“Does the Old Testament Authorize Instrumental Music in Worship?”

Instrumental Music in the O.T.? YES!

(2 Sam. 6:5;2)(Chr. 29:25)(Psa. 81:1-4)(Psa. 150) (Others)

We Are Not Governed by the Law of Moses

(Hebrews 9:9-10) It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who

performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience--

concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and

fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. (NKJV)


(Romans 10:4) For Christ is the end of the law ...

(Colossians 2:14-17) “…having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us…He has taken it out of the

way, having nailed it to the cross…

(Galatians 3:23-25) But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ,

that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

(Ephesians 2:14-15) For He …having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in

ordinances, …


The Psalms Were Part of the Law: In Jn.10:34 Jesus quotes from Psa. 82:6 when he states “Is it

not written in your law, ‘I said you are gods’?” According to Jesus Himself, psalms were part of the law.

When Jesus said that the Christ would die, the argument was made that Jesus was wrong, that the Christ could not die. They reasoned, "we have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever” (Jn. 12:34). They were making their argument from “the law” found in Psa. 110:4

"…this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.' (Jn. 15:25) This is a direct quote from Psa. 35:19 which says, “who hate me without a cause.”

The Purpose of the Law:

(Galatians 3:23) But before faith came, we were kept under guard

by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

(NKJV)

(Galatians 3:25) But after faith has come, we are no longer under a

tutor. (NKJV)

The Law: A Tutor to Help Us Understand the New Covenant

• For personal praise (1 Kgs. 4:32)• Connected with purification and animal

sacrifices during rededication ceremonies (2 Chr. 29-30:1-21)

• Never For Congregational Worship:• “"Playing on musical instruments is prohibited

on Sabbaths and holy days, and even to engage a non-Jew to play for Jews on Sabbath is considered a 'shebut' or disturbance of the Sabbath rest." (Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. IX, p. 432, quoted by Kurfees, Instrumental Music).




• Never For Congregational Worship:• "…music, except at marriage ceremonies, is

generally prohibited, in token of mourning for the destruction of Jerusalem." (Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. IX, p. 432, quoted by Kurfees, Instrumental Music).




• Never For Congregational Worship:• "It is still banned by rigid adherents to old

ways; but in ordinary conservative congregations it is unhesitatingly employed at weddings and other services on week days" (Isadore Singer, Jewish Encyclopedia, p. 134).

Inst. Music in O.T. Introduced by David and NOT BY GOD!

(Amos 6:5) Who sing idly to the sound of

stringed instruments, And invent for yourselves musical instruments

like David; (NKJV)


"I believe that David was not authorized by the Lord to introduce that multitude of musical instruments into

the divine worship of which we read; and I am satisfied that his conduct in this respect is most

solumnly reprehended by this prophet: and I farther believe that the use of some instruments of music, in

the Christian Church, is without the sanction and against the will of God; that they are subversive of

the spirit of true devotion, and that they are sinful. If there was a woe to them who invented instruments of music, as did David under the law, is there no woe, no curse, to them who invent them, and introduce them into the worship of God in the Christian Church. I am

an…


….old man, and an old minister, and I here declare that I never knew them productive of any good in the worship of God; and have reason to believe that they were productive of much evil. Music, as a science, I esteem and admire: but instruments of music in the house of God I abominate and abhor. This is the

abuse of music; and here I register my protest against all such corruptions in the worship of the Author of Christianity. The late venerable and most eminent divine, John Wesley, who was a lover of music, and an elegant poet, when asked his opinion of instruments of music being introduced into the chapels of the Methodists said, in his terse and powerful

manner, ‘I have no objection to instruments of music in our chapels, provided they are neither heard nor seen.’ I say the same, though I think the expense of purchase had better be

spared." (Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 686)


“David gave orders to the chief of the Levites to put their brothers

the music-makers in position, with instruments of music, corded

instruments and brass, with glad voices making sounds of joy.”(1

Chr. 15:16-28)


“…and four thousand praised the LORD with musical instruments, "which I made," said David "for

giving praise." (1 Chronicles 23:5 NKJV)

Law Never Given to the Gentiles

(Ephesians 2:11-14) Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the

flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by

hands-- that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been

brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has

broken down the middle wall of separation,

Law Never Given to the Gentiles(Acts 15:24)

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words,

unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law" --to whom we

gave no such commandment-- (NKJV)

(Galatians 2:14) …I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of

Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? (NKJV)

In the O.T. (shadow of things to come) - Music stopped w/burnt sacrifice

(Hebrews 9:24) For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven

itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; (NKJV)


(2 Chronicles 29:27-30)…And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD also

began, with the trumpets and with the instruments of David king of Israel. So all the

assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until

the burnt offering was finished. And when they had finished offering, the king and all who

were present with him bowed and worshiped. Moreover King Hezekiah and the leaders

commanded the Levites to sing praise to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness, and

they bowed their heads and worshiped.

What was finished?

(Matthew 5:17) "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the

Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (NKJV)

(John 19:30) So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head,

He gave up His spirit. (NKJV)


(Hebrews 10:10-16) …we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily

and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away

sins. But this Man…He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever…He has

perfected forever those who are being sanctified. …

What Offering Do We Offer Today?

(Hebrews 13:15) Therefore by Him let us continually offer the

sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks

to His name. (NKJV)

Review: Reasons the Old Testament Does Not Authorize Inst. Music in Worship Today

1. Not under the law of Moses2. We are under a new covenant3. Questionable Whether God Ever

Wanted Them or Merely Tolerated Them

4. Law of Moses never given to the Gentiles

5. Because in the O.T. (shadow of things to come) - Music stopped w/burnt sacrifice

Dangers of Returning to the Law of Moses (Why This is So Important)

Remember These Words:(Galatians 5:3) And I testify again to

every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to

keep the whole law. (NKJV)

(James 2:10) For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in

one point, he is guilty of all. (NKJV)


Weaknesses of the Law of Moses:• Did not take away sin (Heb. 10:1-4)• Could not justify (Gal. 2:16; 3:12)• Yoke of bondage (Gal. 5:1)• Was only temporary law (Gal. 3:19)• Sins were remembered yearly (Heb.

10:1-3) as opposed to "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." (Heb. 10:17)


If we are still under the law:Then Christ Died in Vain

(Galatians 2:21) "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if

righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

(NKJV)


If we are still under the law:We are still under a “curse”(Galatians 3:13) Christ has

redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us

(for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),

(NKJV)

If we are still under the law we may introduce Old Testament practices:

• Animal sacrifices (Lev. 16:7-26; 22:27)

• Priests (Num. 3:10)• Dietary restrictions

(Lev. 11; Dt. 14)• Stoning of rebellious

children (Dt. 21:18-21)• Killing adulterers and

idolaters, (Lev.20:2, 10) – anyone who will not kill an idolater must be cast away (Lev.20:4-5)

• Burning of incense (Ex. 30:7-8)

• Tithing (Lev. 27:30-32; Dt. 14:22)

• Toleration of polygamy (Ex. 21:10)

• Keeping of Sabbath Law (Ex. 20:9-11); violation punishable by death (Ex. 31:15)

If not, why not?

Consequences of Not Being Under the Law

• No Sabbath– Was 7th Day Gen. 2:2-3;

Ex. 20:10-11)– Sat. = 7th day– Ac. 20:7 “First Day” =

Day When Christians Worshipped

– Rev. 1:10 “the Lord's Day.”

– Compare 1 Cor. 11:20 “Lord’s” Gk. “kuriakos” (only other pace word found in all N.T.)

• No Keeping the 10 commandments

• We cannot establish any other doctrine based solely on OT worship.

We are not without law - We Are Under a New Law: The Law of Christ

(Romans 8:2) For the law of the Spirit of life in

Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

(NKJV)

(Galatians 6:2) Bear one another's burdens, and so

fulfill the law of Christ. (NKJV)

“Does the Old Testament Authorize Instrumental Music in Worship?”

Documents

Transcript of “Does the Old Testament Authorize Instrumental Music in Worship?”