More aesthetics in the Bible, from passages that I had never noticed before: Psalm 101, identified as “a Psalm of David,” reflects specifically on singing and making music. It begins:
I will sing of steadfast love and justice;
to you, O Lord, I will make music.
Elsewhere, David also refers to singing and making melody “to the Lord” (Psalm 27:6; see these other places). So the Lord is the audience of the music. The artist is addressing not other human beings but God Himself.
I will sing of steadfast love and justice;
to you, O Lord, I will make music.2 I will ponder the way that is blameless.
Oh when will you come to me?I will walk with integrity of heart
within my house;
3 I will not set before my eyes
anything that is worthless.
I hate the work of those who fall away;
it shall not cling to me.4 A perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will know nothing of evil.
5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly
I will destroy.
Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart
I will not endure.6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land,
that they may dwell with me;
he who walks in the way that is blameless
shall minister to me.7 No one who practices deceit
shall dwell in my house;
no one who utters lies
shall continue before my eyes.8 Morning by morning I will destroy
all the wicked in the land,
cutting off all the evildoers
from the city of the Lord.