The Music of the Word
I'd like to offer a few thoughts on the nature of music as it is used in the Word, in Christ the Word of God, in the Scriptures.
First, the Book of Psalms is the psalter of Scripture, the worship director and prayer book of God's people. Therefore, when we consider other passages that reveal the soul of music as it's practiced on earth or in heaven (Revelation 5 for example), we should do so in the context of what God has taught us in Christ through the Psalms as well.
We are not yet in the halls of perfect holiness, therefore a music of the Word on earth is meant to accompany the Word preached in way that will lead us there.
As far as possible we want to harmonize with angels, but that is not possible except as the merits of Christ blood are applied by supplicating faith to any offering we send to God. This is typified by the incense that ascended to God in the earthly tabernacle during Israel's worship service, something drawn on in Revelation 5. 8 and 8.1-5. As the sweet savor ascended to God it was only accepted when smoldering with the holy fire, a type of the Spirit, and sanctified by the blood from off the alter, which typified the pure merits of Christi righteousness gracious reckoned ours after his self-sacrifice for our sins.
We are taught that the music of heaven and earth cannot be thought of or practiced rightly apart from an intelligent understanding of our Creator's atonement for our sin by the blood of his Son.
Now, regarding the Psalms, I think it is clear that their most joyful praise or heartfelt lament is in response to acts of God, acts that reveal his character. The shortess time reading them reveals this.
The songs of Israel tell a story as much as express an emotion. Recounting the acts of God in creation and redemption through music was to increase and preserve a knowledge of him. It was not first of all man-centered as a means of uplift, but uplifted the soul as a consequence, because they spoke the truth about God. God was revealed in Word through poetic music. As such, we find no example of long, repetitive, emotionally draining or numbing repetition that is more than common today. Nor do we find rythyms that overshadow knowledge or lead to an "unknowing" of the mind as it responses to God. The way to God is not through the human soul, through the act of God's grace in his Son, in the time and place of history. We celebrate salvation history as we sing together.
And togetherness in worship, the corporate experience of God as Creator, Redeemer, and Judge through his Messiah, is the accent rather than the eye of the mind being directed to the performers or music leaders. They are not mentioned in Scripture as the objects of attention or praise, but as the servants-leaders of the congregation as they instruct and guide.
Holiness in the Psalms, that of God and the call for our holiness, is grounded in a revelation of God's character in words that recount or foretell his acts in, as, and through the Messiah. The Giver and Receiver God's revelation is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Therefore, any worship is focused on the Word as made flesh among us in our own history. He is among us as the Word, the knowable mind of God, whether in sermon or song.
In this light, in light of the Word as God with us, the use of his name lead to a soulfully considered holiness that is aware, not mindless, of the character of his name. So, Jesus himself warns us against a repetition that might dishonor him.
"“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words." Mt. 6.7
We are not heard by God for our many words, therefore, the soul cannot be instructed by endless repetition of set phrases repeated in boredom or in a frenzied hallelujah chorus. For when it says God does not hear, it means God will not act. And if God is not acting the worship is empty of his Spirit and filled with another.
Music is addressed to God in praise, therefore it also functions as prayer. It is spoken word inspired by the Word. It is an address to God, as we hear the angels say to him, "Holy, Holy, Holy". This is a repetition, 3 times, of his divine attribute. But it is not magic. It does not of itself evoke holiness in angels or men. Nor are the strong feelings behind the utterance holiness in the self. God is holy. God is holy. God is holy. The angels are holy because God made them so, not because they feel so.
We should also say that when God appears to sinful man, even the saints of God, music is not their first response, but rather they fall as dead and silent in his presence. Only is touch and Word lifts them raises them to live before him in his full radiance. See Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1 & 2, Revelation 1.
Music throughout the experience of God's people teaches us about God. The praise of our heart is a response to a redeeming knowledge of him as he acts in our behalf. Death and suffering, it is sung, would be our portion if God does not, did not, or will not intervene.
In the praise anthems of Revelation, they too are declarations of specific aspects of God's action and character, as Creator in chapter four and as Redeemer in chapter five. God as judge is also anticipated in the unsealing of the scroll that includes judgements that lead to the final act of God as Judge in Christ. Holiness is an all-inclusive attribute of God's complete character, a unifying attribute of all that is and all that he does.
It is this knowledge, the glory of God's humble, gracious, powerful, self-sacrificing love that calls forth the sublime utterance of, Holy, Holy, Holy, from the angels. This expressions isn't meant ti say this is all that comes from their mouths, but that all that will from eternity past ti eternity present will be a response to the holy love of God.
As sinful creatures still prone to stray as sheep we need a clear and powerful reminder, even daily, of God's acts as our Creator, Redeemer, and Judge. This revelation of God is accomplished in words that intelligently reveal the story of God with us. Music is a powerful means to do that and should not be reduced to a repetition of phrases that produce more of a trance than educate the whole person in holiness before God.
I see nothing in the character of Christ's example in worship that supports much that goes by that name today.
But what of wordless notes, chords, rhythms, and melodies that our voices sound and our instruments play?
They are expressions of feelings for the Word. They are the singing of the soul in harmony with the Word that instructs the soul. The cannot be separated in character. The music that surrounds the Word must not eclipse the Word but draw the eye of the soul to him.
Deep feelings of praise need release and God love to hear such music. But the music accepted by God comes as a creative act of his Holy Spirit. We do not create anything apart from the will of God and the will of God always acts in pure holiness, in pure love toward saint and sinner alike.
The sound of music or the "sound of silence" must harmonize with the heart of God if it is true worship.
How do we now that heart, how do we create this way?
Jesus, the Word made flesh, is "God's thought made audible", the mind and therefore the character of God to us.
Just as we know God through Jesus, Jesus will teach us the melodies of heaven as we behold him. For example, what will we sing of as we meditate on his acts of healing, his forgiveness of sin, and so forth? More directly and alway before the soul of the true Christian is the cross. What and how will sing in his presence there?
I know it is common today to glory in glory as we fix our thoughts on the risen Christ, as if we had already entered heaven. In a sense we have, through abiding in Christ. But that abiding, while on the is earth, is never possible without blood, his blood. We rightly and acceptably worship God only as the blood cleanses our offerings that are defiled by the corrupt channel of humanity, what Paul called our bodies death.
Christ crucified, Christ risen, Christ, ascended, Christ coming again are the themes to inspire us. Write of it, sing of it. Teach it. Praise it, the act of God reconciling the world through Christ.
