Jubilee Singers

Jubilee Singers by Edmund Havel (1873)

I love the elegance in this victorian painting by Edmund Havel who was the court painter for Queen Victoria. This is of the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University during their post civil war, "a cappella" performance which was done for Queen Victoria in order to raise money for their African American school which was low on funds.

This group was responsible for sharing "spirituals" to the world which were the soulful songs of the south that were created and sung during their bondage about freedom from slavery and freedom in Christ. Most of the songs have Biblical references which were also used as codes for escape in the underground railroad.

Their name, "Jubilee Singers" was based on the Old Testament (Leviticus 25:10) where every fiftieth Pentecost was followed by a year of jubilee where Hebrew law commanded that all slaves be set free. This group was put together in 1871 after the war of the states and most of the students of Fisk were former slaves which truly made this name meaningful.

Questions for mothers and maidens:

• Do you know any spirituals? If so, comment below on your favorites. (I will be sharing my favorites in future posts.)
• Do you know what a cappella means?

There is a sweet picture book (historical fiction) about the Jubilee Singers titled, A Band of Angels by Deborah Hopkinson which younger girls may enjoy. 

Miriam the Musical Mentor

Miriam Makes Music

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron,

took a timbrel in her hand;

and all the women went out after her

with timbrels and with dances.

~ Exodus 15:20

In the Scriptures, we find Miriam leading all the women in praises to the Almighty. She was a godly woman and is considered the first prophetess. No doubt her earlier acts of faith such as facing the daughter of Pharaoh bravely with a suggestion to provide a nurse for the little baby in the basket gained her respect at an early age. She was also listed by the inspired word of God with Moses and Aaron as just as important in the work that was given… She was "sent" by God.

"For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt,

and redeemed thee out of the house of servants;

and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam."

~ Micah 6:4

Miriam was an upright women and an obvious tool of the Lord. It is no wonder that women followed her down the aisle singing exaltations to the Lord God. She probably had a huge following among the Hebrew woman and had much clout as well (Perhaps too much clout as she later was bold enough to speak against the wife of Moses). Younger girls watched her every move and may have been mentored by Miriam…

But the question is, who in today's society is mentoring your daughters through music?

Counterfeit Christian Musicians...

There are some females that our daughters might look up to if given the opportunity. They disguise themselves as "Christians" in a Hollywood, secular setting. Many mothers may allow and even encourage the mentoring thinking in their heads that they are "Christian" and they are "cool". They buy t-shirts of these girls and place them on their daughters. But are these young musicians "sent" by God or is it a cunning deception? What are we moulding our daughters into?

How long do these females remain devoted to God when living in the world of glamour and glitter? Sadly, it does not take long for the "bad company to corrupt the good morals" (1 Corinthians 15:33). And if the time comes that these performers start dabbling into the worldly playground and forget their "first love" (Revelations 2:4), your daughter is already addicted to this role model and her way of life. You can tell her that she is no longer someone you want in your home but the desire to immitate her is already there. The seed has already been planted and those roots are hard to pull. We read the sorrowful news of these defeated girls more and more in the media as many young maidens have fallen from innocence into a life of promiscuity, drugs and alcohal (to say the very least)...

Dear mothers and maidens,

beware what "musicians" are introduced

 into your heart and home.

For other music related musings,
visit Magnanimous Music.


I hope I do not offend anyone with these writings for 
my true desire is to encourage and enlighten women in different areas for a faithful life.
My earnest prayer is that you receive it all in love.

Linked up to:

Far Above Rubies

Raising Homemakers
Deep Roots at Home

More Love to Thee

A Puritan Girl at Prayer

1. More Love to Thee ~ A Hymn
2. 
   
3. More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee!
   Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee;
   This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
   More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
4. Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest;
   Now Thee alone I seek, give what is best;
   This all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
   More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
5. Let sorrow do its work, come grief or pain;
   Sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain,
   When they can sing with me: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
   More love to Thee, more love to Thee!
6. Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise;
   This be the parting cry my heart shall raise;
   This still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to Thee;
   More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

by ~ Elizabeth Prentiss


(Press here for the tune of this hymn for extra inspiration as you read this.)

Biography of Elizabeth Prentiss
Nourishing Novels by Elizabeth Prentiss
Thoughts Concerning the King

Magnanimous Music

Girl with Guitar by Jennie Brownscombe

"Music is a gift from God and has an enormous power that can help lead us to virtue.

But in this fallen world, music- produced by sinners-

is often chaotic, menacing, or flippant, and can lead us to our own destruction.

You see children, music shapes us in its image."

~ Douglas Bond, Mr. Pipes And The British Hymn Makers

Music is a powerful tool for the follower of God but is just as powerful for the opposition... just like a knife can be used to prepare a nourishing salad or to harm a human. We need to be careful how we utilize the instrument.

Scripture gives us guidance in what kind of music to delight in…

"...but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God."

~ Ephesians 5:18-21

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

~ Colossians 3:16

We are to enjoy the music that glorifies God. It breaks my heart to get into a car with "believers" and then to hear them listening to music made by unbelievers. Do you think there is anything in secular music created to bring you closer to God? Music is the mind of man that has been packaged into a group of notes. If anything, the unbelievers music brings you into their world… "and friendship with the world means enmity against God" (James 4:4).

The kind of music you listen to is just as important as the shows you watch, the books you read and the people you keep company with. Music has a power that is all its own. Its influence can persuade people to do ungodly things that they otherwise would not do because of the mood it puts you in. It can almost clear the conscience and drown out the warnings of the holy spirit by the loudness of the disturbing lyrics, beats and tainting tunes. There are many studies about the influence of music that establishes this point.

Lucifer (Satan) was the musician in the heavens once upon a time…

You were in Eden, the garden of God; 

Every precious stone was your covering: 

The sardius, topaz, and diamond, 

Beryl, onyx, and jasper, 

Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. 

The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes 

Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 

~ Ezekiel 28:13

Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, 

And the sound of your stringed instruments; 

The maggot is spread under you, 

And worms cover you.’

~ Isaiah 14:11

Satan once used his talent to glorify God. Now, how do you suppose he is using that same talent in his new mission? Are you enjoying his latest tunes?

As a "Heroine of the Faith", who has the attention of your ears? Who is guiding what you hear? Is it placing you in the right direction towards your loving Saviour? For when you listen to godly music...

 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

      “This is the way, walk in it,”
      Whenever you turn to the right hand
      Or whenever you turn to the left."

~ Isaiah 30:21

Whose voice are you listening to?

Other paintings we viewed by Jennie Brownscombe in addition to this page:

Autumn Foliage

Ready for the Oven


Linked up to:
Far Above Rubies
Raising Homemakers
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home