Hearing ;A fundamental sense -

God gave us one mouth to speak, one nose to smell, two eyes to see, a plethora of opportunities to use the sense to touch and two ears to hear.

I';ve often wondered why, is it just to enjoy stereo sound or is it because the enjoyment of hearing and making music can bring us closer to God.

But what about those who can';t hear on earth, how will they enjoy music. I think this is why God made the whole body satisfy the sense of touch. Music can be felt not just heard. Even those who can';t hear anything can feel live music; real music. Only God could ensure those who can';t hear could totally enjoy the Power of Music that he gave us to praise him with.

Music is a fundamental part of the Bible. So much so that God devoted the very central book of the Bible, the book of Psalms to music and then added one on the love song too, the Song of Songs ; it';s the most beautiful love song ever.

Walter Savage Landor, strange name isn';t it, a poet I believe, said "Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven."

Music from Heaven Heals the Soul

Someone once said Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul

This means a lot to me, soothes MY mind, gives ME rest, heals, MY heart and when I use it to praise God makes ME whole.

Many people in medical circles know that when nothing else can help music can sooth the soul and give rest to the troubled mind.


Psalm 49 verses 3 and 4
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.

God gave us music.

Soft and gentle music has the ability to quickly help me unwind and relax. I';m sure you can identify with this.

Classical hymns have helped millions of individuals over the years to find comfort and solace in time of need. Only this power can be attributed to a true gift from God for everyone.

You know what I mean when you go to church, you sing the hymns follow the service and somehow it makes you feel better.

Thinking about this I was reminded of

Matthew 26: 30
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.

Even at this time of great anguish and trouble, Jesus the Son of God sang a hymn. I wonder what that hymn was ;? We can take assurance from this. At this time, of impending painful, horrible death he had ahead of him he sang psalms.

When we need help from heaven we can look to the music in the Bible, the Psalms of David which Jesus would have sung during the Passover celebrations in the full knowledge that Jesus has been there before us in the worst possible situation he can say ; been there, done that, sang the song.

The first musician in the bible is mentioned in

Genesis 4: 21
His brother';s name was Jubal, the first musician, the inventor of the harp and flute.

He was born of Lamech who also fathered Noah. In other words music was ;invented'; before the flood. Imagine being attributed as the inventor of the harp and flute.

Another way to say this would be God revealed the ability to make music to man before the sin of the people broke God';s heart.

He gave us a gift to praise him, God intended music to be apart of the world he had created. Then we ;mankind'; blew it ;again.

Throughout the bible God';s people express praise and worship to God with music, made on the harp, the lyre, the tambourine, cymbals, flutes, horns, trumpets and drums. In the temple, in the street, in Holy places and humble places; God';s gift has given a man an ability to express thoughts and words that he could not otherwise put into words quite as effectively.

At the end of the Bible we find

Revelation 14: 2 and 3 and 15: 2
And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpers playing on their harps, and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth.
And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.

Music played a part at the beginning of God';s word in Genesis, when the world was new. At the beginning of time music was heard on the earth. The instrument of heaven was heard by the ears of man.

Jesus struck the "perfect note" for our reconciliation with God as He hung on the cross for the sins of the world - a note that has "resonated" down through time unto our very OWN ears. CAN YOU HEAR IT? Have you responded to Him with an obedient faith so that you can be brought back into harmony with Him?

Are YOU "in tune" with God?

At the end of time, in the Bible, in the book of Revelation, music plays a vital part. We have a glimpse of music in heaven. It must sound wonderful; this is going to be the most perfect, wonderful music ever heard.
Throughout time music speaks Praise to God, even at the end of time God';s people will praise with music and song.

In Colossians 3: 16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Ephesians 5 18-20
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

We have seen that music was prevalent in the Old Testament with the invention of music, the Psalms, the Song of Songs and numerous listings of praises in the temples. Throughout the New Testament church Christians enjoyed music as a part of their daily walk with God.

If it was relevant 2000 years ago how much more so is it relevant now. Music and song is a vital part of our walk with God. It is heavenly help for our soul, for our mind and for our spirit.

Music can lift you up when you';re down, it can make you dance and shout, it can heal the mind, it can reach parts that other medicines or therapies cannot get too. Music speaks to the very heart of man. Music speaks of things of heaven to a soul in need. Music ;.when God speaks and remains silent.

Music speaks of things of God to me.

As J S Bach, the master of all modern music and a wonderful Christian, a fantastic composer and a church organist.

The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the Glory of God and the refreshment of the soul

Thank you

Image is the nineteenth century three decked pulpit pulpit at St Michael's. This is placed half way along the north side with the pews facing towards it rather than the altar. The pews themselves are boxed with small doors for access. They are of different sizes and would have been reserved for particular families, with the better-off families nearer the front.