Hymns

Berean Christadelphian Hymns

(The following is quoted from bro. Growcott's exhortation "The 144,000 on Mount Zion")

In 1 Chronicles 16, we read of David’s arrangements for singing in the worship of God. We read there of "the musical instruments of God" (v. 42), and of the first Psalm David delivered into the hands of Asaph, the chief of the singers—

“Sing unto the Lord, all the earth:
Show forth from day to day His salvation . . .
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness . . .
Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice.”

What are the "musical instruments of God?" In Rev. 15:2 the redeemed standing on the glassy sea have the “harps of God.” What do these harps signify, for clearly they symbolize a much deeper and living reality—“The harps of God.”

Musical instruments are inanimate objects giving voice-like sounds of worship and praise. Their appeal and acceptability to God can only lie in their representation and symbolization and manifestation of the true heart-condition of the living worshipper himself. This was Bro. Thomas' conclusion. He says—

“Every one of them has his harp, for he is himself a ‘harp of the Deity,’ and therefore an INSTRUMENT OF JOY.”

Music is a very prominent aspect of Divine worship in Scripture. David’s and Solomon’s arrangements for the musical service are given in great detail, and with each reformation and restoration—Hezekiah, Josiah, Nehemiah—this aspect is much to the fore.

It is a notable fact that in the Mosaic Tabernacle arrangement, there is no mention of music, while in the Temple it appears to be the principal aspect of the service.

This is not to indicate that our present Tabernacle and wilderness dispensation is without its joy and thanksgiving and praise, but it does teach that all our joy and desire has its roots in the future living Temple Age, and that we cannot in their fullness, sing the songs of Zion in a strange and captive land.

Our joy at present, though deep, and rooted in thankfulness and praise, is largely overlaid with passing sorrow, as we walk in mortal weakness through a dark vale of tears—

"Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning."

MUSIC is harmony, unity, beauty, and purposeful orderliness of sound, and our God is a God of order and beauty. Noise is confused sound—Babel—the world.

Music is disciplined, purposeful, meaningful sound. We shall be greatly struck if we look through a concordance under the word 'sing' and see the long list of stirring exhortations and commands to lift up the voice in joy and thanksgiving and praise.

It is surely remarkable that musical sounds, from one tone to its repetition at a higher pitch—the octave—naturally falls into a sevenfold division—a division recognized by ancient nations.

And it is further remarkable that it has been found that to be able to transfer harmonies to different keys in the scale, the addition of 5 half notes is required, so that the full scale has 12 steps. Surely this reappearance of the Divine 7-12 pattern in so fundamental a thing is more than mere coincidence.

Music has great power. David’s pure and spiritual psalms of praise soothed the spirit of Saul and inspired him, temporarily, at least, to better things; and Elisha, in trying and alien circumstances called for a minstrel that his mind might be better prepared to speak the Word of God.

This must be the purpose and result of our hymns. Herein all our hearts can be united as one.

In the dedication of the completed typical Solomon Temple, it was when the players and singers were “AS ONE in praising and thanking the Lord” that “the glory of the Lord filled the house” (2 Chron. 5:13-14).

Christ’s whole desire was that his true brethren should be one, as he and the Father were one. Our singing must accomplish in us this joyful spirit of mutual love and oneness.

Music has great power, but its true purpose is Divine worship and spiritual joy. Man has profaned it to fleshly things.