Welcome to a day that can only happen every 100 years. It is 02/22/22 AND it's a Tuesday! How much better can it get than that!!! We hope you will take at least 2 seconds, 2 minutes, or 2 hours if you wish, to celebrate the day of 2. And of course, the best way to celebrate this unique day is by spending it with friends all over the world who read, you guessed it, Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!
We can certainly see you celebrating the day of 2 by investing a couple of minutes, or hours if you have the time, perusing the annals of anthems, the landscape of lyric, and the mural of music that is enclosed in the archives of Tuesday's Musical Notes! They are found directly to your left, listed by month and year. Or if you choose to, you can search by your favorite song or artist to see what might be given that special Tuesday's Musical Note flair! Regardless of how you read, we thank you for hanging out with us and spending this exceptionally rare day here! If you get the chance, share with your friends the incredible insight and wonder you may have by reading each week's Tuesday's Musical Notes...or just tell them about it, if you like it!
Now let's get to it so your valuable time of 2 is not wasted. There might be ramifications if we failed to meet your high standards and expectations. Please do not resort to the actions of our song of the day...we kinda like our playhouse just the way it is...
While known as a great music town, Memphis, Tennessee rarely gets its props for being a place where music is born. Today's featured song is an exception as it was one of those rare songs, written and recorded in Memphis. Hi Records was the beneficiary of the Earl Randle song originally recorded by Memphis native, Soul Songstress, Ann Peebles. Utilizing the Memphis-based Hi Rhythm Section (including the Memphis Horns) and produced by Memphis' Royal Studios manager Willie Mitchell, Peebles' version of "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" would continue in the tradition of other Memphis greats like Al Green. (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Put A Little Love In Your Heart" (Jackie DeShannon/Annie Lennox and Al Green)) We're kinda fond of our neighbor to the east...
The 1973 single by Ann Peebles peaked at #31 on the R&B chart but just missed the Hot 100, peaking at #111. "I'm Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down" would get renewed interest as English singer Paul Young would launch his cover of the song as a rerelease in 1985, taking the song to #13. After listening to both takes on the song, my preference is the original. Young is a great vocalist, but there is just something about that Memphis bluesy sound that causes the song to better last the test of time than the 80's sounding remake. Besides, it is the rare cover that is better or equal to the original recording. And again, I live close to Memphis! Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Walking In Memphis" (Marc Cohn)
The song decries the anxiety brought on by a contentious, unfaithful relationship. The "playa" in the relationship uses her charm to the extent that all of their friends are fooled into believing that everything is good in the relationship when the reality is not so much. The tension builds until the singer begins to mete out his plans for revenge and exposure. It seems like we've heard this story told somewhere before...
Ezekiel 6-7 New American Standard Bible/The Amplified Bible/King James Version of the Bible parallel
Our most recent excursion into the great stories of the Bible has brought us to our character focus on Ezekiel, the prophet to Judah who finds himself in exile in Babylon. Ezekiel has begun having visions and instructions from God. Check out last week's Musical Note to see some of the colorful ways God uses Ezekiel to get the attention of his fellow exiles. Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" (The Animals)
Today we find Ezekiel's message and visions from God continuing, but this time God describes His revenge on the nation of Israel for its contentiousness and unfaithfulness. At this point, only the first wave of exiles have been taken to Babylon, as Judah had not been destroyed by the invading armies. God begins to describe the destruction on the land by first striking out at the locations of its idol worship, the high places of the mountains. He continues to reign in the idolatry by taking it to the ravines and caves. It is apparent that idolatry is prevalent all over the land.
God then begins detailing His loathing towards the icons of worship that the Israelites had used. Their incense altars, which were originally intended to burn a fragrant aroma to God, had been reverted into the worship of the gods of the Canaanites and other surrounding areas. If this sounds eerily reminiscent, it's because these actions by the Hebrew Children were foretold back in Judges during their initial conquest of the land. Judges 2:1-5 NASB/AMP/KJV They were now experiencing the prophecy that God had told them about and was bearing the brunt of the consequences of their poor decisions and disobedience.
It is really easy for us to be critical of the Israelites of Ezekiel's day. How could they abandon the ways of God when He had provided such deliverance? However, if modern-day believers take a glance in a mirror, we find ourselves needing to rend our clothes and wear a little real ash on our heads. Our idols may be different, but they are idols nonetheless. Anything we place in priority over God is an idol.
For me, the idol of choice that I battle and repent from is my schedule. I have specific things that should be done at specific times and if that doesn't happen, I get, at the very least anxious and at the most what the Bible calls downcast when I get behind in my weekly layout of tasks (normally packed, no wiggle room) or have something come at me from left field. (Welcome to baseball season, Go Hogs Go!!!...umm could that be another idol, God wasn't especially fond of pigs in the Bible...but I digress)
The bad thing about idolatry is that the ones who love you the most are the ones most annoyed by your sin. I think I just heard everyone in my family say AMEN!!! Yup! A little OCD about when things are supposed to happen in my life. Please pray for me...
Anyway, what is the idol you have in your life? It may not take the form of a golden or wooden statue, but it keeps God from being the priority in your life. Could be a relationship. Could be a hobby. Could be really...anything. What keeps you from reading the Bible, God's Word? What keeps you from attending a local church and interacting (iron sharpening iron Proverbs 27:17 NASB/AMP/KJV) with God's people? What keeps you from talking to God, crying out to Him in intercession for others, or yourself in prayer? These things are dangerously keeping you away from having the relationship with God that He desires and you need.
There are consequences for our idolatry. God describes the consequences quite well through Ezekiel...It is apparent that soon He is gonna tear the Israelite's playhouse down. What makes us so arrogant to think that He won't do the same as a consequence of our idol worship, regardless of what that idol might be? "...One of these days while you're at play (or work maybe?), I'm gonna catch you off guard..."
Let's learn from the Israelite's mistakes. Let's not be exiled figuratively or literally because of our lack of regard for God. Let's not see our world ruined by the ramifications of our poor decisions regarding our relationship with God. Let's turn to His Word, turn to His people, turn to His Spirit. Otherwise, "...when we look up one day, we'll see our playhouse tumblin' down..."
'Til Tuesday,
Loving HIM by Loving You,
randy
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