The trumpeters and singers joined I N U N I S O N in unison, as with one voice, to ~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ give praise and thanks to the LORD. -2 Chronicles 5:13 A devotional series for the choir, the worship leader, and anyone desiring to experience or lead in a deeper worship experience. [See the end of this file for more information on the complete series.] The In Unison series is written by David S. Lampel. #1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ W I T H O N E V O I C E People who share the same focus will always sing in unison. Individuals become a family by having something in common. In the case of human relation, it is the blood flowing through their veins that binds them together. But in the case of the family of God, it is the blood flowing out of the veins of Christ that does the binding. A person may be drawn to participating in a choir by a love of singing_but it is that man or woman's love for Christ that will keep the song in his or her heart. ______________________________ So how do we sing in unison? Singing in unison (as used here) does not mean everyone singing the same note. What it means is that we all agree on who is to sing to whom we are singing why we are singing The answers to each of these can be found in Psalm 148. First, who is to sing? After itemizing every created thing, including the sun and moon, fire and hail, snow and clouds, the Psalmist continues his list with . . . kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children. -Psalm 148:11-12 NIV The point? Every person on this earth is to be praising the Lord. The second question_to whom are we to be singing_is answered by the first three words of the Psalm Praise the Lord! -148:1a Can we emphasize that too much, or too often? In this scattering world of distractions and false truth, can we hear too many reminders that it is the Lord who is to be the sole object of our praise and worship? When the choir members arrive for practice, when they troop in on a Sunday morning, when musicals are staged and rehearsed and performed_the desire of every heart should be for the Lord. The focus of every thought, every intent, should be on the Lord. Finally, why? Verse 13 answers this. Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven. -148:13 NKJV Why? Because only the Lord's name is exalted_literally, "set on high"; it is only His glory that stands above earth and heaven. With one voice. What unity and strength there is in joining our voices as one, in praise of the One, the mighty God of heaven, the only one worthy of our praise. In unison. ______________________________ "If the presence of God is made known in our worship, if His living Presence truly saturates the proceedings, then not only will there be the reverence and order that characterize the holy God of an ordered creation, but a sense of the unexpected that reflects His endless creativity as He moulds and fashions our lives together." (Graham Kendrick in Learning to Worship as a Way of Life, Bethany House, 1985.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Supplement to #1 Be sure to check out the March issue of Aspects ("Soaring into Greatness"); this could be a source throughout this newsletter series. See also November 1993 issue, "Hallelujah!" Another good passage for this idea of who, to whom and why is Psalm 103:1-2. Who? Where Psalm 148 speaks every person praising the Lord, this Psalm speaks of every part of this person praising Him. What does this mean to me? That we are to truly mean it. To Whom? Of course: The Lord. Why? Just look at all the blessings (benefits) He has showered into our lives! He blesses us_so we should bless Him. What better reason! And then this Psalm goes on to list some of those benefits. As to this idea of everyone having the same focus, what we are really talking about is true fellowship: koinonia. There is a mental picture that always illustrates this relationship for me_the relationship we have with each other because of the relationship we each share with Christ. The image takes the form of a pyramid_or the way an artist would paint a road in proper perspective: wide near the front of the painting, then gradually moving toward a point in the distance. At the point of the pyramid, or at the point where the road meets the horizon, is God sitting on His throne. Forming the body of the pyramid, or the pavement of the road, are people bowed in worship. Now notice the people: Near the base of the pyramid, or the beginning of the road, where there is a broad expanse, the people are all doing the same thing_worshipping their God_but there is space between them. They aren't touching each other. But as they all draw closer to God, they are drawn inexorably closer to each other, as the pyramid narrows toward the capstone or the road narrows toward the horizon, until their shoulders are rubbing and their bodies compacted against each other. The closer we get to God_in worship, in study, in prayer_the closer we will be to His people who are doing the same. And that is true fellowship. Regarding the idea of unity, a couple of good references are: "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. [20] For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." -Matthew 18:19-20 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. -1 Cor 1:10 "The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him. God is a person and, as such, can be cultivated as any person can. It is inherent in personality to be able to know other personalities, but full knowledge of one personality by another cannot be achieved in one encounter. It is only after long and loving mental intercourse that the full possibilities of both can be explored. Being made in [God's] image we have within us the capacity to know Him." (A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God (Christian Publications, 1982), p.12ff.) A Growing Knowledge of God "The secret of both faith and praise is a growing knowledge of God. Meditating day after day on His perfect character and magnificence inspires us to trust Him and praise Him. Even as our hearts respond in awe to a sunset, so they respond in adoration when our inner eyes see the Lord as He truly is. The more we look and worship, the more God sensitizes us to His presence, so that He becomes more real and dear to us than anyone on earth." (Warren and Ruth Myers, Praise: A Door to God's Presence (Navpress, 1987), p23.) Copyright Information --------------------- All original material in IN UNISON is Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel. This data file is the sole property of David S. Lampel. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel."). This data file may not be used without the permission of David S. Lampel for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its content. Brief quotations not to exceed more than 500 words may be used, with the appropriate copyright notice, to enhance or supplement personal or church devotions, newsletters, journals, or spoken messages. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture is from the New International Version. NIV quotations are from the Holy Bible: New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission. NASB quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In Unison was originally written for Music Ministers and Choir Directors to use in conjunction with their weekly rehearsals. It was syndicated in printed form, camera-ready for inclusion in choir newsletters or to be read to the choir as a devotional. It has also been used by Pastors and lay-leaders in many capacities. In Unison is evangelical, and speaks from the position that the choir does not perform for its own pleasure--nor for the pleasure of the congregation--but is, instead, a "prompter" leading and demonstrating the corporate worship for the pleasure of God. Each choir member--as well as every other leader standing on the platform--is responsible to do everything to point the congregation upward to God. In Unison also encourages individual and corporate excellence, based on the premise that after His sacrifice for us, our Lord deserves nothing less. Most issues of In Unison consist of two parts: * The main article has been written to be the "public" portion--either re-printed for each choir member or read to them during a devotional time. * The Supplemental material (accompanying most issues) has been included for the director or leader to use as background to further his or her own study. There is a total of 19 issues making up the complete In Unison series, representing by the following outline: 1. With One Voice 11. Because He Deserves It 2. Up Words 12. A Longing to Be Near Him 3. Loving One Another 13. Excellence: Beginning 4. Demonstrating Praise 14. Excellence: The Debt 5. The Spirit and the Flesh 15. Excellence: For the Prize 6. Three Little Words 16. Excellence: Why? 7. Obeying Our Parent 17. To Be Like Him 8. A Fragrant Offering 18. In Spirit and Truth 9. Worship the King 19. Honesty 10. His Wish, Our Desire ------------------------------------------------------------------- In Unison is distributed free-of-charge, without obligation, in service to our Lord and to His glory. Reader opinions are always welcome, as are insights into the published material. Send all comments to the address below. We always appreciate hearing when someone has been edified by this work. ------------------------------------------------------------------- To receive the complete series via e-mail, inquire with questions, or comment on the material send your request to: "dlampel@dlampel.com" P.S. The articles are currently being converted to ASCII text for uploading. Over the next week or two the entire series will be completed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ David S. Lampel "For from Him and through Him Winterset, IA USA and to Him are all things. dlampel@dlampel.com To Him be the glory forever. Amen." (Rom 11:36) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/in.unison: inu-001.txt