The Beauty of Music

I have always thought that heaven must consist of pure music. Music transcends all spoken language in its ability to convey meaning. It lifts our hearts in ways that defy explanation. It expresses desires that we could never convey in any other way. Something about the nature of the interraction between the notes seems to defy time and touch the eternal. It is a great mystery, how music is created and heard, but there is no denying that it draws us to open our hearts to God.

It is no wonder that the Psalmist invited us to sing to the Lord. And scholars believe that the first part of Holy Scripture to have actually been written down, as opposed to orally transmitted, was the Song of Miriam. After Miriam's brother, Moses, parted the Red Sea by the hand of God, and they reached the other side safely, Miriam sang,

Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously! Horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea!
From the Book of Exodus

How amazing that the very first written word of Scripture was really a song! In fact, the Scripture both begins and ends with music. In a vision of the kingdom of heaven, Scripture depicts angels singing at the throne of God. They don't yell, or speak, they SING.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of Your Glory!
Hosanna in the Highest!
The Book of Revelation

C.S. Lewis, in The Chronicles of Narnia, depicts Christ as a Lion who sings the world into being. The creation literally seems to spring forth from the notes that He sings. Life itself emanates from his voice. This depiction of the creation captures the significance of music, which not only conveys emotion, but creates it inside of us. It is like God is speaking to us and resonating the sound of eternity into our hearts.

So today, I give thanks for music. For it is a window into the Almighty.

- The Very Rev. Kate Moorehead

Monday, November 23, 2009