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Why put theTen Commandments to music????
by Kathy Schallert
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Several years ago the Lord put it on my heart to put the Ten Commandments
to music. I wasn’t so sure that was such a good idea seeing as how several
of the Commandments have just a few words in them. How was I supposed to
write a song with such little material? Well God convinced me through a
series of events that I was to not try and figure it out on my own, but
was to simply obey Him. So I picked up my guitar one day and while sitting
on the floor in my living room with several translations of open bibles
all around me I began the task of putting God’s Holy Law to music. In roughly
two hours I finished 3 songs, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Commandments. Several
years earlier I had actually already written a song using the 4th Commandment,
so now I had 4 of the Commandment songs. I was quite excited now and anxious
to finish the rest of the songs. Well, about 5 and ½ years later
they were finally finished and have now been recorded.
As I look back on the process of writing these songs it has become clearer
to me what God was doing. I believe the first four songs that deal directly
with our relationship with God came first because there is no question
about these Commandments. This is God speaking and telling us how and why
we are to love, respect, adore, honor, and worship Him. No variables here,
no 2 ways about it, no grey areas. These first four songs are pretty much
word-for-word straight out of the bible. I referenced several translations
to get the heart of the message and words that would rhyme.
I began to try and write another of these Commandment songs and just
couldn’t seem to come up with anything that worked, so I gave up for awhile.
I was in the middle of recording my first album, “Beyond The Storm” and
had just finished my first promo tape that I would use to raise money to
finish that project. I had my tapes with me when I went to Redwood Camp
Meeting that summer. The first night I was there I went to a meeting where
a man named Walter Pearson was preaching. I was not prepared for what I
heard that night and have never forgotten the experience.
Right here I have to back up just a bit, like about 15 years……
When I was a brand new Christian I had the privilege of attending a
Medical Missionary Evangelism Training Program in Norwalk, California.
There, a man named Pastor Dale Leamon was teaching about last day events.
I was so thrilled at all I was learning and saw myself someday, hopefully
becoming a part of the movement that would vindicate God’s Holy name in
the world! As I sat in class this one day they were talking about the song
of Moses and the Lamb. Well as a musician I wanted to know that song! So
I raised my hand and innocently asked, “How does the song go?” Well when
the room erupted in laughter I was quite embarrassed, not sure what was
so funny, I asked again, “How does the song go? Can I learn it?” More laughter,
then Pastor Leamon looked at me and must have seen that I was serious.
He then directed me to Revelation 15. “And I saw as it were a sea of glass
mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast,
and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name,
stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song
of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
"Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty;
just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?
For thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before
thee,
for thy judgments are made manifest"
So now I knew that it was a song of victory that would be sung in heaven,
on the sea of glass. I thought about that for a long time and hoped I would
be among those who sing that song. Well a few years went by and I was so
blessed that someone gave me a piano. Not being a piano player I vowed
I would teach myself to play. I worked at it very hard, still am…..One
day I sat down at my piano and opened my bible and started singing the
words that were on the page in front of me. It sounded like it was going
to be a pretty good song so I wrote it out, rhyming phrases and adding
praises. The song became one of my favorites and I decided to put it on
the promo tape and my first album. The title of the song is “Creator God”.
Now here I am years later sitting in this Camp Meeting listening to
Walter Pearson preaching about the song of Moses and the Lamb! As he quoted
the words from Revelation 15, I became overwhelmed with emotion. I was
remembering back to the day when I had asked how the song of Moses and
the Lamb goes and was holding tightly to the promo cassette tape in my
hand when I realized for the first time that the song on my promo tape
was taken from Revelation 15:3 and 4! I couldn’t believe it! I felt the
tears streaming down my face and could barely control my sobs. I had wanted
to learn that song years earlier and now I realized for the first time
that God had allowed me to compose and record a song with those very words
in it and I didn’t even realize it!!! Just as I thought I might be getting
control over my emotions Pastor Pearson began to talk about singing the
Ten Commandments. I was all ears! He explained how God had told Moses to
instruct the children of Israel to sing the Ten Commandments!!! Well I
completely lost it then. I couldn’t control the sobbing if my life depended
on it. You see, it was just a few weeks prior that I had finished those
first 4 Commandment songs…..
Here I was sitting in this meeting all by myself hearing these words
from a man I’d never met, knowing that God was using him to speak directly
to me! God was in fact, confirming what He had impressed on my heart years
before. I knew then that those Ten Commandment songs would be finished
someday, in God’s perfect timing! Well the years went by and God really
took His time giving those songs to me. I’m not the kind of person who
can just sit down and write a song. It has to come from the Lord, so I
do a lot of waiting, praying…..and a lot of learning.
Honor Your Father and Mother
So I set out to write the remaining six songs, the ones that deal with
our relationships between each other. I thought it would be a good idea
to write a song telling the world to honor their parents, of course I was
exempt because my dad was an alcoholic. But God took me on this incredible
journey of healing and discovery so I could write this song. I learned
that God could give me eyes to see in my parents that which is honorable
and He could give me a heart that could forgive the rest……what a relief!
You Shall Not Kill
And what about murder? How could I write a song about that? I’ve never
killed anyone, so I thought. God had to teach me that murder begins in
the heart…..Matthew 5:21, 22 "You have heard that it was said to those
of old, "You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of
the judgment.' But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment”. (NIV)
Matthew 5:21, 22 "You have heard that it was said to the men of old,
'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' But
I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable
to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council,
and whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. (RSV)
So......God revealed to me that anger is just the beginning of murder,
and that we are as liable to judgment for murder if we are simply angry
without a cause. Ya know what I mean?--- Well I've had a little too much
personal experience here.....It's so easy to say things that are cruel
and mean when you are hurting. It's too easy to kill a persons spirit.
After writing this song and gaining some real perspective on the truth
about murder, I personally can't think of any good reason to crush my brother
or sister. Now if the whole world would meditate on these things we wouldn't
be so scared to go outside for a walk.
Do Not Commit Adultery
Someone very close to me was dealing with having been unfaithful to
the marriage vow. Never having been married myself I didn’t see how I would
be able to effectively relate this Commandment through song to anyone,
until the Lord gave me insight and understanding through someone else’s
unfortunate experience. The funny thing though is that every time I sing
this song it is so personal to me because of the zillions of times I have
committed spiritual adultery and been unfaithful to my Creator……
You Shall Not Steal
The stealing song took a long time to finish as I had much to deal
with the reality of my own thievery. …..
Do Not Bear False Witness
And what about lying? Gossiping? Idle talk? Twisted words I’ve heard
and I’ve spoken. And whispering all those “concerns” that only God
should hear……. James 4:11 says: “Brothers, do not slander one another.
Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the
law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but
sitting in judgment on it.” Composing this song has really affected my
thinking……
You Shall Not Covet
Well here I was, almost finished with these ten songs, just one more
to go. I had such a hard time with this last Commandment, for obvious reasons…..I
want everything I see, and I never saw myself as that kind of person. So
it was difficult for me to “get real” on this one. One night I was talking
to this guy and he shared how at the end of every day he had to confess
his covetous, aimless desires. He just wanted it all, every day! I started
thinking about that and the next day I wrote the song “More”. It was about
me and my uncontrollable desire for what I want and think I need. I thought
I was finished with the song and thanked God that it only took one long
night of keeping my family awake while I played it out on the piano till
the break of day. The next day I played it for my brother John, who has
always been so supportive of everything I do. I played the song for him
and I turned to see this sort of blank look on his face and asked him what
he thought. He promptly told me that I needed to work on it some more…I
made excuses telling him it wasn’t really finished and it was still very
rough, assuring him I would fix it. That night I prayed and prayed with
all my heart that God would show me what to do. I have this picture above
my piano that has been hanging there for about 18 years. I look at it a
lot while I am playing and singing to God. This night I was searching for
answers and God spoke into my heart that these songs were as they should
be but that the Gospel of Jesus Christ needed to be added to the last song.
Without the Gospel, and a real understanding of how much we are loved by
God, it is impossible to love Him or please Him. If we obey the Commandments
for any other reason than love for God, we are vain and deceived. When
we understand how much God has done for us, how much He desires to give
new life to us, how only He can satisfiy our every need, we will never
be satisfied with what we have but will always want more. We will always
be guitly of saying in our hearts, "I really want You Lord, but I really
want more stuff to fill my aching need......"
“To the Law AND to the Testimony (of Jesus), if they speak
not according to this word it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah
8:20
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of
the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. Psalms 19:7
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their
children. Psalms 78:5
So this picture above my piano really caught my attention. It is
a print that was commissioned in 1883 and tells the entire plan of Salvation.
I just stared at this picture and my fingers started playing the black
keys on the piano. This was really a surprise, as I am not that good of
a piano player and I never play the black keys. Too many sharps and flats.
I don’t know how much time went by before I was on my face thanking God
for this incredible ballad of Salvation! But I have to back up right here…..about
18 years.
I had been attending this seminar at my church and each night they were
giving stuff away like books, bibles, and posters. They said that whoever
brought a new guest to the next meeting would win this beautiful poster.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of it and sat there making a mental list of
all the people I was going to invite. Well the next day I asked everybody
I could think of and no one was able to come. I was making calls right
up to the very moment I had to leave to go to the meeting. I got into my
car discouraged and sure I was not going to get that beautiful poster.
As I started to pull away from the curb this little old woman walked right
past my window carrying a big suitcase. I leaned over and rolled down the
window and asked her if she needed a ride. She said yes! I told her that
I would give her a ride anywhere she wanted to go if she would just come
and be my guest at church for one hour. She agreed and I won the poster!
Come to find out this poor little thing had no where to sleep that night
so I brought her home. She ate, slept, got up and left. I never saw her
again but if it hadn’t been for her I would never have won the poster that
has hung above my piano for over 20 years! The very thing God used to inspire
the final song of the Ten Commandment album. As I thought back to that
night I won the poster I was overwhelmed that God had planned that whole
thing, the old lady, the give-away, the piano……even the frame the poster
is in was given to me in a timely way, but that’s another story…..
Here is the poster and link to the artist Elfred Lee, that inspired
the final song, "More"
Following are the Lyrics that were inspired by this painting:
You spoke in a moment and then there was light, and in Your own
image You made us just right
You asked us to follow, You asked us to stay close by You forever
and we turned away
And with Your own hand, the will of Your heart was written in
stone that we might take part
We promised to follow, we promised to stay, close by You forever
and we turned away
Then in Your wisdom, God became man, an innocent party according
to plan
You asked us to follow, and showed us the way, You said ‘If you
love Me’, and we turned away
So You gave up Your glory to die on a cross, redeeming the world
while we were still lost
And on the third day, You stood up for me, At the right hand
of God, what more do I need
(At the right hand of God) What more do I need (At the right hand
of God) what more do I need
(At the right hand of God)..........At the right hand of God
If I only have You Lord, I want nothing more
I guess the whole point of this story is simply to tell that I believe
God had a plan all along for these Ten Commandment songs. He has been working
in my life in so many ways for so many years to get these songs written
and recorded. The recording of this album is another incredible story.
I believe this musical expression of God’s Law is uncommon to say the least.
I have seen first hand the conviction these songs bring as I have heard
testimony after testimony of how families are listening to these songs
together, the children memorizing the words……I can only hope and pray that
God will continue to use these songs as one of the many ways He chooses
to write His Law in our hearts and minds. Music has a way of washing away
from the soul the dust of everyday life, leaving a lasting imprint on the
heart.
We are living in serious times and I believe that Jesus is coming again,
sooner than most might think. He is coming for you, and for me. I pray
that while we remain here on this earth that we might all be busy studying
the scriptures and learning the way of the love of our Lord that we all
may be found faithful on that day. I long to hear those words, "Well done,
thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things,
I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of the
Lord." Matthew 25:21
For more on the music click
here and find out what people are saying.
May you be blessed as you seek after Him with all of your heart. Jeremiah
29:12, 13
Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I
will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I
will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and
will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put My laws into
their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God,
and they shall be to Me a people:
Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts,
and in their minds will I write them;
John 14:15 If ye love Me, keep My commandments.
John 14:21 He that has My commandments, and keeps them, it is
he that loves Me: and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and
I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in
thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and
shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest
by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they
shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
Deuteronomy 8:1 All the commandments which I command thee this
day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and
possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.
2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God
led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove
thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments,
or no.
Deuteronomy 11:18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in
your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that
they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
19 And ye shall teach them to your children, speaking of them
when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when
thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house,
and upon thy gates:
21 That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children,
in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the
days of heaven upon the earth.
22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which
I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his
ways, and to cleave unto him;
23 Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before
you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.
24 Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall
be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates,
even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.
25 There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD
your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land
that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.
26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God,
which I command you this day:
28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your
God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go
after other gods, which ye have not known.
Psalms 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth
the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;
even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when
we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:
and his commandments are not grievous.
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and
went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments
of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are
they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do His commandments,
that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through
the gates into the city.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
So.........that's why I put the Ten Commandments to music.
Peace to you- Kathy