Praying in the Spirit: Singing in the Spirit
Has the similarity between glossolalia and music occurred to you? It seems that one could build an apologetic for glossolalia upon the analogy of music. Both are articulate, but neither expresses explicit meaning. Both use the creativity of the individual as it is inspired by the Spirit. Both bypass propositional statements in order to take the worshiper beyond the earthly to the Mystery of the Other. And both are universally accessible.
Furthermore, music is charismatic in more than the general ways mentioned. In 1 Samuel 10:1-6, the anointing of Saul is recorded. Samuel poured oil on his head and gave him instructions that would lead him to a group of men prophesying while enjoying the playing of musical instruments: “As you approach the town,” Samuel told him, “you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying.” Samuel continues, “The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.” Obviously, music is no stranger to charismatic activity. It may even be said that one enhances the other. In 1930, Presbyterian Alexander McCall, commenting on Saul’s charismatic experience, said, “This is one of the several instances in Scripture in which music furnishes the atmosphere which makes divine power effective” (Hunter, ed. p. 131).
The writer of 2 Chronicles records a scene around the ark of the covenant “All the Levites who were musicians … stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets … Then the temple of Lord was filled with a cloud, and priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God” (5:12-14). The New American Standard Bible says that “the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud …” (verse 14). In other words, the priests were involuntarily prostrated, so powerful was the divine presence in that musical assembly.
I mentioned earlier the melancholy dirges of other religions. Judaism and Christianity provide a striking contrast to this kind of worship. All references to music in the Scriptures are in the context of joy and happiness (Topp, p. 16). In fact, Scripture suggests music ceases when joy ceases (Psalm 137; Amos 8:3,10). Singing in the Spirit works very much the same way. It, too, is a result a life overflowing with joy. This is apparent from the very expressions on the faces of those singing in the Spirit. Glossolalic singing is one way of following James’ command: “Is anyone happy? Let him sing psalms of praise” (5: 13). It may even be said that the use of the prayer language in singing may actually replace anxiety and mourning with peace and joy. Even as the music from David’s harp eased Saul’s discomfort (1 Samuel 16: 23), so the charismatic experience of singing in the Spirit may bring comfort to the singer.
Category: Spirit, Spring 2001
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