Creation Song

You're familiar with the Genesis creation account. 7 days. God speaks the world into existence. But there's an extra detail provided in the book of Job. The setting: God is addressing Job.

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone,

when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy? [Job 38:4-7]

The last two lines really catch my attention. They tell us that at our world's creation, the angels and sons of God were present.

Sons of God is often a title to describe God's people (such as in John 1:12), but clearly that isn't the case here as man is not yet created. So to whom does Job apply the title "the sons of God"? Some think the angels, but I'd like to suggest another possibility: in Job the sons of God are representatives from the many worlds God has made.

This idea that God has created multiple worlds shouldn't be surprising--He's the Creator and has eternity. Hence why He has angels, or translated literally, messengers.

This understanding of sons of God fits well with the opening of Job. There the sons of God gather "to present themselves before the Lord" (Job 1:7, 2:1). Like a congress of all creation.

But Satan also comes. God asks which planet he is representing, "From where have you come?". Satan answers by claiming earth as his turf (similarly, he claims possession of the world in Matt. 4:8,9).

Not so fast. Satan can't claim the planet for God still has an embassy on it, His faithful servant Job. "Have you considered Job... who fears God and turns away from evil?"

Satan's response: Job is only faithful because God has blessed him. It is not authentic loyalty to God. Not a true embassy for God.

With all creation watching, God allows Satan to test his claim and remove those blessings. Thus begins Job's trouble, but I'll let you read the story for yourself.

Back to the sons of God. In our original passage, we see that they assembled at this world's creation with the angels. They watch God create. They sing. They shout for joy!

Our creation had a soundtrack. We were born into music.

But there's another song as well. It appears in the climaxing chapter of Revelation, a book about the second advent and end of earth's history.

I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. [Revelation 14:2,3]

Those singing are God's redeemed people from earth--a group also often given the title "sons of God". It is their unique experience that allows them to sing a unique song.

Our history started with a song of creation. It ends with a song of redemption. The end echos the beginning, because at the end the world is made new again (see Rev. 21). This new song is the new creation song. And we'll be the ones singing it.

We'll watch God recreate. We'll sing. We'll shout for joy!

What will it be like? I can't wait to find out.