The Songs of the Redeemed
By Elder E. W. Whitney
The Songs of the Redeemed.
As we have seen that the plan of redemption is the basis of music here, and is to be the "science and song" of the redeemed throughout eternity, we can perhaps do no better in concluding these articles than to briefly consider some features of what is revealed of the nature of the songs of the redeemed. We read that "the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Isa. 35:10. John says that he saw a company of the redeemed standing with the Lamb upon Mount Zion singing and "harping with their harps." Rev. 14:1-3. We may safely conclude, then, that the production of music, both vocal and instrumental, will constitute no small part of the occupation and worship of the redeemed. Indeed, everything will be music, because all will be perfect harmony, and harmony is music. It seems, however, that there will be a significant distinction in the songs of different classes of the redeemed, based, probably, upon the varied experiences of each class. As each person who overcomes is to receive a new name (doubtless expressive of his individual character and experience), "which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it" (see Rev. 2:17), so one class of the redeemed will sing songs of praise expressive of their reasons for worship, in which others cannot understandingly join, simply because they had not the same experience. This seems plainly taught by certain scriptures. In Rev. 5:8, 9 we read of a company symbolically mentioned as "the four living creatures [living ones, Greek] and the four and twenty elders [who] fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, . . . and they sing a new song, saying, Worthy thou art to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation." (Revised Version.) In chapter 14:1-5 another company is spoken of as "an hundred and forty and four thousand," who stand before the company referred to in the fifth chapter, and sing a song which none others except themselves could learn. Now by a study of the thirteenth and fourteenth and fifteenth chapters (which is outside the design of these articles), it is evident that this company is composed of those who are developed by the three messages of the fourteenth chapter, and who, in the face of the penalty of death (see chap. 13:15) for doing so, are persistent in keeping "the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," in opposition to the worship of the "beast and his image," and that in this manner they obtain "the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name" (chap. 15:2). The song this company sing is said to be "the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb." Their experience has been a peculiarly trying one, preparing them by its very intensity for the coming of the Lord. Chap. 14:14. It is referred to in chapter 3:10 as follows: "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." The next verse declares, "Behold, I come quickly," and exhorts, "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Of this same experience Peter speaks: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." As the experience and sufferings of Moses and Christ (of whom Moses was a type) were more intense because of the superior knowledge they had of the character of God and of the plan for man's salvation, in like manner it is said of this company, though living in a time when "darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people," that "the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee." Isa. 60:2. This is the same glory which was seen upon Moses and upon Christ. Thus they will have such an understanding of God's word, plans, and purposes as the majority of the saved of the past have not attained; and their trials and suffering will be in proportion. In harmony with this idea we find the reward promised by Christ to those who overcome at this time proportioned to the experience. To those under the Laodicean—the seventh and last—state of the gospel church, it is said, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Rev. 3:21. When James and John asked of Christ that they might sit, one at his right hand and the other at his left in his kingdom, he answered, "To sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father." That privilege, then, of being directly associated with Christ in the dominion of the earth when made new, "is prepared" by God for some, and promised by Christ, in the scripture quoted above, to those who overcome as he overcame. This same distinction is presented in other scriptures. That there will be in the new earth nations to be governed is evident from Rev. 21:24: "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it [the New Jerusalem]; and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it." The "song of Moses and the Lamb," then, is the song of a company whose experience has been in a particular and complete sense the experience of Moses and Christ—an experience which has made known to them the character of God as but comparatively few have ever learned here to know it. They will have come to appreciate the harmony and the perfection of God's works to the fullest extent in this life possible. Not only does the title of the song (considering the experience of Moses and Christ) indicate this, but the words of the song themselves plainly express it. Moses and Christ saw God and talked with him "face to face;" his goodness, mercy, justice, and truth were made known to them, and revealed in their lives as men here upon the earth; his glory was upon them. The words of the song, therefore, are simply an expression of what they had realized in their human experience, and this will be true of all who are able to sing it. Notice them particularly: "Great and marvelous 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." Rev. 15:3, 4. These words are evidently taken from the distinctive song of Moses as recorded in Deuteronomy 32, which opens with these words: "Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. . . . Because I will publish the name of the Lord; ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment; a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." That this is the song of the Lamb, or Christ's song, will be recognized from the fact that his entire life was a living melody, expressive of the perfection of God's character and work, and was, therefore, a constant publishing to the world the name of his Father. His life says in the most effective manner, "His work is perfect." And so the lives and characters here of those who shall constitute this company, who sing this song in the future, must "publish the name of the Lord;" "his name shall be in their foreheads." While we thus find that a special company only join in singing this particular song, yet the harps, voices, and hearts of all will be attuned to the perfect music of praise which will fill all the universe, nevermore to be interrupted by discord, for John has left upon record what he saw and heard in holy vision of the time when sin and all its consequences shall have been forever banished. He says:— "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." Rev. 5:11-13.