Music Notes

As we enter into February, two things about this season come to my mind. One is love, and the other is Lent. We don’t always think of these two together. Lent is a time of penitence, reflecting our mortality and sinfulness, and our need for a Savior. Love is often thought of as a feeling – an emotion that two people share, creating a deep connection. The great thing to realize, though, is that Lent is all about love – God’s love and grace. It’s about more than a feeling or emotion, though. It’s about an action.

It is so good to know as we enter into Lent that as we come to God, reflecting on our sinfulness and unworthiness, that God bestows love on us. As David cried out in song to God to create a clean heart in him, and not to take the Holy Spirit from him, he recognized his own neediness in the face of God’s glory. And although there were consequences for David’s actions, God did not banish him or disown him. Instead, God has promised through Isaiah to wash us as white as snow, even though our sins and lives are as red as scarlet. As far as the east is from the west, God removes our sins. That is some pretty amazing love. Love that put itself on our own place, taking action, and taking our own punishment. This love that David understood as he sung to the Lord through his despair also caused him to praise God with all he had. Whether we find ourselves lonely, in despair, or in a time of refreshing during this season, may we lift our hearts to God in song, offering ourselves to Him in worship.