Music of Heaven, Music of hell pt1.

It was God who invented music in heaven and prepared a certain angel to lead all the others in their worship. God created the first "worship leader," he was called Day Star (known to us as Lucifer – the light bearer), God’s greatest creation led the angelic creatures to worship in his presence.

All the Angels sang in unison together in heaven before the rebellion occurred. Job 38:7 describes “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (morning stars are symbolic of angels)

Music began by having its focus on God, the creator of the first creatures who existed in heaven.

The first rebellion in the universe came from a worship leader that was the closest to God. Before he fell to become Satan (the accuser) he was the worship leader for all the angelic creatures in heaven, even before man was made. After he fell he retained his talent but lost his position.

"Timbrels" are tamborines, and "pipes" are wind instruments. He was created with the instruments and was perfect until the sin of pride came. Apparently he was above the throne of God as he and the other angels worshipped their creator.

Tambourine, Timbrel, Tabret. The "tambourine," sometimes interpreted as the "timbrel." The KJV uses the term "tabret." Some scholars think it was a drum, like a tom-tom, made "of a wooden hoop and very probably two skins, without any jingling contrivance or sticks" (see Kurt Sachs, A History of Musical Instruments [1940]; Sol B. Finesinger, "Musical Instruments in the O.T.," Hebrew Union College Annual 3 [1926]: 21-75). (Unger’s dictionary)

Lucifer is familiar with the spiritual power of music that he was given. Isaiah 14:11 “Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you. “ How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!” His pride has brought him down.

After the fall and the following of angels to the worship leader Matt 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (they are not God’s angels anymore)

Historically, Satan is known as an "enchanter," the pied piper. Legends of pan with the flute, depicted a pied piper leading the people (children) astray by his music ability.

Lucifer (Day Star) is able to share his teachings and wisdom through music. Music can bless or be used as a weapon to deceive. He has been using music from the very beginning to seduce people. As man later fell and his sin nature developed and was expressed within human civilization, the arts; music became something other than what it was intended.

What was originally meant was removed and replaced by the same influence that came to Eve in the garden, of the flesh, pride. Once this severing took place, music would be used for other means instead of worship, praise.

Along the way of progression from God man discovered the power and influence of music. It started early with the Babylonian civilizations in which they would sing, dance, and clap, as they played to their gods and worshiped creation

Several archaeological illustrations give a good idea of what the Israelite lyre was. On a Beni Hasan monument to be dated around 1900 B.C., one of the Semites entering Egypt is depicted performing on a lyre. Inasmuch as lyres were unknown in ancient Egypt in Old-Kingdom monuments, they were introduced by Asiatics coming from Palestine. According to rabbinic sources, to make the lyre strings the small intestines of sheep were stretched across a sounding board over a blank space and attached to a crossbar. The performer apparently drew a plectrum across the strings with his right hand and deadened the strings with his left. Pictures on Assyrian monuments portray the lyre in similar fashion, as on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III and the musicians appearing before Sennacherib at Lachish, although the players in this case seem to be drawing the index fingers over the strings instead of using a plectrum. (Unger’s dictionary)

Satan is a master at sounds through musical arrangement and can make a beautiful melody, reflecting his original ability, it may sound heavenly but the words (and sometimes the beat) will always give it way.

Music could lift up the soul with the finer points of ones heart to be expressed. Qualities like compassion, real love, lyrics of human struggles can inspire.

Hebrew music was primarily vocal. We see the first mention of singing in the Bible, when they would send away guests and loved ones (Gen. 31:27).

Musical arrangements in worship were not made to gain God’s attention but were heartfelt expressions to the Lord. The first mention in the Bible of man singing vocally is a praise song to the Lord for His deliverance. Exod. 15:1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: "I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea!”

The lyre was an instrument commonly used to accompany the human voice. As far back as Job, we have music mentioned (21:12). They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.

The Psalms exhort us to sing and make music to the Lord (e.g. Psalm 67:4f; 92:lff; 95:lff; 96:lff; 98:1ff). Old Testament prophets often prophesied with music (1 Samuel 10:6ff; 1 Chronicles 25:1).

David was received by Israel's women singing after his victory over Goliath.1 Sam. 18:6 “Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.”

David was not just a great warrior but a skilled musician and singer. 2 Chron. 7:6 “And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. “1 Chron. 24-25, the 24 priests were musicians.

King David's trained choir numbered 288. It continued under Solomon 2 Chr. 5:12-13; 9:11, and other kings: Jehoshaphat 20:21-22, Joash 23:13, 18, Hezekiah 29:27-30, Josiah and after him 35:15,25, Ezra, Ezra 2:41; 3:11; 7:24 and Nehemiah (Neh. 7:44; 10:28.).

1 Sam. 10:5 David skilled playing upon the lyre (harp) affected Saul’s anger when he was demonized. 1 Sam. 16:23 “And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

Playing Instruments: Psalm 33:2, 3 says, "Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy."

2 Chron. 30:21 “So the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing to the LORD, accompanied by loud instruments.’

Singing was used as the assembly would present themselves before the Lord. Ps. 100:1-3 Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

There is songs led by a singer with a singing response from the people found in Ps. 136. 1 Sam. 18:7. The digging of the well ("Beer") was celebrated by a song Num. 21:17-18. Moses taught Israel some of his last warnings by a song (Deut. 32:1-4).

Neh 12:27 “Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps.

Amos 6:5 "That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David"

Various instruments were used. Wind instruments: Trumpet, Horn, Cornet. Trumpets consisted of the horn (qeren) from the ram or goat. This term in the Old Testament refers to musical instruments made from animal parts (Dan. 3:5,7,10,15; "cornet," KJV). Most often, "trumpet[s]" is the translation of shofar, the Heb. word referring to a ram's horn. It was used for giving of signals for war, (Joshua, Ehud, Gideon, and Joab). It announced the year of Jubilee and also approaching danger (Jer. 4:5; Ezek. 33:3; Joel 2:1). It was blown to herald the appearance of the new moon and the full moon (Ps. 81:3).

Another trumpet was made of metal. Moses was instructed to prepare two trumpets of silver (Num. 10:2). These were called hasosera (Neh. 12:35; Ps. 98:6) and were in pairs, two priests blew on the trumpets simultaneously.

The Heb. word yobel is sometimes translated "horn" (Exo. 19:13) or "trumpet," but most often "jubilee," signifying the festival introduced by this trumpet's prolonged blast. Taqoa` is "trumpet" (Ezek. 7:14).

The "songs of Zion" were made famous (Ps. 137). At the time of the Exile, the Israelites are said to have hung their harps on the trees and refused to sing the songs of Zion.

Ps. 137:3-4 For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, and those who plundered us requested mirth, saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a foreign land?”

A flute referred to in Nebuchadnezzar’s band (Dan. 3:5,7,10,15) is from the Heb. mashroqi, which was often used as a whistle. It could also refer to the instruments of wood that were blown.

Any who did not bow down to the idol at that time the music begins were destroyed by fire.

Daniel 3:4-6 "Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace."

It should be noted that the verses from Dan. 3, so often referred to in earlier paragraphs, list six instruments found in Babylon. In this list qeren (horn) and mashroqi (flute) are Semitic. The other four are of Gk. derivation: qitros (lyre); sabbeka (trigon); pesanterin (psaltery). The Greek influence in Babylonian linguistics is accountable by early commercial connections between Greece and Assyria long before Daniel's time. (Unger’s Bible Dictionary)

Ps 126:1-3 “When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad.”

The term `ugab was probably a kind of flute that was later used to describe woodwind instruments in general. Job 21:12 and "pipe" (Gen. 4:21; "flute," NIV); as "organ" in both places by the KJV. The word halil ("pipe," KJV) is commonly considered to be a flute and is so translated by the NASB and the NIV Isa. 30:29; Jer. 48:36. Sachs, however, considers it to be an oboe since at the time the instrument appears (the era of Saul) the double oboe was in common vogue. It too may have been used at times for woodwind instruments in general. (reference – Ungers Bible dictionary)

New Testament:

Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

We should not assume that when we sing praise something supernatural must happen or angels are gathered together with us to sing as some claim.

At the last supper, Jesus and his disciples sang a hymn (Mathew 26:30) no doubt one of tradition that would accompany the Pesach meal.

Acts 16:25 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them." In our worst circumstances we can focus on the Lord with joy.

We are told in Eph. 5:19 “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” The joy of the Lord ids expressed by song.

Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Apparently the early church ministered to each other by song.

The ante-Nicene Fathers document cases of Christian martyrs singing in the midst of their suffering; Hymns attributed to Patrick of Ireland survive today, including the well-known `Be Thou My Vision'

The mood made by the music or lyrics can be used to present the gospel.

Certain kinds of music bring healing, soothe the soul, other kinds can do the opposite to our senses. Music can alienate the soul or damage the health of the believer. The difference is not so much in the technique as the INTENTION, or the spirit behind the worship.

Music has the ability to manipulate people's minds and hearts, smoothing and softening up the congregation to receive new doctrines. Now, it seems that no charismatic meeting can begin without a warm up of a few hours of loud, intensive, mind-numbing "worship". Other aspects of this influence can be accompanied with stillness.

Prayer, Bible reading and expository preaching have become second hand to a worship experience.

Many in the new services end up worshipping the worship. You don’t go to a place to worship but focus on a person, who is Christ your Lord. In the same way they are looking for the power and not the one the power comes from.

Someone who has a musical talent and gets saved, their talent does not change, but their focus does. But because they had a natural talent does not always mean they are automatically to become a worship leader. Worship is a ministry, something you are called to. If more people who did worship were grounded in right doctrine we might see a better quality of music and a more solemn time of worship that would affect our heart and life.