Soli Deo Gloria!

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!” Romans 11:33

God’s ways are truly inscrutable and unsearchable. How can we ever understand the logic behind the Cross? That it is the only way up, up to God, up to heaven, up to righteousness. Indeed it is only through this darkness we see light just as a seed has to be buried to germinate and grow, and a baby has to be formed in the mystery of the womb. 

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was one of the most amazing composers of all time. He composed more than a thousand pieces in almost every musical genre, instrumental sonatas, kantatas, cello suites, masses, concerts. 

Bach was orphaned as a child. He had a total of twenty children, but eleven of them died when very very young. Bach’s first wife passed away and he married a second wife Anna-Magdalena. At 64 years of age, he became totally blind. Even if his life was filled with so much pain and loss, he continued to write the most majestic and sublime music the world has ever known. He wrote the St. Matthew’s Passion based on the last days of Jesus on earth. He composed the B Minor Mass, a full 2 hour mass setting with the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei. 

At the end of every composition, he regularly inscribed the letters S.D.G. which was short for Soli Deo gloria, “To God alone, the glory”. He also frequently began with the short prayer J.J. which was his way of calling on the Lord for help. His faith helped him deal with pain, and worship was the best solace. We can raise our souls and spirits to heaven listening to his compositions for his music was prayer. He believed that ‘the aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul’. 

Like Johann Sebastian Bach, if we live our lives for God’s glory, God will make our lives His masterpiece.