Music speaks to every human on earth in some way. Evidence of music is and has been found in every culture and every time. The ear seeks it out and hears it even in places where it does and does not exist. A babbling brook, or the wind whipping through the treetops. Foley artists creating musical instruments to imitate the sound of the slamming of a door, or children running through sand. Birds opening their mouths to create melody. A musician pulling his bow across the strings of a viola. All of it is music. Music is one of the few activities which stimulate both sides of the brain. Music has been proven to heighten intelligence, reasoning, and problem solving at all ages. God made us to love it!
The Bible first mentions music in Genesis 4:21 in the eighth generation of mankind with a man named Jubal whose family made a living playing music: “He was the father of those who play the lyre and pipe.” It is mentioned as part of the worship of God in 1 Chronicles 6:31 as David organized the singers of the tabernacle. Eventually, David commanded that some of those singers take up musical instruments in 1 Chronicles 15:16, “to raise sounds of joy.” Songs are written throughout the Bible, concentrated in the book of Psalms. The New Testament shows Jesus and His disciples singing a hymn before going out to the Mount of Olives in Matthew 26:30. The angels blow musical instruments in Revelation and sing praises to God as Jesus was born in Luke 2:13-14.
When man worships God and lives in agreement with God, music is a part of every part of life. In Colossians 3:16 Paul speaks of letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, and in that same breath elaborates on part of that richness being singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. James asks us in James 5:3, “Is anyone cheerful?” and he answers, “Let him sing praise.” This is linked to prayer in the earlier part of the verse, for turning to God in time of need informing us that we sing in times of blessing.
Paul and Silas, in Philippi, were thrown into prison, and they found it good to pass the time by singing hymns and praying to God, even into the very early hours of the morning (Acts 16:25). As the previous verses direct us, they were likely praising God for being found worthy to suffer persecution for the sake of Christ as the apostles did in Acts 5:41 after being released from the Sanhedrin.
Music is so vital to who we are, God commanded us to sing in worship to Him in Ephesians 5:19 (and Colossians 3:16) saying, “… addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart …”
God gave us that command to engage in the joy of music. He made our ears to seek it and be able to hone it into something lovely. He even gave us the instrument by which to do it: the voice. It is a theme that God only asks for what we can all give. The voice does not take special training or knowledge to use. Infants use it as they exit the womb to cry out and make their presence in the world known. Humans try to make things more interesting or complicated to suit our own passions and desires, but all God asks is that we make music using the tools He gave to us, and not one which we have created. He does not judge us on how in tune we may be, or how hoarse our voice has become through age. He does not demand we sing solo, or to be in a group by which to please an audience of spectators. He only asks us all individually to praise God using that beautiful gift of music which He has provided.
Lance Byers