The marvel of music was created by our Creator and began in heaven, in the heart of God. Like every other good and holy thing God has devised, music too has been corrupted by Satan and his minions by the misuse and abuse of God's holy gift of music.
Prior to Genesis, the Bible gives us just one scene in heaven. That is the revolutionary change occasioned by the Archangel Lucifer's rebellion against Jehovah God. That unthinkable event, described by God's observation of Lucifer's great loss of beauty and glory as the "Reflector of God's glorious light". Lucifer's ministry seems to have been, all covered with precious gems, a prime prism of God's holy light. In God's description, recorded in Isa.14 and Ezek. 28, God mentions all kinds of radiant beauty and opulence surrounding Lucifer before his fall. One of the benefits of Lucifer, which he lost in the fall, was music. God mentions "the noise of thy viols" (Isa.14:11). The word "noise", Hebrew "hemyah" means a "multitude of musical instruments" such as a large orchestra. Ezek.28:13 also refers to Lucifer's "tabrets", Hebrew "toph", which is a timbrel like an instrument. So there was then, and no doubt still is, music in heaven.
Good music, on earth, has survived the misuse of this wonderful gift and lives on in the hearts, minds, and voices of God's people. Music was given by God first, for worship, but can be legitimately used to strengthen, bless, and encourage the hearts and minds of people. I won't name the ways Satan has perverted music ... but you already know. All music which glorifies evil is worship of Satan or Self and dishonors God. There are many kinds of good music. Even unsaved musicians can make good music, as God's creative life itself dwells in every human being. As non-Christians are often gifted with art, science, math, and many other gifts born into them, and put there by God. I have no doubt that Adam and Eve were able to sing, as well as speak.
So I believe music is one of our most important means of worshiping God. Musical instruments and singing are mentioned hundreds of times in the Scriptures
Moses, the lawgiver led God's people in singing unto the LORD.
"Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously....Ex.15:1.
Even the somber Judges sang praises unto the LORD.
"Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord
God of Israel." Judges 5:3.
Samuel encourages believers to publicly "sing" praises to God.
"Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name." 2 Sam.22:50.
God's Chronicler recorded the command to "sing", 22 times.
"Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation." 1Chron.16:23.
Psalms admonishes us over 50 times to "sing".
"Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness." Psm.30:4.
Wise King Solomon, in his wisdom, taught us to "sing".
"In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice." Prov.29:6.
Even Isaiah the prophet challenged us 23 times to "sing".
"Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust ..." Isa.26:19.
The "weeping prophet" Jeremiah commanded us to "sing".
"Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord...." Jer.20:13.
Zephaniah even reveals that God, Himself, "sings over us with joy".
"The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."
Zeph.3:17.
Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles, quoted a prophecy, Psm.18:49, that the gospel of Christ would be given to the Gentiles with singing unto His name.
"...I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name." Rom.15:9.
Then Paul invited the newly saved Christian Gentiles to join in the singing to our Lord and Savior of both Jews and Gentiles.
"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." Eph.5:19. Also Colossians 3:16.
And forever we, Jews and Gentiles, will be singing the Old Testament song of Moses and the New Testament song of Jesus, the Lamb, to the glory of God, and continue throughout eternity...in heaven.
"And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints." Revelation 15:3
No comments:
Post a Comment