Songs Of Love From Heaven

Perhaps no medium on earth has the capacity to affect a person’s emotions like music. Music has been used throughout history to move people into action. It has motivated men to charge forward into battle. It has often been a prerequisite to making love. Music has caused some to sit still in reflective silence and caused others to get up and dance. It has soothed fussy babies until they drifted off into a peaceful sleep. It has been used at weddings to celebrate a new life together and years later at funerals to grieve the end of that shared life. Music has been a comforting companion to prisoners and slaves. It has given expression to a celebration of victory. Certain music has even been proven to increase the amount of milk a cow gives! Music – it can make us laugh or cry. It can give us feelings of nostalgia, joy, hope, sadness and even anger. Its power is nothing short of miraculous.

Music was born in heaven, flowing from the very heart of God. It framed the universe at the beginning of time. When God spoke to Job about the time when He had lain the foundation of the earth, He referred to it as a time “when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7).

A word search on singing in the Bible presents a fairly strong case that God likes singing. In both the Old and New Testament, we are encouraged to sing before the Lord. The Psalmist said, “Come before Him with joyful singing” (Psalm 100:2). The Apostle Paul said that believers are to be “singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

Singing has a prominent place in the Bible among God’s family of faith. It has been the hallmark of many great moments in our lives. Consider the role that singing played in just a few of the pivotal moments in the history of God’s people.

✦ When God delivered Moses and the children of Israel from Egypt, they walked through the Red Sea on dry land. When they reached the other side, they sang together. In fact, Exodus 15 is called “The Song Of Moses” to this day.

✦ When the people of Israel dedicated the city wall around Jerusalem which had been rebuilt under the leadership of Nehemiah, they sang. (See Nehemiah 12:40-42)

✦ When the ark of the covenant was returned to Israel, singers were appointed to mark the occasion. As they sang, King David danced with delight. (See 1 Chronicles 15:26-29)

✦ Paul and Silas sang in a Philippian jail at midnight and God caused an earthquake to shake open the prison doors. (See Acts 16:25-26)

Singing is a way to express the consuming passion of our hearts. The melody and tempo of a song enhance the content of the message one desires to communicate. For a young man to tell a girl he loves her is appreciated, but to sing it to her can make her absolutely giddy.

Singing preceded this world and will outlast it. Music will be an integral part of our lives in heaven. (See Revelation 5:9; 14:3; 15:3) It is quite obvious that God has a real affinity for music.

Did you know that you can gaze into the lovely face of the Divine Lover through the lens of music? Certain songs move me deeply, causing me to experience a sense of intimacy with my Father in awesome ways. I seldom hear or sing The Love of God, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, or A Mighty Fortress Is Our God without choking up at the time. The great hymns of the faith teach us theology and touch us in the deep places of our heart.

There also have been many modern praise choruses written which facilitate a deeper sense of intimacy with the Divine Lover. It is troubling to see that some modern choruses put forth a weak or aberrant theology, but many can be useful in providing a track for praising God in a way that can cause us to experience Him in a fresh way. A good chorus lifts your heart toward heaven.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can only hear the Divine Lover’s voice within the context of religious music. Remember that He can make Himself known to you in unlimited ways. He isn’t about to surrender everything outside the church doors to the world. Music written apart from His life is pirated material and the Divine Lover can reclaim it anytime He wants.

I was speaking on this subject at a conference one day when I asked the group, “Are you able to hear God speak to you if there is no religious tone who what you hear?” The audience waited for me to continue. “Close your eyes and listen to the song I’m about to play, “ I encouraged them. “Perhaps you have heard the song before, but this time, listen for the voice of the Divine Lover in it.”

Then, at a spiritual retreat, in a room filled with Christians, I played a recording by a well known rock singer, Joe Cocker. The words he passionately sang are, “You are so beautiful to me. You are so beautiful to me. Can’t you see? You’re everything I hoped for. You’re everything I need. You are so beautiful to me!”

As the song played, grown men and women began to cry. For the first time, many were hearing their Divine Lover’s voice from a source they had never thought to consider before now. For every person there, this song would never again be the same. God’s love had redeemed it and brought it into the kingdom as a gift for those who listened.

Does this concept seem uncomfortable to you? If so, consider this question: Why should Jesus Christ be restricted to only communicating to you in religious ways? He is Lord over all the earth and can use anything He chooses at anytime He wants to express love to those who are His! One unmarried lady I know says that she listens to a radio station that plays nothing but romantic love songs and that she often hears the Lord sing to her through those songs. Who would tell her she is wrong?

I have experienced a sense of transcendent joy that couldn’t possibly find its origin in fallen man at times when I have heard certain non-religious music. I was enthralled as I watched The Phantom of the Opera on the theater stage where we attended the play. On another occasion, tears filled my eyes as I attended a concert by the great Italian singer, Andrae Boccelli, despite the fact that not one word was being sung in English.

Don’t misunderstand the point. I’m not suggesting that every time we have a positive feeling, it is God manifesting Himself to us. I recognize that our emotions can be manipulated by various influences. However, I also believe that Christians are sometimes guilty of dismissing the pervasive presence of Christ in this world by relegating experiences that aren’t directly religious as being “non-spiritual.”

I can almost imagine that when I listened to Andrae Boccelli in concert, Jesus was saying, “Isn’t this great? Steve, I love seeing how you enjoy this concert. I can’t wait until you get Home. I have even better ones waiting for you here.”

Remember that the Divine Lover lives with us where we are and speaks the language of our lives. Do you have a concept of God that allows Him to express Himself to you in unexpected ways, even in ways that aren’t ordinary? He can use many kinds of music to express Himself to you.

Listen to this non-religious song by Joe Cocker that I've mentioned and see if you can hear the Lover of the Universe singing to you...