CLASSICAL MUSIC AND LADY WISDOM
Expressions of God’s Generosity
Pastor Jim Kniseley presented
this sermon at Resurrection Lutheran Church,
Dear
Friends in Christ,
We
are able to have a Classical Music Sunday here at Resurrection because we have
enough interested and talented musicians to step forward and play. For that we are very grateful.
In
case anyone here mistakenly relates the word “classical” only with us older
folks, I am pleased to see the ages of our musicians today!
Young
people, here’s a promise: you will never regret the time you invest in learning
to play and read music. It will stay
with you a lifetime. My 3 brothers and I
recently compared notes in a cross-country conference call as to what we were
doing these days in the churches we belonged to. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that
three of us are singing in our church choirs, and my brother in
Today
I have time to comment on just one of our scripture readings. I have selected Proverbs 9:1-6. In this
passage we are introduced to someone
whose very name conjures up a perception of age. I will call her Lady
Wisdom.
The
illustration on the front cover of your bulletin is a good one. You may think that she is an angel put there
for classical music Sunday. I think she
could be Lady Wisdom, for she fits some of the characteristics that the writer
of Proverbs describes. She is a heavenly
being, was created by God before the world was created, was present when human
beings were formed…
Why
was Proverbs written? The Book of Proverbs
was written to be a primer or manual for teaching young people the way to live
in harmony with the ways of God. The
writer of the Book of Proverbs gives the noble concept of wisdom a personality. You have to use your imagination, she doesn’t
really exist. She has something to give
us human beings that is very special, insight and an understanding of God’s
heart and ways.
Proverbs
was written about 700 years before the birth of Jesus. We Christians can’t help but hear some very
familiar concepts associated with Lady Wisdom.
Today we read that she is throwing a banquet with bread and wine, she
wants everyone to come, there is no charge, she wants all that come to have a
change of heart and to learn a better way to live…
I
hope that some of you will go home to today and read through the Book of
Proverbs. You will find some delightful
sayings plus wonderful common sense.
On
this Classical Music Sunday, we are reminded that a love of good music is
instilled in young people by good role models that give great encouragement.
But in order to become good at playing or singing you must practice lots. Otherwise, you settle for less than you are
capable of doing.
I
played the oboe in my high school orchestra and persuaded my parents to pay for
some private lessons with a man who was first oboe for the Los Angeles
Philharmonic. I will never forget the
day I was having perhaps my 10th lesson and he said, “did you
practice this week?” I truthfully said,
“No, I was too busy with homework and stuff.”
With that, he packed up his oboe and left and never came again to give
me lessons. Amy, please encourage them
to practice and please give them another chance when they fail….
Today,
we are also reminded that living in harmony with God’s ways is instilled in young
people by parents and teachers who are good role models and who give great
encouragement. “The fear of the Lord is
the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding,”
says Proverbs 9:10.
Here’s
the message for all ages today: living
in harmony with God’s ways is also something that takes a lifetime of
dedication. Until the day we die, we are called to stay wisely connected
to the Lord.
Enough
then of Theology and Wisdom. Now, we are about to sing a Christmas Carol. This shows that on Classical Music
Sunday, we are not confined by seasons
and time…
Amen.