As we take this cinematic journey through Psalms together, I encourage you to listen to the album and each song on your favorite music streaming service first, for pure enjoyment and also to see how God may speak to you through the music. If you want to go deeper Psalm 8 is down below. You can also read and reflect on the spiritual and musical inspirations behind each song while you listen or in silence as a quiet devotional. Wishing you God’s grace and peace, Stanton

Track two on the Eternal Beauty album is all about God’s Glory. Verse 1 reads, “Yahweh, our Sovereign God, your glory streams from the heavens above, filling the earth with the majesty of your name!” This song demanded a huge and triumphant main theme as a testament to the magnitude of God’s glory and majesty.

The solo trumpet introduction is a reference to the “trumpet of heaven” which is mentioned several times in the Bible, including New Testament names loud trumpet, last trumpet, trumpet of God, and seven trumpets. The solo trumpet calls us to attention and its melody references the main theme we will soon hear throughout the piece.

The choir, harp, strings, organ, and woodwinds all sing together with long notes and a majestic melody to continue part two of the introduction. These sounds all have a sense of wonder, awe, and worship of God as the prelude to a glorious voyage. He is God of the universe, God of the cosmos, and worthy of our worship. “Look at the splendor of your skies, your creative genius glowing in the heavens. When I gaze at your moon and your stars, mounted like jewels in their settings, I know you are the fascinating artist who fashioned it all!” (verse 3).

At 1:30 in the song there is a secondary theme verse which repeats before the main theme appears. This secondary theme is singing the words “streams from the heavens” with notes that become a set up melody for the main theme melody. About thirty seconds later the main theme is finally introduced in its majesty with piano and orchestra. It is repeated once here and begins to build. I wanted to create a desire to hear this played again soon, even multiple times, to take it in fully over and over. The main theme pauses at the 2:31 mark, and the secondary theme verse appears a second time with new variations in instruments and percussion rhythms. This thirty second time window opens up the song, and increases the energy and anticipation for the main theme chorus to return soon.

At 3:00 the main theme reappears and is now bigger in instrumentation. Then it repeats a second time and is even bigger, and a third that is still bigger. The fourth and final presentation is the biggest of all. Each one of these four playings stretches out the song to get lost in the moment, for it to seem longer and grander with each listening. The trumpet from the introduction appears and grows to its full glory in the final repeat. As I experimented with endings, it was fitting to let the chorus carry the day to the finish, for God’s glory and majesty to be at the forefront as the song sends us on our way. I pray this track lifts your spirit and encourages you that you are seen and loved by your heavenly Father who is full of glory and majesty… “from the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.” (Psalm 8:2, NIV).

How does Streams from the Heavens speak to you?

Psalm 8 (Passion) — STREAMS FROM THE HEAVENS

God’s Splendor, For the Pure and Shining One Set to the melody of “For the Feast of Harvest” by King David

God’s Majesty

1 Yahweh, our Sovereign God, your glory streams from the heavens above, filling the earth with the majesty of your name! 2 You have built a stronghold by the songs of children. Strength rises up with the chorus of infants. This kind of praise has power to shut Satan’s mouth. Childlike worship will silence the madness of those who oppose you.

Human Dignity

3 Look at the splendor of your skies, your creative genius glowing in the heavens. When I gaze at your moon and your stars, mounted like jewels in their settings, I know you are the fascinating artist who fashioned it all! 4 Why would you bother with puny, mortal man or care about human beings? 5 Yet what honor you have given to men, created only a little lower than Elohim, crowned with glory and magnificence. 6 You have delegated to them rulership over all you have made, with everything under their authority, placing earth itself under the feet of your image-bearers. 7-8 All the created order and every living thing of the earth, sky, and sea — the wildest beasts and all that move in the paths of the sea — everything is in submission to Adam’s sons. 9 Yahweh, our Sovereign God, your glory streams from the heavens above, filling the earth with the majesty of your name! People everywhere see your splendor!