The melody of praise is the atmosphere of heaven; and when heaven comes in touch with the earth, there is music and song,—“thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.”[255] Above the new-created earth, as it lay, fair and unblemished, under the smile of God, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”[256] So human hearts, in sympathy with heaven, have responded to God’s goodness in notes of praise. Many of the events of human history have been linked with song. The earliest song recorded in the Bible from the lips of men was that glorious outburst of thanksgiving by the hosts of Israel at the Red Sea:— [Sidenote: _At the Red Sea_] “I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously; The horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, And He is become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” “Thy right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power, Thy right hand, O Lord, dasheth in pieces the enemy. Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?” “The Lord shall reign forever and ever.... Sing ye to Jehovah, for He hath triumphed gloriously.”[257] * * * * * Great have been the blessings received by men in response to songs of praise. The few words recounting an experience of the wilderness journey of Israel have a lesson worthy of our thought:— [Sidenote: _Unsealed by Song_] “They went to Beer; that is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.”[258] “Then sang Israel this song:— “Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: The well which the princes digged, Which the nobles of the people delved, With the scepter, and with their staves.”[259] How often in spiritual experience is this history repeated! how often by words of holy song are unsealed in the soul the springs of penitence and faith, of hope and love and joy! [Sidenote: _With Praise_]