, composed, and sung wholeheartedly for God will resonate beyond the church walls or our playlists. They’ll become melodies we carry with us, reminding us of our faithful God.
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As I gazed out the train window, I saw a row of mountains, their peaks cloaked in thick foliage. Above them stretched a vast sky, painted in vibrant blue with wisps of white stratus clouds.
In that moment, my heart sang, “The mountains may move, and the hills may shake, but Your kindness will never depart from me…”
God has bestowed upon us the gifts of remembering and singing. When our minds struggle to recall, and our lips falter in expression, let the melodies resonate on behalf of our souls. Whether in worship or daily life, may these songs echo our connection to the Almighty—today and throughout our journey.
*This was written on a train, in the journey between Purwokerto and Cirebon.
Watch Also (in Indonesian):
Temu Teman Jelajah “Psalms 1–50”
In our journey through life, there are moments when God feels distant, silent, and unfamiliar. Yet, at other times, He can be incredibly close and comforting. Reflecting on the Book of Psalms allows us to explore the depths of our hearts, acknowledging our inner longing to know God—the owner and overseer of our souls. Within the Psalms, we find expressions that resonate with both joy and sorrow as we journey with Him.
Our Daily Bread Ministries in Indonesia is supported by the freewill offering of individuals in Indonesia, who through their gifts enable us to continue to bring the life-changing wisdom of the Bible to many here. We are not funded by any church or organisation.
