A God Who Sings

Have you ever wondered whether Jesus is a tenor or bass? I know, it's kinda trivial. But I have a trivial mind. Anyway, that question popped into my head as I was thinking about what Jesus said (sung?) while being hung on the Cross.

Matthew 27:46 documents:
"From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)."

Additional reference shows that these words came from Psalm 22.

In Psalm 22, there are some instructions given: "For the director of music. To the tune of 'The Doe of the Morning'. A psalm of David."

And so my mind wandered-- what is this tune? What does it sound like? Is it a quick tempo song or a slow meditative song? Is it melodic or a recitative? What key is it in and so on and so on.

I heard online a Jewish scholar giving a lecture on ancient Jewish traditions and he mentioned that during Jesus' time, the psalms were not numbered and the way to know from one psalm to another is by the first few lines of the psalm.

So when Jesus quoted the first line of psalm 22, undoubtedly the Jewish people who were still there at the cross would have heard and recognized this psalm. Perhaps this psalm/song is very famous at that time, so many folks would have known the words and the tune. It's like quoting the words to "Amazing Grace" or "How Great Thou Art" in modern times. Maybe?

But of course, Psalm 22 is not just an ordinary praise song. It is a prophetic psalm that points to the coming of the Messiah for the nation of Israel. And that reminder would/should have pierced the ears of those who were still standing under the Cross when Jesus cried out those words "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?".

But did it?

Here's how Matthew accounts the response:

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” - Matthew 27:47-49

Interesting response. It's the "let's see what happens" attitude.

Another incident documented in the Bible where Jesus may have sung is in Matthew 26:30: "When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives."

This hymn was sung during the last supper between Jesus and His disciples. Jesus sings. For some strange reason, I find it quite intriguing. God sings.

This is significant for me because when that day comes when my throat is so sore that I cannot speak nor sing, I know that God will sing over me.

"The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” -- Zephaniah 3:17