TEEN TREE 
OF LIFE
Where Did Music Come From?
Part 1
July 28, 2018
Before you begin, ask yourself a very important question: Do you believe that Jesus Christ died on The Cross for all of your sins? If you answered yes, you will need to be sure that you are filled with The Holy Spirit. How do you do this? You name your sins to God The Father in His Son’s Name. This is called rebound. As a Christian, you must rebound any time you sin. This is taught in 1JOHN 1:9: If we confess [name] our sins [directly to God], He [God] is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Now, if you have never believed that Jesus Christ died on The Cross for all of your sins, all you have to do is say to yourself that you believe in Him and you are saved! The Bible verse which teaches us this is ACTS 16:31: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”
What’s your favorite kind of music? Who’s your favorite band or singer? Or song? Do you like classical music or hip hop? Do you like instrumentals or do you prefer listening to singing? Do YOU play an instrument or sing? Have you ever wondered where music comes from?
Let’s first look at the history of music laid out by an online search engine –
wikipedia.org – which is the largest and most popular general reference work on the internet. The following information is paraphrased from what Wikpedia offers about the history of music. It tells us that people who lived in the stone age made music. The first music was probably made trying to imitate sounds and rhythms that occurred naturally. Human music may echo these phenomena using patterns, repetition and tonality. It may also serve as entertainment (games) or have practical uses, like attracting animals when hunting. Some animals are also able to use music. Songbirds use song to protect their territory, or to attract a mate. Monkeys have been seen beating hollow logs. This may, of course, also serve to defend the monkey’s territory. The first musical instrument used by humans was probably the voice. (Voices ARE musical instruments!!) The human voice can make many different kinds of sounds. The larynx (voice box) is like a wind instrument.
Any, or all, of the theories for the origin of music (which you could find through research) might be true. There are differences between them, but they all agree that our ability to make and appreciate music, was an important step in early human evolution. Many also highlight music’s role in social bonding. Interestingly, most sources agree, though, that there is still some way to go before scientists have a comprehensive picture of the origins of music.
Now think for a minute about that information. The people who wrote that are GUESSING at where music came from. In actuality, the history of “ancient” music needs rewriting, because the greatest source available has been rejected: the Word of God. Now ask yourself this question? As Christians, what is our greatest resource for information? Of course, the answer is The Bible. We believe everything was created by God. John – the apostle “whom Jesus loved” (JOH 13:23) wrote this: Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!—came into being without him. What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out. (JOH 1:3-5 The Message Bible)
Now, add to John’s teaching – this interesting fact: there are over 1,150 verses in the Bible that reference a form of the following words, which are related to music: music; melody; song; hymn; instrument; sound; play; blow; noise; psalm; harp; lyre; timbrel (tambourine); trumpet; horn; and voice. So, it stands to reason that music goes back a lot further than the theories created in the cosmic system. If we follow Christ, we should—as He said—live by “every word … of God” (MATT 4:4). The apostle Paul wrote: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness… (2 TIM 3:16) So let’s look at what The Holy Spirit Inspired man to write about music!
The Bible actually teaches us that Adam – the first man – knew and practiced music. The first reference to a musician in the Bible is in GEN 4:21: His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe. Jubal was Lamech’s second son by Adah, of the line of Cain and he invented an early version the harp. But God’s Word also teaches us that music existed long before Adam!
We spent six weeks (February 3 to March 10, 2019) studying Job; so, you might remember that there was a time when God actually had to put this wise and amazing man in his place (humble him) for questioning His Actions. In God’s Words to Job, He was making a comparison to His Own creative accomplishments and asked him a question: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the Earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (JOB 38:4-7) These questions, posed by Our Heavenly Father, give tremendous insight into history before the Earth’s creation.
Do you remember what the Angelic Conflict is? It’s the result of prehistoric creatures (angels) opposing God. It began with the fall of Satan and continued until all angelic creatures decided to be for or against God. The Angelic Conflict began before the creation of the human race. It began during the dateless period between the creation of the heavens and the Earth. The heavens and the Earth are described in their perfect form, when they first appeared in GEN 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. But despite what some people might think, this verse is not the beginning of God Himself, because God has no beginning – He is eternal. This isn’t the beginning of the angels either – because the angels were already around before God created the Heavens and the Earth.
Now, pick up your Bible and read all of GENESIS 1. This chapter is actually a record of the RESTORATION of Earth (not its creation). So, the angels in JOB were angels that were around before GEN 1:1. At some time in eternity past, before the creation of the Earth, God created the angelic host. The angelic host is mentioned in LUK 2:13: And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God … The Message Bible says it this way: There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger. At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
In JOB 38:7 (see above), when God laid the foundation of the Earth “all the sons of God” (all of the angels) shouted for joy, because they were undivided at that time! Satan, and all of the angels, hadn’t rebelled yet so they were one loving group.
The Universe, the Heavens and the Earth, were originally created for the angels. This is where they ruled and performed whatever tasks God had for them. Between GEN 1:1 and GEN 1:2, Satan rebelled against God and enticed one third of the angels to follow him. Satan’s rebellion – along with sin and evil – brought chaos upon Earth. As part of God’s judgment against the angels who rebelled, the planet was covered in darkness. Without light or heat, the Earth’s water froze into an ice pack, and before it could be inhabited again, it needed to be restored. Mankind’s occupancy on Earth didn’t last too long before Adam and the woman fell, and Satan became the ruler of the world again.
So, God created angels before He created Earth and when they witnessed this magnificent moment, they shouted for joy and sang! Mankind rarely has the chance to participate in heavenly activity while still on earth. Singing is one of those rare events that gives Christians a chance to experience heavenly behavior. Angels saw what God had created and couldn’t stop themselves from bursting into song! And we get to do it, too!
Music is sound, so let’s look at how sound exists in the angelic realm. Ezekiel heard the “noise” of the great cherubim: Over the heads of the living creatures was something like a dome, shimmering like a sky full of cut glass, vaulted over their heads. Under the dome one set of wings was extended toward the others, with another set of wings covering their bodies. When they moved I heard their wings—it was like the roar of a great waterfall, like the voice of The Strong God, like the noise of a battlefield. When they stopped, they folded their wings. (EZE 1:22-24 The Message Bible) Are you seeing how music started with the angels – not the Neanderthals, as some historians suggest???
REVELATION records the lyrics of the angels’ shouting and singing around God’s Heavenly Throne, not to mention their playing instruments there – in Heaven!! Look at REV 5:8-10: When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
REV 14:2-3 (New International Version) also teaches us that there is music and singing in Heaven: And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders…
The Bible teaches us that God sings in ZEPH 3:17 (New International Version): “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.” Now that’s a very cool and wonderful thing to know about Our Heavenly Father! We know that God has always existed so the question then arises, since God has always existed, wouldn’t His attributes—His eyes, hair, hands and voice—have always existed? And since He sings with His Voice, music has always existed!
{to be continued}