SEDUCED BY MUSIC

Daniel 3:14-95; Glory and praise for ever; John 8:31-42

"Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made, whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments…"

Music is seductive.  It easily sways the listener.  It causes our moral radar to be somewhat disconnected.

How often have I (or have you) been listening to the radio and found myself (ourself) singing along only to realize the message of the song probably isn't the best of messages.

Just recently I found myself singing along to the radio only to realize the lyrics were talking about step bars and lap dances and going down to the river to get on.  I was so caught into the music that I wasn't paying much attention to what was being said.


Music has away of seducing our moral compass and invites us to just go with the rhythm.  We can easily get carries away if we are not careful or attentive.

Perhaps this is what the good King Nebuchadnezzar is anticipating from Abednego, Shadrach, and Meshach.  Perhaps he figures that the  music would sway the three young men to lower their moral guard and just get seduced into pagan worship.

We see this with the young of today.  They are being swayed to enter into pagan worship that is worship emotions, or power, wealth, success, fame.  This is what a lot of songs are about with out any real direction or guidance.

On second note, I find it fascinating how many modern gathering places for fellowship do the same thing.  They get every one seduced by the band, the musical instruments and this is what folks are drawn too.  There is something in the seduction of music that sways and convinces.

Don't get me wrong i love good music.  But isn't worship more than a song! Isn't worship more than melody and rhythm!  At what point do we begin to realize that music is more about us then it is about true and right worship.

Back to story of the three young men.  They are not so easily bought.  It takes more than a steel guitar and drums so to speak to get them to bow their knee in worship.

I love what the three young men say, "There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter.  If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us!  But even if he will not, know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue that yo set up."

Regardless of whether God intervenes and saves their life or not, the three young men remain dutiful and loyal to God.  No circumstances could dictate their fidelity.  They truly possessed wisdom.

Pope Francis in today's wednesday audience began a new series on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  He reminds us that the gift of wisdom  is the ability to see as God sees.  This vision is a product of intimacy with God.  The Spirit of God draws into God's life in such a manner that we are able to share God's vision.  We are able to look upon the world with the heart of God.  It removes us from ourselves and we no longer judge based on what pleases or displease us.

Wisdom doesn't mean we are a know it all.  But rather it means we know of God, God's actions.  We see with God's eyes, hear with God's ears, love with God's heart, and judge with God's judgment.

We see this gift unfold in and through the lives of the three young men.  Wisdom means we march to the rhythm of eternity.  We can only be swayed by the song of heaven.