Word Search: Worship and Harp; Worship and Flute; Worship and Singing; Worship and Song; Worship and Dance; worship and Handclapping; Worship and Music

Sorry, but my search finds: No worship and harp; no worship and flute; no worship and singing; no worship and song; no worship and dance; no worship and handclapping; no worship and music -- except in Babylon

Music and be the most tranquilizing drug in the world, or it can panic you to death. It depends upon the kind of music and the purpose for which it was "engineered."

While we know that music was always important to people on a personal basis, in the military to promote panic, among the prostitutes to entice the seekers and in idolatry in a worship sense, I have searched for the following connections between music and worship and find nothing which would indicate that God connected worship of Him to music. For instance:

Worship and Harp: Daniel 3:5, 10, 15 all in connection with idol worship.

Worship and Flute: Daniel 3:5, 10, 15

Worship and Singing: None

Worship and Song: None

Worship and Dance: None

Worship and Handclapping: None

Worship and Music

As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Daniel 3:5

Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good.

But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" Daniel 3:15

Because many people believe that music is commanded, if you refuse to fall down and worship the team or instruments (they baptize organs, you know) or even speak against them, they will figuratively (and literally if they could get away with it) throw you into hell itself. This is mostly from my pseudo-anti-music fellowship!

Music, here, is:

Zemar (h2170) zem-awr'; from a root corresp. to 2167; instrumental music: - musick.

In the New Testament, singing is a metaphor for teaching only the revealed Word of Christ which He said were Spirit and Life (John 6:63)

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:19

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. Colossians 3:16

This was also God's message to the Jews. The singing was not to the "congregation" but to the Lord as the result of teaching His Word to the congregation or the world:

O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name:

make known his deeds among the people. Psalm 105:1

Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things;

let this be known to all the world. Isaiah 12:5

However, God had already condemned the people with Zemar which was to prune the vine:

I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it." Is.5:6

One of the reasons was, agreeing with Amos, their daily religious festivals at which they worshipped their own appetites. Remember that all feasting was religious in nature and they had speeded up the process trying to get God to reveal Himself to them:

And (you have) the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts:

but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands. Isaiah 5:12

Singing to the Lord is connected to teaching the nations but musical worship (i.e. feasting) was always connected to a lack of concern for God's Word or the nations who needed it.

That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it Isaiah 5:19

After Judah willfully rejected the Word of God and substituted musical worship to help them forget, they were forced to live in a land where the musical worship began. This was prophesied by God when Israel rejected His Covenant of Grace by worshipping like the Babylonians or Egyptians but their sentence would be delayed for awhile.

Remember that as soon as Moses went back upon the mountain to get a written version, Israel restored the worship of Apis the bull calf of Egypt. This worship included singing, dancing, instruments and stripping off naked. This happened only two other times: once when they forced Samson to "play" before his persecutors and murderers and once when David "played" while separating the Levite-dominated from the priest led worship at the tabernacle. Paul warned Corinth (10:20) that they were dangerously close to this idolatrous "play."

As a result of this violation of the Covenant, God gave The Book of the Law. This included a modified set of commandments structured for a people who would live under and be controlled by idolatry. It also included 413 statements of law which, in the words of Jeremiah, were not good. In the words of Paul, they were "given because of transgression."

God demanded that anyone who veered off to the right or left of the law was in trouble. He included no command for instrumental music - or any kind of music. He never said of music: "I like that."

Along with the Law of Moses, God also reassigned the Tabernacle from being easy access by the people to His "presence" and made it "off limits" except to the priestly class. The Levites were to stand at the doors or gates like flaming cherubim to keep the people away from God's symbol of His presence so they would not be destroyed. The tithe was to support this clergy class who stood as mediators between God and the people who had rejected His direct rule.

The Book of the Covenant permitted the first born son to represent God in the family. However, after the musical idolatry at Mount Sinai, God set aside the Levites to take the place of the first born. The Levites, in turn, did not serve God but served the people. They had no priestly role to play although after David they violated that role:

Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. Numbers 3:6

And they shall keep all the instruments (carriage, furniture, utensils etc.) of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. Numbers 3: 8

And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. Numbers 3: 9

And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priests office:

and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. Numbers 3: 10

This meant that the patriarchal or family religion under a covenant relationship between God and His people with the first born being the mediator and teacher would be replaced with a national system of forced leadership by a group of people who had caused Israel to revert to their old Egyptian or Babylon form of musical worship.

The Levites would bear the burden and keep the "congregation" away from God's symbolic presence. This was made more emphatic when David and the commanders of the army reassigned all of the military musicians to duties at the civil headquarters to praise God and the king.

This Like the Nations law would again be replaced by the Covenant made with Abraham (Galatians 3) when a prophet like Moses came and the people again listened.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Numbers 3: 11

And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine; Numbers 3: 12

Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the Lord. Numbers 3: 13

Fact: As a result of sin of the musical idolatry, let by Aaron and the Levites, the burden of bearing the sins of the congregation literally fell upon them instead of all of the people. There is no hint in the Law that God wanted or permitted "musical worship."

Musical Worship Ministry usurping this role: In all of paganism, religion always degenerated from the manly life of righteousness and justice to the artistic group who were "blessed" with some form of sexual or emotional abnormality.

Conclusion: These "teams" do not hesitate to claim that they mediate between God and the "audience." The dance team even (as at the Tower of Babel) is the platform upon which God lands. These people have tested God by claiming to be the burden bearers of the congregation. This role has been taken over by Lord Jesus Christ. It is not without importance to note that some teams go from being "meadiators" to becomming "God Himself."

Edersheim in Bible History wrote: "Levites were really only the representatives of all Israel, having been substituted instead of their firstborn. (Numbers 3:11-13) On this account, also, the Levites were not specially "hallowed," as the priests had been, * but only "cleansed" for their ministry, and after that presented to the Lord.

* We read in Exodus 29:1, in reference to Aaron and his sons, "Hallow them to minister unto Me in the priest's office", literally, "consecrate them to priest unto Me" (we use the word "priest" as a verb).

In the case of the Levites there was neither consecration nor priesting, but cleansing unto ministry or service.

Of course, the Aaronic priesthood pointed to and has ceased in Christ, our one great High-Priest.

"The first part of this symbolical service consisted in sprinkling on them "water of sin" (rendered in our Authorized Version "water of purifying"), alike to confess the defilement of sin and to point to its removal. After that they were to shave off all their hair and to wash their clothes. The Levites were now "unsinned" (8:21), * so far as their persons (Note: bodily purification but not the conscience) were concerned. Then followed their dedication to the work.

* This is the literal rendering of the Hebrew term, which is the same as that used by David in Psalm 51:9.

"For this purpose the Levites were led "before the Tabernacle" (8:9), that is, probably into the outer court, bringing with them two young bullocks - the one for a burnt, the other for a sin-offering,

and each with its meat-offering.

The people, through their representatives - the princes - now laid their hands upon them, as it were to constitute them their substitutes and representatives.

Then Aaron took them "before Jehovah" (ver. 10), that is, into the Holy Place, and "waved them for a wave-offering of the children of Israel" * - probably by leading them to the altar and back again - after which,

the Levites would lay their hands upon the sacrifices which were now offered by Aaron, who so "made an atonement for them" (ver. 21). The significance of all these symbols will be sufficiently apparent. "And after that, the Levites went in to do service in the Tabernacle of the congregation" (ver. 22).

Fact: Musical worship teams get their authority from David's later change of the law to be like the nations.

Fact: The cleansing of the Levites gave them only roles of service for the people and no clergy-priestly role. Only their bodies were purified.

Conclusion: If musical worship teams are going to become clergy (noted by McClintock and Strong as "the first heresy largely pervading the church.") then they should bring their young bullocks for slaughter and burning. Again, to assume these roles is to assume the role of Lord Jesus Christ Who died as our sacrifice.

The Trumpets for Wilderness Wandering

AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Numbers 10: 1

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. Numbers 10: 2

And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Numbers 10: 3

Fact: The actual worship took place inside the Tabernacle by the priests.

Fact: Even when the trumpets called the congregation into assembly, it was not into the most holy place where they could meet God but only outside the doorway and most would be well outside. To go further meant that they would die.

Fact: The congregation was called into assembly for instruction and to make a joyful noise would spit in God's face as He was (is) trying to speak to them through Moses who represents only Christ and not the priests or preachers.

Conclusion: Musical worship teams might entertain in a "hootenanny" or "Heeee Hawwww" but they cannot -- however pretensious and presumptious -- bring the worshippers into the presence of God.

Paul compared the musical worship with songs and tongues in Corinth to spiritual warfare of the carnal minds. Even in war, the trumpets must not speak unknown tongues but must give clear, life-saving signals or you wouldn't know when to march or rest:

And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. Numbers 10: 4

When ye blow an alarm (loud, joyful trumpets), then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. Numbers 10: 5

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. Numbers 10: 6

Now, what if we had out little Trumpet Quartet or or Musical Worship Team grinding out horsepower when the trumpet sounds then or when Jesus returns?

Fact: Modern Musical Worship Ministries take their authority from the Levites.

Fact: The Levites were not hallowed for priestly duties.

Fact: Only the priests -- and not the Levites -- were to blow the trumpets.

Fact: When the Idealized Temple was vizualized, the Levites were demoted back to being servants and not "tyrants" which defined the musical ministers such as Asaph or Jeduthan (probably Canaanite names).

Fact: Josephus agreed that the Levites had no such authority, had destroyed the nation before and would do it again just because the king had been convinced that the music would make him look important. The "pastor" is always the focus of musical worship which brings in the unseeking strays because numbers do count during yearly evaluation, don't they?

Conclusion: Musical worship teams have no authority to promote themselves from "ministry" to "ruling masters" or clergy.

God's gave no authority for "musical" worship. Not a shred of evidence that He connected music and worship. Rather, the silver trumpets blown only by the priests, were to send the vital signals to up to 3 million men, women, children and animals.

Therefore, He specificially outlawed the trumpets as musical devices:

But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. Numbers 10: 7

The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you and the generations to come. Numbers 10:8 (This, and not David's instruments for plague stopping also used by Hezekiah, was the lasting ordinance)

The alarm was:

Ruwa (h7321) roo-ah'; a prim. root; to mar (espec. by breaking); fig. to split the ears (with sound), i. e. shout (for alarm or joy): - blow an alarm, cry (alarm, aloud, out), destroy, make a joyful noise, smart, shout (for joy), sound an alarm, triumph.

God knew that the pagans had their "Jubilees" often. For instance, Amos warned Israel for imitating the same musical play which helped destroy Israel at Mount Sinai.

The trumpet as a signal was and is still important. The musical rejoicing would be the way to tell Judas an his priestly employers from Jesus Christ:

By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy (Judas) doth not triumph over me. Psalm 41:11

Paul understood that triumphant music and animal sacrifices or Jubilees or Passovers had been done away in the new covenant:

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Col 2:14

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Col 2:15

The pagans and even the musical clergy (condemned by Josephus) in Jerusalem triumphed over the people with an obscent ammount of musical performance to keep the non-productive priests and Levites occupied and riding on the backs of the poor extorted of their tithes.

The Judas Bag was always attached to a flute-bag carried by those who tried to triumph over others. Judas would not triumph over Jesus and Judas was a change agent of Satan who represented the principalities and powers of the air (also worshpped in Corinth: 1 Cor 14:2, 9). Jesus refused to strip off His clothes (now done symbolically) and sway and dance what was reserved for the women worshippers of Bacchus or Dionysus.

However, in symbolic language, Jesus triumphed over or made a public spectacle (NIV) or visual aid or example of Judas as Satan's primary agent. This triumph was quite identical to the alarm or joyful noise which was specificially outlawed in Numbers 10:7 when the congregation assembled. However, Jesus will make His final spectacle of the world again when He returns to a world consumed with Dionysus or Babylonian religion and He finally puts the musicians and music where it belongs becaus this was what they lusted after rather than the Words of Christ spoken gently to one another:

Thriambeuo (g2358) three-am-byoo'-o; from a prol. comp. of the base of 2360 and a der. of 680 (mean. a noisy iambus, sung in honor of Bacchus); to make an acclamatory procession, i.e. (fig.) to conquer or (by Hebr.) to give victory: - (cause) to triumph (over).

While the Musical Teams as Restored Levites triumphing over the congregation is sold as "spiritual" the feel-good comes only after the soul has been bruised by the music. The first part of triumph is to wail or to frighten or trouble people to jack up their drug level.

That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 2 Thessalonians 2:2

The second part of triumph means to "attach oneself to or to touch. or to fasten to or to set on fire, to kindle, to try to be a light."

Remember that it was Jubal (Genun in other literature) who was Satan's agent whom he taught to invent musical instruments, compose songs, and organize musical worship teams of both male and female in order to triumph over the Holy Sethites still faithful on God's Holy Mountain. His handling was mishandling:

Taphas (h8610) taw-fas'; a prim. root; to manipulate, i. e. seize; chiefly to capture, wield; specifically to overlay; figuratively: to use unwarrantably: - catch, handle, (lay, take) hold (on, over), stop, * surely, surprise, take.

And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. Genesis 9:12

So without a doubt, with Jubal, Potiphar's wife, pagan worship from Babylon to Egypt and among the Jews in Jerusalem, worship was a sexual kind of think, I suppose for "a phallic kind of guy" (re Promise Keepers) but Jesus was not gender bent. <

The music of David was permitted only for a like the nations kingdom when Israel rejected the rule of God was not authorized for spiritual worship. The trumpets were to signal the holy days, new moons or the special sabbaths. However, those, including Jubilee, have been abrogated and those who restore musical worship are passing judgment upon you and you have to take it or leave:

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Col.2:16

The flaming serpents or Levites have been removed from between the worshipper and God's throne because Jesus can now be touched with out feelings because our sin has been removed rather than mediated by priests and Levites:

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Fact: Those who claim Levite authority have no authority

Fact: They attempt to triumph over the congregation to force them to make a joyful noise which will close down their mind so that they cannot hear the instruction. No big loss in sermonizing and versifying God's Word.

Fact: In all of history this has been the sign of effeminate men or women or children "ruling over you." Feminine worship was always of the KOSMOS or of the earth and masculien worship was rational or directed to the spirit.

Conclusion: Musical Worship Teams violate the explicit Law of God and attempt to triumph over Jesus and His quiet Word.

God's Law Could Never Be Altered by Faithful People

NOW therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you. Deuteronomy 4:1

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2

So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Dt .5:32

Your eyes have seen what the Lord did because of Baal-peor: for all the men that followed Baal-peor, the Lord thy God hath destroyed them from among you. Deuteronomy 4:3

But ye that did cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day. Deuteronomy 4:4

The Law of Moses or The Book of the Law, in contrast to the pre-musical Book of the Covenant, was not a spiritual law but was to keep them forcefully away from idolatry.

Baal means master and his worship was with babbling, dreaming or necromancy, musical instruments and ritual prostitution

Lachash (h3908) lakh'-ash; from 3907; prop. a whisper, i. e. by impl. (in a good sense) a private prayer, (in a bad one) an incantation; concr. an amulet: - charmed, earring, enchantment, orator, prayer.

The next word is considered the same:

Nachash (h5173) nakh'-ash; from 5172; an incantation or augury: - enchantment.

Nachash (h5172) naw-khash'; a prim. root; prop. to hiss, i. e. whisper a (magic) spell; gen. to prognosticate: - * certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) * enchantment, learn by experience, * indeed, diligently observe.

Nachash (h5175) naw-khawsh'; from 5172; a snake (from its hiss): - serpent.

Nachuwsh (h5153) naw-khoosh'; appar. pass. part. of 5172 (perh. in the sense of ringing, i. e. bell-metal; or from the red color of the throat of a serpent [5175, as denom.] when hissing); coppery, i. e. (fig.) hard: - of brass.

N^echiylah (h5155) nekh-ee-law'; prob. denom. from 2485; a flute: - [plur.] Nehiloth.

Chaliyl (h2485) khaw-leel'; from 2490; a flute (as perforated): - pipe.

Chalal (h2490) khaw-lal'; a prim. root [comp. 2470]; prop. to bore, i. e. (by impl.) to wound, to dissolve; fig. to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an "opening wedge"); denom. (from 2485) to play (the flute): - begin (* men began), defile, * break, defile, * eat (as common things), * first, * gather the grape thereof, * take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.

From this chain of Biblical words we can understand that Satan was the symbol of Babylonia or the Chaldeans which word stood for astrologers or enchanters. Their bronze wind instruments made the great, enchanting hissing sound and the Egyptians pictured a bronze-throated cobra as an actual God and trumpets were modelled after it.

Paul warned Corinth of this as they spoke in tongues and sang in tongues which was out of their own head:

THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1

But David Made Some Changes

Scholars have no doubt that David changed the worship from the Word to music. Why did this happen? Remember that Israel rejected God's direct rule through the prophets and demanded a king like the nations so that they could worship like the nations. God gave them kings to bring about the destruction which they had earned at Mount Sinai.

When Israel demanded a king so that they could worship like the nations, God turned them over to their own lusts. David, not God, added musical instruments to the trumpets of God.

We want a king like the nations so that they could prosper like the nations and worship like the nations. Therefore, when we use the period of the Law as proof-text for musical worship we are in deep spiritual trouble:

At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the LORD had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that provoked the LORD to anger. 2K.17:11

Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: You have been more unruly than the nations around you and have not followed my decrees or kept my laws. You have not even conformed to the standards of the nations around you. Eze.5:7

You say, "We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone." But what you have in mind will never happen. Eze.20:32

From this point onward in the history of the Jews we must understand that their government and worship was not according to Gods plan but was like the surrounding nations. Of every "like the nations" religion, God overlooked polygamy and a lot of things which were not ideal because they had already rejected Him. However, Paul said:

That they should seek (worship) the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: Acts 17:27

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17:28

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art (occupation or human skill) and mans device (instrumentality, spirit or thinking). Acts 17:29

Both pagans and Jews believed that God lived within the carved images or musical instruments worked (melodied) with great difficulty, perforated or polluted and then used to triumph or pollute the paying worshippers. Click Here for more.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 17:30

This was absolutely created by David for the Hebrews when he was chosen to lead a like the nations people:

"The trained musicians which eventually appear around the time of David and Solomon mark a distinctive change in the history of Jewish music. Before this time much of the music was made by women." (Zondervan Pict., Music p. 313). 

"David introduced innovations in the age and service of the Levites (I Chron. 23-26). Certain Levites, particularly Asaph, became musicians and probably wrote some of the Psalms." (Living Bible Ency., p. 1143)

These musicians, as they had been after Israel's musical idolatry at Mount Sinai as they worshipped Apis, were to keep the people away from the tabernacle as a symbol of God's presence. They were like the flaming Cherubim and their name involves "wreathing" just as the the serpent of Babylonian symbolism.

But, is this true in the Bible?

David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service" 1 Chr 25:1

From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nathan and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king's supervision." 1 Chr 25:2

All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the LORD, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the supervision of the king." 1 Chr 25:6

The pagan form of "prophesying" was telling the king what he wanted to hear and to "praise" (halal) God which meant to "make a fool out of yourself, or make yourself vile to impress the gods of the nations that you met them on an equal footing as the only agent of the gods.

Whatever the Psalmists write about music, they knew that they were living their lives largely apart from the rule of God. When God sends a musical song, as in Isaiah 5, it is to warn and not to encourage:

Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. Psalm 81:2

Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. Psalm 81:3

I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Psalm 81:10

But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. Ps 81:11

So I gave them up unto their own hearts lust: and they walked in their own counsels. Ps 81:12

This is the universal association of music and Israel's refusal to listen seen in Job 21; Isaiah 5; Amos 5,6,8 and Ezekiel 33.

The Syriac is consistent with every passage in Scripture except the one cited. For instance,

God: Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the Lord on the altar of the Lord, which he had built before the porch, 2Chr 8:12

Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles. 2 Chr 8:13

David: And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded. 2Chr 8:14

This ministry was not before God nor was it before the congregation.

But what about 2 Chronicles 29:25?

First, this is very much like "David's stopping the plague" sacrifices as he sacrificed in Jerusalem because he was too frightened of God to return to Gibeon where the Tabernacle rested. This does not involve a congregational worship service:

Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 29:20

And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 29:21

So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar. 2 Chronicles 29:22

Fact: This passage has to do with animal sacrifices to make atonement for both Judah and Israel which was not a kind of seeker people.

Fact: Musical Worship Teams which yank this event out of context believe and practice a redemptive, mediating, sacrificial role.

Conclusion: Such Triumphing-Over violates the Law in Numbers 10:7 and denies the value of the once-for-all sacrifice of Lord Jesus Christ.

And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them: 2 Chronicles 29:23

And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel. 2 Chronicles 29:24

When Hezekiah's life was spared for fifteen years, he spent his time playing the harp in the temple even as little Manessah was in training to be one of the most evil, idolatrous kings in history. Hezekiah said that he didn't mind that destruction was comming to his nation "as long as it didn't happen in his lifetime."

The word of the LORD you have spoken is good," Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?" 2 Kings 20:19

For this one purification of "buildings and grounds" and the people so that they might (future tense) be able to worship God:

And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps,

according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the kings seer, and Nathan the prophet:

for so was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets. 2 Chronicles 29:25

So the Levites stood ready with David's instruments,

and the priests and the priests 2 Chronicles 29:26

By looking at both cycles of statements in table form it is clear that the "music' was David's idea for certain dedicatory or purification rituals; the trumpets were the everlasting ordinance of God. Notice that there are two commands and two authorities:

First Cycle	Second Cycle
according to the commandment of David	So the Levites stood ready
and of Gad the kings seer, and Nathan the prophet:	with David's instruments,
for so was the commandment of the Lord	and the priests
by his prophets	and the priests

Recall what we have already noted. The command from God was for the trumpets. What David added for "plague stopping rituals" was the musical instruments:

But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. Numbers 10: 7

The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to blow the trumpets. This is to be a lasting ordinance for you and the generations to come. Numbers 10:8

The Septuagint may make this clearer:

And the priests slew them and offered their blood as a propitiation on the altar; and they made atonement for all Israel: for the king said, The whoe-burnt-offering, and the sin-offerings are for all Israel 2Chr 29:24LXX

And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, and lutes, and harps, according to

the commandment of king David, and of Gad the king's seer,

and Nathan the prophet:

for by the commandment of the Lord the order was in the hand of the prophets 2 Chr 29:25LXX

And the

Levites stood with the instruments of David,

and the priests with the trumpets. 2 Chr 29:26LXX

To see that the trumpets but not David's musical instruments were commanded Click Here.

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. Numbers 10: 8

And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm (shouting, clapping, rejoicing to panic the enemy) with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies. Numbers 10: 9

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. Numbers 10: 10

When Israel demanded a king like the nations it was so they could shed blood like the nations (without God's help) and worship like the nations. God answered their prayer but warned that when they cried for His help He would not listen. The kings would lead them into practices which would eventually cause most to be lost. God sent several signs of

His disapproval: One was the musical prophets (singing with instruments) from the Philistine high places. This caused Saul to fall into charismatic prophesying (singing, dancing, etc.) which caused the manly population to denounce Saul as a warrior. The word "halal" or praise is often used in this derogatory sense. Another sign God sent them was the destruction of the wheat harvest. Now, pagan fertility rituals always made possible by musical madness was to cause fertility and bring the rains at the early and later times. This was a signal that Yahweh God is the only "fertility" God.

Music is disparaged because it is both a symbol and cause of not caring to listen to God's Word can bee seen in Job 21, Amos 5, 6 and 6 where they practiced the Marzeah which was a feast for and with dead ancestors. The same pattern is repeated in Isaiah 5 and Ezekiel 33.

If my father had told me to "go to the store and get flour" he knew that he didn't have to enumerate 1000 items I was not to buy. I knew that he didn't have to say: "don't buy RC cola." However, I believe to the minimally discerning spirit, God warned against music as worship over and over.

Animal sacrifices were also in the Old Testament and God said that He wanted them stopped when the ultimate Sacrifice was made. Every Jewish schoolboy understood that music was only for the burning signals during animal sacrifices and only for dedicatory or purification sacrifices associated with the developing temple services and in Jerusalem. When animal sacrifices ceased the Jews "hung up their harps" until 1815 and then hired Gentile players because it was illegal for any Jew -- throughout history -- to play instruments on the Sabbath (if the rabbi are correct.)

There is no example of "congregational singing with instrumental accompaniment as an act of worship" in the whole Bible so God didn't really have to say "don't do it." Scholars note that when the "congregation" worshipped they fell on their face always outside of the holy place or, if we may, "church." Even so, they did so as accidental observers while the temple-state worship was carried on only by the priests and unauthorized Levites who were put back in place in Ezekiel's Idealized Temple beginning in chapter 40. And the only person who might have worshipped in Corinth would be the unbeliever who upon hearing everyone discussing the Words of Christ would "fall on his face" and acknowledge God's presence. The singing and tongues would just make him believe that the whole congregation was mad - insane.

Now take some time to think about this. Jesus said that where two or three gather in His name He will be in their midst. (I don't know about 2,000 because Jesus didn't like crowds). So we do the most abnormal thing one could imagine. We have four different groups singing four different sets of words to four different tunes and four different times. And to make it unbelievably weird, we sing about the sentimental poetry of an old blind lady or a fellow who lost his family at sea. Adding insult to injury one of us get on our tippy toes, our face turns red, we point with out finger and wink with our eye and we fairly scream or bark out words about raising ebenezers. This we do to the Incarnate God of the Universe! What if we did it to a visiting manager from headquarters as we try to get him to get us a raise?

Or: A visiting friend slumps into the swing on our front porch and asks if we don't have a cup of cold water. We jump up, song book in the left hand, right hand raised close to gender bending and begin to sing him a poem and say, "be comforted, my friend." Better yet, we call in all of the neighbors and comfort Him with song. Won't He say, "forgive these made people for they know not what they do?"

The Holy Spirit is always careful to separate the trumpets of God (in the law) from the instruments of David as a modification of the Law to enable "worship like the nations."

God as Lord Jesus Christ condemned the piping Jewish clergy as musical children, literally and somewhat violently cast out the instrumental mourners (a religious ritual) so that He could raise the girl, and failed to institute music in any form as "an act of worship." Rather, Paul defines singing as "speaking the words of Christ" to one another and the "singing and melody" was to be in the heart.

For a fuller look at 1 Chronicles 29:25 as the supposed authority for modern musical worship.

Back to Musical Worship Index

Or Home Page

E-Mail any Constructive Comments or Questions