Singing in Our Father's House

I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

Psalm 144:9

Our Father's house has also its music-mansion.  Adoration and praise would seem to constitute the principal employment of the redeemed in heaven.  The visions of glory which floated before the eye of John were all associated with music.  To his sea-girt isle were wafted the strains of the song sung by the hundred and forty and four thousand who stood on Mount Zion.  In his lonely exile he heard the harpers harping on their harps.  And of whom was that celestial choir composed?  The 'redeemed from among men' (Rev. 14:4).  And who and what are the subjects of their song?  Jesus and His redemption!  'Thou art worthy...for thou was slain, and has redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation' (Rev. 5:9).

Blended with the song of redemption will be the song of providence.  Retracing  all the way thy God led thee through the wilderness, thou shalt gather material from each mercy and from each trial, from each joy and from each sorrow, for an eternal hymn of praise to His great and glorious name.  Beloved, you are learning these songs now in the house of your pilgrimage.  As you cross desert sands, or break your lone footsteps through the depth of the wilderness, God is preparing you for the music-mansion of glory.  All His dealings with you in providence and in grace are but to train and attune the powers, affections, and sympathies of your soul to the sweet harmony of the spheres.  Every sunbeam of mercy that gilds your path, and every cloud-veil of judgment that shades it, every heavy footstep of the giant storm, every gentle wavelet dimpling the calm surface of the soul, every soft zephyr that lulls it to repose, is designed by God to instruct and mature you for the music of the celestial state.

 A harp strung by angels and attuned by Christ's own hands awaits you in the music-mansion above, and soon you will sweep its chords to the high praises of the triune Jehovah and all heaven will ring with its melody.

~Octavius Winslow