The change from our present frail weak nature to immortality will surely be accompanied by the desire to give perpetual praise to the One Who has made this change possible. And what more appropriate way than to burst forth in song with a strength and vigour that was never achievable in our mortal frame.
We want to honour Almighty God now, but sometimes feel inadequate. With hearts full of gratitude and wonder we try to ‘give our all’ but we are restricted by our earthly limitations. Not so in immortality when there are no bounds to our strength and vigour. What better way will we, with all the multitude of the redeemed, express our praise together than to engage in singing with all our new-found vitality.
We stand on Mount Zion and feel the reality of Psalm 87:7 – “as well the singers as the players upon instruments are there.” Each person holds his musical instrument in his hand. No matter if he or she has learned the technique of playing in this life. For in the new state, like the apostles on the day of Pentecost, the skill and energy required are there at the fingertips or in the voice. And the joy is experienced by all present, the audience (the angels) as well as by us, the singers.
Our vision unfolds with each person holding his harp, “for he is himself a ‘harp of the Deity’ and therefore an instrument of joy” (John Thomas, Eureka iii 388).
Music – a measure of spirit
Music is a barometer of the mood and spirit of a community. Dejected and in great distress, captive Israel could only “hang [their] harps upon the willows” (Psa 137:2), when their jeering captors called for a song. Yet Jeremiah had assured them that the day would come when praise would be heard once more in the streets of Jerusalem (33:11). It was Job’s bitter experience that “my harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep” (Job 30:31). When the sorrows and torment of Babylon will be meted out, their music will cease forever – “the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee” (Rev 18:22).
But now, what joy! – what excitement! – what wonderful pleasure to be among that glorious crowd and offer praise to Yahweh and His Son, the great redeemer of the faithful gathered from all ages. Be it “four living ones” or “twenty-four elders” or “harpers”, each of these redeemed ones desires with his whole heart and soul to worship him who sits on the throne (Rev 4:9,10).
Angels (“worship him all ye gods” Psa 97:7) join with the redeemed in singing, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Rev 5:12).
Yet there is more to come – a “new song” will be sung. But this time it is the blessing of the saints alone to sing. The audience listening to the “divine melody of the new oratorio” (Bro Thomas) is none other than the angels who, for the past 7,000 years, have looked over the affairs of those called from the nations to manifest the name of the Father. No doubt they look with pleasure on this glorious throng as they enjoy the musical festival on Mt Zion. Brother Thomas comments that, “Never will such an extraordinary choir have delighted so magnificent and dignified an assembly on earth before.”
At Jesus’ birth
When ever did a massed choir of the angelic host sing with such great joy before? Surely on no less an event than the birth of the promised Messiah. The occasion, though glorious beyond our comprehension, was witnessed by an audience of just a few country shepherds. But God chose His witnesses well. As shepherds in the night watches they were privileged to hear “a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased” (Luke 2:13,14 nasb).
That heavenly host can now look back at the start of the millennial age in satisfaction, having witnessed his birth, his death at the hands of cruel men, the ensuing 2,000 years of Messiah’s work and now this great festival of praise to God from a great immortal throng. That same child that they celebrated two millennia before is now the ruler of the world – the Lord of the whole earth.
A new song
This band of the redeemed multitude was not auditioned in the same manner as human musicians. Instead, each of them has been transformed for the task. They have emerged from the dust of the ground to stand in awe before the bar of the just Judge. Then as a life-giving energy surges into their body, they realize they now share that nature of the great Judge himself. These things make them fit to sing the “new song”: “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Rev 5:9,10). What a joy for us to be there on that day! God wants us there. So let us renew our efforts today and respond in faith and love to our Father’s call.
“Thou hast redeemed us” are words that we, the redeemed – not the angels – can sing. Our Lord has not redeemed the angels; only those whose mortal life was on this earth utter those words – those clothed in white robes whose names were written in the book of life. The song is taught by the Father to all His true disciples “when he writes his new name upon them; and they sing it, when He plays upon them as his harps” (Bro Thomas). The Eternal Spirit has flashed a knowledge upon their memories, both of the past and what will come in the future. This new personal consciousness comes from having the Father’s name written in their foreheads, not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God in fleshy tables of the heart (2 Cor 3:3). They are now inspired to sing the song of redemption.
More praise
Is praise restricted to those brought from the dust of the earth? Of course not. Why should it be so? The whole earth will come to acknowledge the greatness of the one who sits on the throne and his mighty Father. Yes, the angels will praise him, “Let all the angels of God worship him” (Heb 1:6), so will we, the saints, the Bride of the great King: “he is thy Lord and worship thou him” (Psa 45:12).
Gentiles have their turn, “the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift” (Psa 45:12). The Jewish people will acknowledge “the stone which the builders refused” who has become the head of the corner (Psa 118:21–25).
Light out of darkness
“I am the light of the world”, our Lord said. That such a light was needed is revealed by the almost impenetrable darkness that cloaked the world of his mortal pilgrimage. As the “only begotten Son” he was a complete revelation of the Father that shone forth in the darkness of “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Isa 9:2). Dreadful things took place during his brief time on the earth. It was only through the eye of faith that his contemporaries could see through the gloom to the time when the subdued and enlightened nations would come streaming up to Jerusalem for worship. Yes, no longer armies seeking her out for destruction, but as people privileged to be present at her gates in company with the restored house of Israel (Zech 8:22–23).
“All they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord” (Isa 60:6). This is rendered by the Tanakh, “They all shall come from Sheba; They shall bear gold and frankincense, And shall herald the glories of the Lord”. The esv rendering is, “They shall bring the good news, the praises of the Lord.” Good news for sure.
Continual praise
Unlike the praises heaped on the victors in our society, whose insubstantial crowns quickly wither as the dying strains of the crowd’s roar, the praises and worship of our God will be a continual cycle for the millennium. Isaiah declares, “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.” (Isa.66:23)
The end
The wonderful time will come when “all enemies” will be put under his feet (1 Cor 15:25). The troubled nations have been stilled – the sea has become “glass”, at peace. That true peace will only be enjoyed by those “men with whom he is pleased” (cp Luke 2:14 nasb). The blessing of Abraham will have come on all nations who join with Christ’s royal priesthood to sing: “We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned” (Rev 11:17).
Is the great God praised for His wisdom and mighty works? Certainly – “Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest” (Rev15:3,4).
The voices of the redeemed, our voices, are lifted to the Father – “Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready” (Rev 19:1–7)
Let us imbibe the spirit of praise from the Scriptures, savouring in our heart and on our lips that we may anticipate the reality of the fulness of joy and pray that God’s mercy will enable us to be part of that glorious throng.