Psalm 150

Reflection Written by Alex Walker

1 Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power;
    praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
    praise him with the harp and lyre,
4 praise him with timbrel and dancing,
    praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,
    praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

This Psalm tells us to praise God with music and song. ‘Let everything that has breath praise the Lord’. There is no rule that says we have to be able to sing well or play an instrument well. Simply having breath is enough. Music is for everyone.

Hearing a song that we love evokes such emotion in us. Sadness, grief, happiness, and joy. Music is used to celebrate, to honour, to commemorate, and even to dance to. It has no language that needs to be interpreted. Music speaks to our soul.

There is a saying that we should dance like no one is watching. As a child that is easy, as an adult we worry too much about the judgement from others. My gift from God was the ability to sing and play music. It brings me and others joy. I am always grateful, so many people wish they could sing and wish they could play an instrument. We shouldn’t hide our talents however insignificant they may seem to us. Music is there to be shared, to celebrate and to unite us. It brings common ground. It brings inner peace. It puts smiles on people’s faces. But let’s not forget that God has given us the gift of music and song and therefore dance. Sing, dance and play music like no one is watching, except God. Let’s praise God with our gifts of song and music, let’s be thankful that we can make music together.