Good morning,
The gift of Music
What kind of noise did God make when he created our earth? When God was talking to Job about creating the earth, he told this pain filled man that while he was building the earth, the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?(Job38:7) God’s faithful angels saw what had been made and sang together. We don’t know how much they knew about what would happen during the centuries of God’s plan, but they were filled with joy and music because they knew and trusted the God that they loved and served. We do know that soon after sin came into the world, music came as well, for we are told that Jubal was the first one who played the harp and the flute.(Gen.4:21) Thousands of years later we also know that David was a gifted musician who was called to play the harp to help King Saul when he was tormented by an evil spirit. When David became the king of Israel he was responsible for writing and singing many, many songs full of worship and love and pain and struggle. For example he wrote, Rise up, O LORD, in all your power. With music and singing we celebrate your mighty acts.(Ps.21:13) The book of Psalms is full of songs that fit the needs and thanksgivings of God’s people.
Singing and celebration showed up again when the angels woke up the shepherds who was then joined by a vast host of other angels who were praising God and saying, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”(Lk2:14) After Jesus finished his three and a half years of ministry he ended up his farewell to his disciples with, Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.(Mt26:30) Years later when Paul wrote to the believers he warned them about the world’s way of celebrating and told them, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. (Eph.5:18,19) Ever since then those people who have been genuine children of God have included God directed songs and music as part of our faith and thanksgiving to the God who is always with us no matter where we are or what language we speak. God has given each generation and each stage of growth in our walk with God in ways that help us to trust and grow and remind ourselves of the reality of our Savior and Lord.
But there is so much more ahead of us when we get home and find ourselves seeing our Savior and surrounded by the angels of Heaven and our eternal brothers and sisters. In Revelation we are told that we will be singing new songs.(Rev5:9) We are told that we will sing in a mighty chorus,"Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered– to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”(5:12) Then we are told that every creature in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea will sing, "Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”(5:13) Then we are told a great choir will sing a new song, in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders.(14:3) All this and much more is what we can look ahead to when we leave our sinful bodies behind and begin living eternally in our home filled by the music of Heaven.
Revelation 5:12 And they sang in a mighty chorus: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered– to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing."
Roy Wisner
