The Origin of Music

From the earliest accounts given, including the Bible, music has been an important part of any society.  Music has not been just a part of culture, but a force to influence the feelings and actions of individuals.  Advertisers use short musical pieces called jingles to influence customers to buy a product or service.  Psychologists use music to influence and alter patients’ behavior.  Christians use music to set the tone for church services.  Very few things on earth are as useful and as powerful as music.

We seek to answer the question, “Why is music so powerful?”  The answer lies in the origin of music.  This page will look at where music originated.  When one understands the origin of music, there will be no doubt as to why it is one of the most powerful forces on this earth.

The Beginning of Music

Where did music begin?  It is tempting to ask that question in an incorrect form of “When did man create music?”  This last question is rather humanistic, assuming that man created music and music’s power then derives from man.  The natural question arising from this humanistic philosophy is which man then taught the birds to sing?  Obviously, there is not an answer to that question.  Music is part of nature, a creation independent of man.  So then man could not have created music.  The evolutionist and atheist cannot explain how such a powerful force on a human being came into existence.

The Christian naturally looks to the Bible for answers.  The first place one would look is the book of Genesis, the book of beginnings.  The first time music is mentioned is in Genesis 4:21 where Tubal is the father of instrumentation, devices used by man to create music.  So is this where music originated?  Did people start singing with their voices at this time?  Did birds learn from Tubal and start singing as well?  Of course the answer to these questions is no.  Since this passage is the only one in Genesis discussing beginnings of music, one would then be tempted to conclude that the Bible is silent as to the origin of music.  But that is an incorrect conclusion.  One just needs to look more carefully.

The answer to the origin question does not lie in the book of Genesis but rather in the book of Ezekiel in a rather obscure passage.  Carefully read Ezekiel 28:11-19.  In this passage God is sending a message through Ezekiel regarding the king of Tyre, a very wealthy city in modern Lebanon.  If one reads through this passage hastily, then the important message will be missed.  The king of Tyre is not the focus here.  Many of the passages in the major and minor prophets are condemnations of kings or of countries.  However, in these passages God goes beyond the king or country and addresses the real source of the problem.

What is the source of the problem in Ezekiel 28?  Read verse thirteen.  Was the king of Tyre actually in Eden?  The book of Genesis states Eden was closed for men so angels were set to guard it.  So who is God talking about?  There were only four beings mentioned in Eden: Adam, Eve, Satan, and God Himself.  Now read verse fourteen.  The king of Tyre was not a cherub either.  There are two types of angels mentioned in the Bible: cherubim and seraphim.  A cherub is a special type of angel.  In the list of four beings in Eden, only one was an angel: Satan.

Does this bring us to the conclusion that Satan created music?  Look closely at this passage.  Verse thirteen states Satan was created with the workmanship of tabrets and pipes, musical instruments.  Who created Satan with the ability to create music?  God did.  Therefore, music had to originate with God Himself.

Why is this important?