MOODS

Moods

Some people are moody. You never know what you’re going to get with them. Will they be in an angry or a happy mood today? It can be a bit like Esther approaching the king, will I get my head cut off or will he be pleased to see me?

Outward things, such as décor and music, may help to set our various moods. From dark and dingy to bright and bubbly, colours and wall-designs may affect our mood. Glenn Miller had a big hit in 1940 with the tune ‘In the Mood.’ Hearing it may put you in the mood for dancing! They had a young David play his harp for King Saul to try to change his mood (1 Samuel 16:23). It has been said that music soothes the soul.

We talk of ‘being under the weather.’ I can relate to this! I lived on the west coast of Scotland for some nineteen years, but have now lived in Queensland, Australia for twenty-odd years. Let me open the curtains in the morning to bright and sunny weather any day, over looking out at cold, wet and windy Scottish weather! Even fickle weather can set your mood for the rest of the day.

We tend to hum, whistle or sing when we’re happy. ‘Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.’ James 4:13b. In the Bible, it’s obvious that words, tunes and instruments help set the mood. Some Psalms have musical directions in their headings, e.g., ‘To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments.’ Psalm 4. ‘To the Chief Musician. With flutes.’ Psalm 5. ‘To the tune of “Death of the Son.”’ Psalm 9. ‘Set to “The Deer of the Dawn.”’ Psalm 22. ‘Set to “The Lilies.”’ Psalm 45.

Then there are the reactions of others to our actions that can have us either singing praises or singing the blues, such as, receiving applause or receiving boos for something we have done, (e.g., performing, baking a cake, winning or losing at sports). We can be thankful that those two men that Jesus had called Boanerges, i.e., Sons of Thunder, are not God. They wanted to send thunderbolts to consume a village full of Samaritans because they would not listen to what had they had to say about Jesus. Jesus ‘turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them’ Luke 9:55-56.

   God is not moody. To be sure, in places the Bible speaks of God as being angry or grieved or pleased or displeased etc., in apparent reaction to certain human activities. And yes, God blesses obedience and curses disobedience. However, since He knows the end from the beginning, there is nothing that can sneak up and surprise Him. He is the Alpha and the Omega. Therefore, He is the mood-setter. ‘Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.’ James 1:17. We can be thankful that God never wakes up in a grumpy mood! For God does not sleep (Psalm 121:4).

God is the Creator, Ruler and Sustainer of all creation. He puts the décor in place (Genesis 1; Psalm 104). He controls the weather (Jonah 1:4; Mark 4:39). And it was He who gave us music. It once said on a wall of an old German opera house: ‘Bach gave us God’s Word. Mozart gave us God’s laughter. Beethoven gave us God’s fire. God gave us Music that we might pray without words.’

May your mood be good.