Brahms and more

I have had the privilege of playing in the APSU orchestra this semester. They asked string players from the community to join in for the upcoming concert to help fill out their string section. We're playing Brahms 2nd Symphony.

When I first saw the music a wave of "what were you thinking!" ran through me. I haven't played notes that high in 75 years! "Maybe I should play 2nd instead of 1st" entered my mind several times as I tried to play through the 1st movement.

The start of the 4th movement.

"Allegro con spirito" means "hold on to your hat, here we go" (that is a rough translation from the Italian)

Now, a few months into it, I'm very excited to say that I'm playing the first violin part and those high notes aren't so scary after all!

I think the 3rd movement may be my favorite. Although there are some really beautiful parts in the 1st and 2nd. And the 4th movement is wild and exciting. Hmmm. There are just a lot of really great moments throughout.

I know I have many in the Passion Play working on acting, dancing and singing this Sunday afternoon, but for those of you who don't have rehearsals this Sunday I'd like to invite you to hear our concert. Not only are we playing Brahms' 2nd Symphony, the winners of the concerto competition will also play. One of the winners is a clarinetist who will play the 1st movement of Weber's Clarinet Concerto. The orchestra will accompany that also. It's a fun piece you will enjoy hearing. (and he does a great job playing it)

It will be a beautiful afternoon of music.

The concert is at 4:00 in the music/communications building on the Austin Peay campus. That building is on 8th street.

The Music/Mass Communication Building is located at the intersection of 8th and Marion Streets, The main entrance faces Marion Street and a large parking area is available. Upon entering, the Concert Hall is directly ahead (Basically, take College St. to 8th. Turn - hmmm, whatever direction goes into the campus area - I'm guessing West - and the next street is Marion.)

And - Woohoo! - the concert is free!

Half-way Through our 150 Days of Psalms

Whe I choose a time, I will judge fairlyl When the earth and all its inhabitants shake, I am the One who steadies its pillars. v.3
For there is a cup in the LORD'S hand, full of wine blended with spices, and He pours from it. All the wicked of the earth will drink, draining it to the dregs. v.8 HCSB


Psalm 75 reminded me of verses in Revelation.

he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
Revelation 14:10 NASB

A tapestry by Nicolas de Bataille of France from the 14th Century

He has a whole series of tapestries based on the book of Revelation

From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
Revelation 19:15 NASB

I see "strong" world leaders who lift up their horn (a symbol of power) against heaven and speak arrogantly. They blaspheme against God and persecute His Church. Because of this, I like seeing verses like v.7 "God is the Judge: He brings down one and exalts another." I've often wondered how God allows these world leaders - presidents, dictators, kings (whatever their title) - to stay in power when they are so wicked and ungodly. I remind myself that there is coming a day when the Antichrist will rule the world and that evil will seem to have triumphed - and to get to that place we have to have leaders now that will make it possible for the Antichrist to take power. But in the end we see here and we see in Revelation (and other places throughout scripture) that God is the Judge and one day He will pour out His wrath on "all the wicked of the earth."
 

In the mean-time, I will join the psalmist - "I will tell about Him forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob."

150 Days of Psalms - Psalm 74

Psalm 74 is a prayer for Israel. There were many times in their history where they had turned their back on God and so God just said, OK, if that's what you want, that's what I'll give you and He stopped talking to them.

It wouldn't take them long to see that they needed God (especially since He wouldn't hold back their enemies.) It's my prayer that our nation will figure out we need God before we get to that place.

I like the imagery of vs. 12-17 showing God's great power. "Leviathan" (according to my fancy Holman Christian Standard study Bible notes) "also appears in other biblical texts (Ps 104:26, Jb 3:8, 44, Is 27:1). He represents the most fierce and powerful sea creature. Whether this creature can be linked to a specific animal in the known world is uncertain, although suggestions range from a crocodile to a dinosaur. There certainly is a connection in Canaanite mythology that links this creature with chaos. Therefore, God defeated chaos and fed him to the creatures of the desert,"

There are several opposites listed here

Sea monster crushed - fed to the beasts of the desert
You opened up springs and streams - You dried up ever-flowing rivers.
The day is Yours - and also the night
You established the moon - and the sun
You made summer - and winter

I think that is to show that God is over everything. So... when you feel abandoned by God as the psalmist did here, do what the psalmist did and remember that God is over everything. Make your own list of opposites (use these to start) and praise God and thank God that He is Lord of all.

150 Days of Psalms - Psalm 73

Psalm 73 begins Book III of the Psalter. Many of these psalms were written by Asaph or in the style of Asaph's writing. According to my fancy Holman Christian Standard Bible notes from LifeWay, Asaph was David's chief musician. Wow! Would that be a cool job or what? Or maybe a very intimidating job, to write psalms under the watch of THE psalm writer, David.

This psalm made me think of all the celebrities and big money makers that are always on TV. I won't mention names, because first of all I don't want to be judge and jury right here on blogger and second because you can think of more people than I can who are like the prosperous, arrogant wicked people described in the first verses of Psalm 73.

Asaph was beginning to let their easy-looking life get to him. His life had troubles and he was hopeless in trying to figure out why the wicked who mocked God prospered and he, an innocent man, had afflictions. He had his feelings hurt. He was becoming bitter.

But when he entered God's sanctuary - when he came into God's presence - he understood. He realized that being jealous and bitter about the prosperity of the wicked was foolish. He was able to write these words.

"I am always with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterwards You will take me up to glory.
Who do I have in heaven but You? And I desire nothing on earth but You.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever."

You may recognize vs. 25-26 as the second verse and part of the chorus of Darlene Zschech's beautiful song (and one of my all-time favorites) "Made Me Glad." (That's part of why her songs are so wonderful. They are taken almost entirely from scripture. If you don't recognize her name, you probably know some of her songs. "Shout to the Lord" is another one she wrote.)

150 Days of Psalms - Psalm 72

Psalm 72 is "Solomonic." (Now there's a word that probably won't pass "spell check.") That can mean it was written by, written for or in the style of those written by King Solomon.

What I saw in this Psalm - as a prayer for the king - was what we should hope for and pray for in our presidents. (since we don't have kings - although some might argue that our current president is acting a bit like Napoleon in all of his executive orders and such, but that will have to be part of another post)

A king or president should have justice and righteousness in all he does. He should help the poor and afflicted.

This psalm is also a prayer that the nation will have grain and crops and that the people flourish.

But as we have seen in many other psalms, the end result from God blessing the king and the people and of the king taking care of the poor is ultimately so God will be praised.

"May the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does wonders, be praised.
May His glorious name be praised forever; the whole earth is filled with His glory.
Amen and amen." vs. 18-19

150 Days of Psalms - Psalm 71

This is the man I want to be - not any time soon. I don't think I'm old yet. When someone asks, "How long have you been playing the violin?" I'll joke and say, "about 120 years." But I really don't think I'm old yet. My ankle has been aching for a few days now. I don't remember doing anything to it. I blame it on old age. But I really don't think I'm old yet. (and I'm not even going to mention how gray my beard is. I may have to get some Just for Men.

So whenever I am  old I want to have this testimony.
Psalm 71

Even though he doesn't know "the sum" of his days, he hopes continually and testifies about God's righteousness and salvation all day long.

14 But as for me, I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more. 15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your salvation all day long; For I do not know the sum of them. 16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD ; I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone. 17 O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. 18 And even when I am old and gray

But notice that the psalmist didn't START testifying about God and His righteousness and salvation when he was old. God was his confidence since he was a youth.  
5You are my hope ; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth. 6 By You I have been sustained from my birth ; You are He who took me from my mother's womb ; My praise is continually of You


I've noticed this about people. More often than not an older person is just like they were when they were a younger person - only maybe exaggerated a little. So... if you want to be a great man or woman of raith in your old age you have to be that now in your not so old age. If you want to be gentle and kind as an older person you need to practice that as a younger type person. If you want to be a person of hope and faith and love and joy when you are old... are you following this line of thought?

Bottom line. Be who you want to be when you're old NOW. Get busy. You dont get that way by accident. You have to work at it, train, study, practice, BE that person.

150 Days of Psalms - Psalm 70

Psalm 70 is another cry for help. What I found interesting about it is that it is only 5 verses long. So my first thought was, Wow, David must be on the run. No time for formal fancy prayers; just a quick, "Don't forget me God! "hasten" is used three times, and it ends with "do not delay."

Maybe this is just a quick little reminder that even when we're on the run we can still cry out, "come quick and help me, Lord."

 4 Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, "Let God be magnified."

The next time you are needing a quick answer from God, when you need Him to hasten, remember also that in the end, our deliverance, our answer, needs to "let God be magnified."