A POLITE Discussion about Singing Angels

[Cow Poke]

I'd like to have a polite discussion about this, because this is something I've been interested in for some time.

First, this is NOT a "critical issue" to me - just more of a curiosity, I guess.

I know we have "singing angels" in Christmas Carols, but I don't think (or didn't think) that the Bible says that angels actually sing. So, from another thread....

But they do speak and sing, so assuming they don't have their own language with each other is an argument from silence.

Angels sing?

Job 38:7

Interesting - can we take this to another thread?

So, here we are....

Bill's response would depend on the "morning stars" necessarily being angels. I'm interested in that.

Also, in any other verse - particularly New Testament - which supports the premise that angels sing.

And, yes, I realize that even if the Bible doesn't specifically mention that they do - doesn't mean that they can't or don't.

In the case of Job, "star" is interpreted "of Messiah, brothers, youth, numerous progeny, personification, God's omniscience (fig.)"

Again, civil discussion please -- I'm not trying to argue a point - I'm trying to understand.

[Zymologist]

What about in Isaiah 6? The seraphim singing “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”

[One Bad Pig]

Isaiah 6, Rev. 5:11, 7:11-12

This is also reflected in the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom:

"We who mystically represent the Cherubim sing the thrice holy hymn to the life giving Trinity. Let us set aside all the cares of life that we may receive the King of all invisibly escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia."

and

"We also thank You for this liturgy which You are pleased to accept from our hands, even though You are surrounded by thousands of Archangels and tens of thousands of Angels, by the Cherubim and Seraphim, six-winged, many-eyed, soaring with their wings, singing the victory hymn, proclaiming, crying out, and saying: 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord Sabaoth, heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna to God in the highest.'"

and in the Liturgy of St. James (one of the earliest extant liturgies):

"Let all mortal flesh be silent, and stand with fear and trembling, and meditate nothing earthly within itself: For the King of kings and Lord of lords, Christ our God, comes forward to be sacrificed, and to be given for food to the faithful; and the bands of angels go before Him with every power and dominion, the many-eyed cherubim, and the six-winged seraphim, covering their faces, and crying aloud the hymn, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia."

and

"Verily it is becoming and right, proper and due to praise Thee, to sing of Thee, to bless Thee, to worship Thee, to glorify Thee, to give Thee thanks, Maker of every creature visible and invisible, the treasure of eternal good things, the fountain of life and immortality, God and Lord of all:

Whom the heavens of heavens praise, and all the host of them; the sun, and the moon, and all the choir of the stars; earth, sea, and all that is in them; Jerusalem, the heavenly assembly, and church of the first-born that are written in heaven; spirits of just men and of prophets; souls of martyrs and of apostles; angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, and authorities, and dread powers; and the many-eyed cherubim, and the six-winged seraphim, which cover their faces with two wings, their feet with two, and with two they fly, crying one to another with unresting lips, with unceasing praises: With loud voice singing the victorious hymn of Thy majestic glory, crying aloud, praising, shouting, and saying: Holy, holy, holy, O Lord of Sabaoth, the heaven and the earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest; blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!"

[Leonhard]

I doubt though that this is a human language, though I have no doubt that if you were to be taken into Heaven, even if you were not yet given the Beatific Vision, you'd hear a proximation to the song they're actually singing.

[mossrose]

Angels HAVE to sing.

God invented music, and angels HAVE to sing.

That is all.

[Cerebrum123]

Angels HAVE to sing.

God invented music, and angels HAVE to sing.

That is all.

Glad I'm not an angel.

[Cow Poke]

What about in Isaiah 6? The seraphim singing “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”

In that one, it appears they were "calling" to one another.

KJV - And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
YLT - And this one hath called unto that, and hath said: 'Holy, Holy, Holy, is Jehovah of Hosts, The fulness of all the earth is His glory.'
Darby - And one called to the other and said, Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!
HCSB - And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth.

[Cow Poke]

Isaiah 6, Rev. 5:11, 7:11-12

Is 6 - they were "calling" to one another.
Rev 5:12 - "They said with a loud voice:"
Rev 7:12 - "saying: Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom....

Again, just asking for a verse that actually SAYS that Angels sing, or sang.

This is also reflected in the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom:

I should have made it more clear - I apologize - I'm looking for actual scriptural references.

[Cow Poke]

Angels HAVE to sing.

God invented music, and angels HAVE to sing.

That is all.

I have heard it said that angels were not given the gift of song because that is reserved for the humankind

Just looking for actual scriptural support. BTC has, as far as I can see, the best indication I've seen, and I'm not really convinced that's necessarily "angels".

[Cow Poke]

I doubt though that this is a human language, though I have no doubt that if you were to be taken into Heaven, even if you were not yet given the Beatific Vision, you'd hear a proximation to the song they're actually singing.

But is there a verse that says they actually sing or sang anything? Sure, it's awesome, but is it song?

[mossrose]

I have heard it said that angels were not given the gift of song because that is reserved for the humankind

Just looking for actual scriptural support. BTC has, as far as I can see, the best indication I've seen, and I'm not really convinced that's necessarily "angels".

Then, I don't know.

But I like to think they sing.

And if you can't find scripture that says they don't sing, then I will believe they do.

[mossrose]

Glad I'm not an angel.

Some day you will sing with a perfect voice to the Lord.

[Cow Poke]

Some day you will sing with a perfect voice to the Lord.

I already do!

(kidding)

[Cow Poke]

Then, I don't know.

But I like to think they sing.

I like to think that everybody goes to Heaven. But, sadly, I can't support that from the Word.

And if you can't find scripture that says they don't sing, then I will believe they do.

But, I guess that's my point - a lot of what we believe about God, Heaven, His creation, Angels - comes from hymns or traditions or desires or our own imagination....
I'm pretty sure that if there were a verse that says that angels do NOT sing, I would have come across it.

In my own Christian experience, I have been coming back to, "OK, but is that REALLY in the Bible".

[Zymologist]

In that one, it appears they were "calling" to one another.

KJV - And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
YLT - And this one hath called unto that, and hath said: 'Holy, Holy, Holy, is Jehovah of Hosts, The fulness of all the earth is His glory.'
Darby - And one called to the other and said, Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!
HCSB - And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth.

I guessed I'd always assumed it was singing, but now that you mention it I can't think of anything more specific. I'll be interested to see if anyone else does.