Sweet Music Sounds in All Creation

Music: Edwin M. Willmington

Lyrics: Sharon Odegaard

Creator of the skies,

Spangling dark with sparkling lights,

Sun and moon and endless stars,

Sing Your glory day and night.

Creator of the earth,

Creator of the rugged mountains, desert sand,

Alpine fields and lakes deep blue,

Beauty graces all the land.

(Chorus)

Sweet music sounds in all creation,

All join in concert for the King of kings.

Sweet symphony of adoration,

Sounds of splendor rise and ring!

Sustainer of all life, (alleluia),

Holding all the world in place,

Lord, You are caring for each tiny part,

Praises for Your daily grace.

Creator of us all,

We have come to honor You,

Stir our hearts to worship well,

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Crashing thunder! Roaring seas!

Rhythmic rainfall! Pelting hail!

Whistling wind and rustling breeze!

Hush of snowfall’s wintry veil.

Chorus

Sweet music sounds in all creation,

All join in concert for the King of kings.

Sweet symphony of adoration,

Sounds of splendor rise,

Let the music rise,

Sounds of splendor rise,

Let the music rise,

Sounds of splendor,

Let the music, let the music,

Let the music, let the music rise

And ring!

Read Psalm 104.

It began just like every other morning since the formation of the earth. The clear, lyrical melody of the morning lark threading through the air, coaxing the sun to join it and dismiss the misty grays of the lingering night's serenade in a fresh song of adoration. Rich harmonies quickly formed as one by one, creation picked up the instruments of the Composer and began to play. Wind wound its way through the grasses and trees, flowers threw open their colorful arms, and nature turned to embrace another day of adoration, another day of basking in the knowledge that existence was the purpose of praise. It had been so since the beginning of time. Yet, with each passing minute, anguish invaded and it became apparent that this day would be different.

Creation began struggling to maintain the harmonies that had so satisfied the soul, and it seemed that slowly everything turned to see the focus of the heartache, the reason the Composer had stopped listening to the music of praise. One by one the instruments of creation stopped, until all that existed was a silent discord of pain which hovered in the air. Unable to shine as the Light of the world was extinguished, the sun hid its face, and it seemed that the symphony of creation would cease to be. As the silence stretched into a moment of eternity, the unthinkable happened. The infinite Composer turned His back on His Son, and in the agony of His pain, picked up the instruments of the finite and began to play. Thunder and lightning. Trembling earth, splitting rock. Grieving anger boiling in purple-black clouds that reflected the bruises of suffering. Wind was sent to scour away the sinful, instead of stirring the heart to sing. The moment ended, the Composer fell silent, and with Him creation, as many wondered what was to come.

It began unlike any other morning since the formation of the earth. The blackness of the dead of night fading as a single, pure melody trembled in the air. The lark, calling everything to sing of what it had seen—a risen King. Nature burst into the melody with the sun, pouring forth with a blend of harmony unlike any which had come before. For creation was playing out the perfect plan of God, the sweetest music sounds after the most strident discord, when the resolution of praise is a concert for the King.

Food for Thought:

Read through Psalm 104, list the principles, precepts, or doctrines of God that you see demonstrated by nature (God's creation), and indicate the verses. For example, God is sovereign over all things—Psalm 104:6b-7, "The waters were standing above the mountains. At Thy rebuke they fled; at the sound of Thy thunder they hurried away."

Read through and take time to think about the following verses. Write down, either individually or summarily, how these verses should or do impact your life.

Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 35:1-2; Isaiah 40:26;

Luke 19:40; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16-17.

Describe a time in your life when dissonance overtook the harmony. How did the Lord resolve the discord, and how did you enjoy the sweetness of the resolution?

Cross References:

Psalm 19:1...The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

Psalm 33:5-6...He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord. By the word of the Lord, the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.

Psalm 89:5...And the heavens will praise Thy wonders, O Lord; Thy faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies is comparable to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty is like the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 12:1...Remember also your creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them."

Song of Solomon 2:11...For behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.

Isaiah 11:9...They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 40:26...Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power not one of them is missing.

Matthew 26:45-51...Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice...And behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split...

Luke 19:40...And he answered and said, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out."

Romans 1:20...For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Colossians 1:16-17...For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Hebrews 11:3...By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

All lyrics reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for local church use only, without the prior permission of Kimberly H. Shoup.

shoups@ifriendly.com

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