| Original Message |
J Posted May 7, 2005 6:51 PM
The debate over the use of musical instruments in the worship service comes to a screeching halt when we look into the infallible Word of God, the source of divine truth. Men may have their own opinions and often conflicting ideas, but the foundation of God standeth sure. God's Word is plain on this subject. Man may also have his own mind-set and preconceived ideas or traditions about this subject, but if he will lay those aside and get the mind of Christ, he will be able to come to a definite Bible conclusion on the subject of the use of musical instruments in worshipping God. Let us begin our study of the Word of God.
Background
The first Biblical mention of musical instruments is found clear back in Genesis 4 where we have an account of a man by the name of Jubal who was "the father of all such as handle the harp and organ ". What he used these musical instruments for is uncertain as this is the only place in the Bible that he is mentioned. No doubt he taught others how to both build and use musical instruments because he is called the "father" of musical instruments. However, one thing is for certain, someone taught the people to build and use musical instruments for their frequent use amongst the Old Testament people of God is no small secret to the sincere Bible student.
Old Testament
We could spend countless hours studying and reviewing the scriptures to prove the use of musical instruments by the Old Testament people of God, but that will not be necessary for the purpose of the study. To deny that God's people down through the Old Testament used musical instruments in worshipping, praising, and even obeying God is to reveal a dishonesty or a mere ignorance of God's Word. For our study, we will only high-light a few Old Testament scriptures and the Biblical principles associated with them.
1. God Ordained them - In Numbers 10:1-10, we have an account of where God Himself ordained the use and the playing of instruments to rally together the people of God, to declare war on the enemy, and to memorialize the burnt offerings and sacrifices. "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps. And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations. And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.
2. They belonged to God - We also have Old Testament scriptural accounts of where musical instruments are called:
a) Musical instruments of God (1 Chronicles 16:42)
b) Instruments of music of the Lord (2 Chronicles 7:6)
3. They accompanied the worshipping of God - We have numerous instances in the Old Testament of where Gods worshippers, both singers and shouters, were accompanied with musical instruments:
a) 2 Chronicles 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD.
b) 1 Chronicles 13:8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
c) 1 Chronicles 15:16 And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.
d) 1 Chronicles 15:28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.
e) Nehemiah 12:27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.
4. They could not be used in Babylon - We do have an account of where God's people did not and could not use musical instruments to worship God. It is found in Psalms 137:1-4 "Psalm 137:1-4 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land? "
Here, Gods' people were out of their rightful place. Or in other words, they were misplaced. They were captive in the literal city of Babylon. Back in Zion, they were always free to sing and play the songs of Zion. But not in Babylon. Here the best that the people of God could do was to sit down, cry, and remember. Certainly they could not sing "the LORD'S song", a song accompanied with harps, by the rivers of Babylon.
5. They were used frequently - The use of musical instruments was frequent and was blessed by God. (For starters see Lev 25:9, 2 Sam 6:5, 1 Chr 16:42, 1 Chr 25:1, 2 Chr 7:6, 2 Chr 20:28, 2 Chr 23:13, 2 Chr 34:12, Psa 68:25, Psa 150:4). It is doubtless that the use of musical instruments greatly enhanced the worshipping of God in the Old Testament.
6. They were used in the house of the Lord - 2 Chronicles 20:28 And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD. Here we have account of where God's people came unto the house of the Lord playing their musical instruments. We find no indication of where God rebuked the people for doing such. In fact, God was with His people in so much that the people of the surrounding countries were brought under fear because they knew that God was in the midst of His people and God fought their battles for them, even when they played their musical instruments "unto the house of the LORD". If, therefore, it was once a law of the God of Jacob, to ordain the use of musical instruments--to make a joyful noise to Him by singing aloud with psalms, and to praise Him with the pleasant harp, timbrel and psaltery, and with various other stringed and wind instruments--why should it not be equally right and acceptable now?
7. They were prophesied for use in New Testament Zion - Literal Old Testament Zion was merely a shadow of New Testament Zion, or the Church of God (Heb 12:22- 23). David, anointed by God Himself, wrote the following: Psalm 87:5-7 "And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee." Clearly, it was prophesied by David and established by God that both the singers and the players on instruments would be in the city that people are born into. Those who have understanding of this scripture know that the city spoken of here is none other than the New Testament Church of God. To get into this city, we must have God write our name in the Lamb's Book of Life, which He does when we are born again of His Spirit. In this Church, the Bible says that "the singers as the players on instruments shall be there". Such is the case in Gods true Church. The singers and players on instruments are there.
|
|
|