Joyful Noise

Joyful Noise.  If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? This famous question introducing students to the cross-over space between philosophy and physics continues to mystify many.

The philosophical answer is Yes, it makes a sound because it could be heard, because physical perception is not necessary for existence. The physical answer is No, it does not make a sound because vibration only becomes sound, as opposed to noise, at nerve centers in the brain. “If there be no ears to hear, there will be no sound” (Scientific American, Vol. 50, No. 14, April 5, 1884, p. 218).

Either way,  philosophical or physical, the question is moot because of metaphysics: since God is everywhere, knows everything, and is all powerful, then his existence eliminates an imperceptible realm. Even if a vibration is imperceptible to humans as a distinct sound, God perceives it perfectly, wholly.

The better question than “If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?” is: “Does God hear me?” Many corollary questions follow closely: Does God know me? Am I just a vibration in a spiritual vacuum when I pray, or cry, or sing, or laugh? Or does God perceive me? Can God perceive me even when I cannot perceive myself? Yes! He hears us beneath our vibrations, “discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

Humanity essentially remains a mystery to humanity, but humans are not a mystery to God. We hear noise when we are unable to separate or organize into sounds the competing vibrations in our environment, but God perceives individual motives. At least five times worshipers are called to “make a joyful noise” to the Lord (Psa. 95:1, 2; 98:4, 6; 100:1)—which is, by far, more a word for sounding a battle-cry than for splitting into four-part harmony (Josh. 6:5, 10, 16, 20). Humans might hear melody, but the Lord hears motives. The joyful part of “make a joyful noise” is the portion that the Lord repeatedly emphasizes.

When the multitude of returned exiles lifted their collected voices at the dedication of the foundation of the Second Temple, God perceived their individual hearts. Their noises may have tangled together but their motivations marched before the Lord in straight lines. “And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, ‘For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.’ And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away” (Ezra 3:11-13).