Music to the Glory of God

Humphrey Dobson

Reviewed by: Lauren LeMahieu

Music to the Glory of God: Why You Should Think About Music, by Humphrey Dobson. Shepherd, 2024. Paperback, 256 pages, $19.99. Reviewed by OP member Lauren LeMahieu.

Many Christian musicians have, over the years, authored wonderful books to help us grow in our understanding and enjoyment of God’s wonderful gift of music. These books have been a blessing to the church. Music to the Glory of God, by Humphrey Dobson, is another must-read for anyone interested in worship and music. Dobson, born and educated in England, started his musical journey at age six by studying piano and later organ with an elderly Welsh woman. This early relationship resulted in laying the foundation for a lifelong love of music. Dobson earned a music degree from Durham University in the United Kingdom and has been a church musician for many years. He is currently the director of international outreach at Ligonier Ministries and a member of the OPC.

In Music to the Glory of God we learn how music can play an important part in discovering how to glorify God and to enjoy him forever (Shorter Catechism Q. 1). Dobson carefully develops his thesis by laying out how music plays a significant role in both our church life and in our daily lives. He takes us through the Scriptures as he develops a biblical view of music and augments these biblical themes by quoting liberally from church fathers, including Augustine, John Calvin, John Flavel, Thomas Watson, and Martin Luther. Dobson shows how the art form of music shapes our hearts and minds toward God.

Dobson begins his book by guiding us through an understanding of beauty and the arts. He encourages us to love beauty and the arts because they are a gift from God, the creator of all that is good, true, and beautiful. Dobson summarizes this section with a quote from Herman Bavinck:

Beauty always awakens in us images, moods, and affections that otherwise would have remained dormant and not even known to us. . . . It deepens, broadens, enriches our inner life, and it lifts us for a moment above the dreary, sinful sad reality; beauty also brings cleansing, liberation, revival to our burdened and dejected hearts.

Helping us to view beauty more deeply, Dobson continues by giving us a crash course in music theory and music history. In his survey of composers, Dobson shows us God’s gift of beauty in music. Dobson then moves to the history of psalmody and hymnody in the church with a concise survey of its beginnings and development. Dobson helpfully uses the Westminster Confession to address the use of psalms and hymns in worship. This is a very thoughtful and informative section.

Finally, Dobson brings his treatment of music theory, music history, and psalmody and hymnody together to help us better understand the use of music in worship today. Is music worship or entertainment? This book will encourage your heart in using the precious gift of music to prepare us for eternity where music will have a central role. Music to the Glory of God will help you see through the eyes of Scripture how we can best serve Christ and his kingdom through how we view and use music. Keep your Bible with you as you read through this book, and you will likely discover new ways to glorify God through his great gift of music. As image-bearers of God, we can glorify him through our music and draw closer to him in the process. I highly recommend this book.