The Music of Heaven
What will music in Heaven sound like? What songs will we be singing "when the roll is called up yonder?" What do you hear when you imagine angels singing? I'm sure the immediate thought would be harps… lots and lots of harps. Others may imagine a fleet of 9' Steinway pianos, and the biggest Allen organ ever seen, heard playing Fanny Crosby hymns for all eternity. Still other believers imagine an orchestra full of the most skilled players, and playing music that would put Handel, Bach, Beethoven, and Liszt to shame. There is another contingent that sees large speakers, sub-woofers, guitars, drums, keyboards, and microphones pumping out amplified praise to God. What about African believers who imagine a myriad of drums being beaten with rhythms unfamiliar to the Western ear? Or Japanese Christians who think of the sound of the koto or shamisen? Then there are believers who come from an a capella tradition, Mariachi bands, Celtic music, and a plethora of other styles, variations, instrumentation, and rhythmic diversity. Furthermore, music has developed over the last several millennium. Musical innovators broke the rules of their predecessors, and were considered outcasts during their lifetime, but we now consider them geniuses. Will the Baroch era be favored over music from the Romantic era or will we need to go further back in human history so that everything will sound like the music of ancient Israel?
Perhaps we should ask the all important WWJD question. If He had an ipod (or would He use a walkman, cd player, eight track player, record player, large boom box on His shoulder, or gramophone?) what would our Lord listen to? Perhaps live music only, but that still doesn't answer our original question of what type of music will be heard in Heaven. Furthermore, will there be multiple areas of Heaven where we can listen to the music of our preference? East side- 20th century minimalistic worship, South side- Mariachi bands, North side- non-western music (since we are American we'll lump Korean, Indian, Filipino, African, and all others here), West side- banjos, jugs, and wash boards for the first half of eternity, rap for the second half.
My dad has joked that he can't wait until we all get to heaven and everyone hates the music. He was joking, of course, but there is such a hot debate over music in the church (a debate that is not exclusive to the modern era) that I can't help but wonder what it will be like.
So, what does the Bible say about instrumentation? The most complete list of instruments used for praising God may be found in Psalm 150 in which trumpet, harp, lyre, timbrel, stringed instruments, pipe, loud cymbals, and resounding cymbals are mentioned, but not in relation to heaven. Since harps are a popular instrument when thinking about heaven I performed a word search, and the results were very interesting. Harps are used in a positive light usually, but also negatively (i.e. you sing songs and play the harp, but do not pay attention to the deeds of the Lord, Isaiah 5:12; Your pomp and the music of your harps have been brought down to Sheol, Isaiah 14:11). The majority of harp references are to inspire joy, but some describe times of sadness (Therefore my harp is turned to mourning, And my flute to the sound of those who weep, Job 30:31). The vast majority of the references to harps describe times of praise to God, and are accompanied by dancing, singing, flutes, lyres, timbrels, "loud-sounding cymbals," trumpets, castanets, "instruments made of fir wood," tambourines, shouts, and "sounds of joy." Still, all of this pertains to ancient Israel, but not necessarily to heaven.
What all of this discussion boils down to is that we don't know what heavenly music will sound like. There are musical instruments listed in the Bible, but none that give a definitive answer to what it will sound like when the saints of God are gathered around the throne for all eternity. This is an important question, not because I want my preference validated, but because I long for the offering I bring to the Lord to be pleasing to Him, acceptable, a fragrant offering, and not a stench. The best way to ensure this is to make sure we are modeling the pattern we'll have in heaven, when all sin is gone, and swords are beaten into plowshares (Micah 4:3). I long for that day. For now, the best we can do is to center our corporate worship on the Lamb that was slain and use the gifts that He has provided in our church for His glory and the church's edification.
Here is what I can say for certain about worship in Heaven. In all honesty, music will not be the focus because the Lamb will be enough. He will be the supreme center of our affections. He will be at the heart of our worship, the way He desires to be right now. Whether it is an army of kazoos, an orchestra, African drums, ancient and forgotten instruments, or a capella we will worship the Lamb who was slain for the sin of the world with hearts nevermore influenced by sin or selfish desires.
I encourage you to read Revelation 5 today. Read it several times. I have already been moved to tears today as I read an account of the worship of God in heaven. Here is a small foretaste of what is to come:
11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing."
13And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."
14And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen " And the elders fell down and worshiped.
First, I KNOW Jesus has an 8 Track with Boston in it! LOL Second, Jesus has to be Irish, because he has a harp.
I wondered the same thing about music in Heaven. I'm hoping it will be so amazing that I won't even want to hear the music I make any more. I had a minister once who said that we really needed to enjoy worship now because that's all we did in Heaven. It was this guy. http://jarrodroberts.com and http://xlwired.com
Jef
Posted by: Jef | February 27, 2008 at 11:23 AM
Jef,
First of all, thanks for stopping by. I'll check out the website.
I've wondered if we will carry the gifts God has given us here to heaven. Will I still play the guitar in heaven? If so, will there be anything but Taylors there? My speculative response (to my first question) is yes. Gifts are given for the glorification of God, and that is what we will be about for all eternity. So, what does hospitality, preaching, teaching, leadership, etc... look like in heaven? Wow. I spoke with the PhD on staff, and he seems to think there will be more similarity to this world that we realize. The New Age won't be sterile and boring, but everyone will be fulfilling the will of God at all times with the things He's gifted us with.
The ultimate certainty is that things like art will never be elevated to the point of controversy because we will be face to face with Jesus. It's not that they won't be unimportant (just as they are not unimportant now), but they will be put in their proper place (as they should be now) and not marred by sin.
Posted by: Aaron Campbell | February 27, 2008 at 11:41 AM