1 Corinthians 14:7 – word that contains music

Likewise, soulless things, giving a sound, whether flute or lyre, if they should not be giving a distinction to the utterances, how will the fluting or the lyre playing be known?

Not only in our speaking, but also with inanimate things it is essential that we can distinguish sounds. Paul mentions the example of musical instruments such as a flute or a harp. While percussion is meant for the rhythm, wind and string instruments are especially important for the melody.

Music is a language that appeals to the heart and it transcends all our learned languages. This also makes the comparison with ‘speaking in languages’ so striking. Music has similarities with God’s word, which is also constructed with the building blocks of rhythm, harmonies and chords. And not to forget with melodies: the succession of pitches. Low and high. Without those different tones it would be monotonous, and therefore no music.

The language of music exists by the grace of the meaning of different sounds. If even inanimate instruments are thereby able to touch the heart of man, how much more does the living word of God really contain music!

Delen: