Music, An Integral Part of Worship
by
William L. Brown,
Pastor,
I
Chronicles
PSA 47:6
Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
In
looking at the habits of churches and denominations regarding music you can
find those on the extreme of each end. On one end there are some who will not
use musical instruments at all in their services. There have even been those in
the past who would reject singing of hymns. At the other extreme end are those
who make music the ultimate in their so-called "worship" and often
use it's basest form as a tool to heighten the
emotions of those present. In Scripture we will find balance and order in the
use of music. I have listened to numerous speakers espouse their views on the
proper elements of music, the proper balance of rythym, the order and organization
of music and a host of other concepts to detailed to consider here. What I want
to see is what the Bible has to say. What do we find when we look into God's
word? This is not a detailed study by any means and it does not presume to
answer the various questions about music ministries that come because of a lack
of separation from the world. Let's just ask a few questions for the purpose of
edification and see what we can learn first about...
Who Sang In The Bible?
Moses and the
Children of
EXO 15:1 Then sang Moses
and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will
sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider
hath he thrown into the sea.
NUM
ISA 51:11 Therefore the
redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto
Deborah and Barak
sang:
JDG 5:1-2 Then sang Deborah
and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, Praise ye the LORD for the
avenging of
JDG 5:3 Hear, O ye kings;
give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise
to the LORD God of
David sang and was
sung about:
1SA 18:6 And it came to
pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the
Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing,
to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
2SA
1CH 13:8
And David and all
The Priests of Levi
sang and played instruments:
1CH 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.
2CH 7:6 And the priests
waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the
LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy
endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests
sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
2CH 29:28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang,
and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was
finished.
God the Father and
God the Son sing:
ZEP 3:17 The LORD thy God
in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with
joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
ROM 15:9 And that the
Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I
will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
HEB
Paul and Silas
Sang:
ACT
1CO
The church at
MAT 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount
of Olives.
COL 3:16 Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another
in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to
the Lord.
What Did They Sing:
When you look
at the previous verses and others that we did not include here we find the
subject matter of their songs. What you will discover is that music and singing
is an intregral part of worship that is offered unto the Lord. The following is
a list, though incomplete of what we find God's people singing about.
·
They
sang of God's victory and wondrous works:
·
They
sang of God's glory:
·
They
sang of God's power:
·
They
sang of God's presence:
·
They
sang of God's holiness: (the beauty of His holiness)
·
They
sang of God's justice and judgment:
·
They
sang of God's salvation:
·
They
sang of God's mercy:
·
They
sang of God's faithfulness:
·
They
sang of God's comforts:
·
They
sang of God's providence and sovereign will:
·
They
sang thanksgiving unto the Lord:
·
They
sang praises unto the Lord:
How Did They Sing:
With all their
might, joy, grace, and reverence but also sorrow (Lamentations):
1. They had soloists,
choirs, and congregational singing.
2. They had choir directors and leaders of various parts of the choir.
3. Some gave all their time to this ministry. 1CH
They were ordered,
organized and skillful:
1. 1CH 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.
2. This word "sounding" means to hear intelligently, to pay
attention.
3. They taught music also: 1CH
4. They also sang in parts back and forth to one another: EZR
They were taught in
the Word and separated from sin:
They sang with
instruments:
1. 1CH 16:9 Sing unto him,
sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous
works.
2. This verse is dealing
with singing with instruments, voice and accompaniment.
3. Psaltery (like a Lyre),
ten stringed instrument, harp, horns, cymbals, trimbrels (tambourine), reed
instruments (wood winds),
4. David actually
instructed the Levites to design and build different instruments. They built
some of them out of the finest quality wood that none have ever matched.
5. At one time you can see
120 trumpets alone (II Chronicles
6. PSA 33:3 Sing unto him a
new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.
7. PSA 92:3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery;
upon the harp with a solemn sound. The word solemn carries with it not only a
stirring note but a pattern and spiritual quality about it.
When Did They Sing:
A. After a
victorious battle:
B. During battle:
C. In prison:
D. During their
offering of sacrifice:
1. 2CH 29:28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang,
and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was
finished.
2. 2CH 29:30 Moreover
Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph
the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and
worshipped.
E. When they came
into His presence:
1. PSA 100:2 Serve the LORD
with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
2. How long should we sing?
PSA 104:33 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to
my God while I have my being.
3. PSA 146:2 While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises
unto my God while I have any being.
PSA 147:1 Praise ye the LORD: for it is
good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.