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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
Most positive things have a corresponding negative aspect. Music is no exception as it inspires, incites, emboldens and excites. It likewise calms, refocuses, and encourages; leading us to contemplation and hopefully a reasoned response. Which includes seeking, praising and glorifying God.
Complicating matters is the vexing question of worship “style”, which is by nature fluid and changeable from generation to generation. Decisions to change styles are often based on relevance or relatability to younger people; not necessarily a bad thing. I use a newer translation of scripture because it’s easier to comprehend, having been written in our modern vernacular. I enjoy many newer praise songs for much the same reason, although they often use lyrics taken verbatim from Old Testament scripture; at times reintroducing older hymns “jazzed” up a bit.
Thus the debate – sometimes contentious – as to what is appropriate for worship services and what should best be left to concert venues. Which is hardly much ado about nothing. Worship is important and must be relatable to everyone in the room. At times, it comes down to choosing between mimicking the sights and sounds of the world or modeling an alternative of enthusiastic, genuine worship. How disappointed the object of our worship must be that our quest for true worship can be at times so hotly debated and divisive.
Scripture clearly notes how extensively music was incorporated into worship. The invention of musical instruments occurred shortly after man’s migration from Eden. Jubal identified as, “…the father of all who play the harp and flute.” Gen. 4;21 A man gifted by God to make music.
As families evolved into clans, tribes, communities and city-states, music accompanied them. Scripture depicts music as part of Israel’s celebration of its exodus from Egypt. Moses leading the people in a praise song to Jehovah for his miraculous intervention at the Red Sea. “…he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” Exodus 15:1,2Moses’ sister Miriam, likewise led many women of Israel in worship accompanied by tambourines and dancing. ( Exodus 15:20,21)
Years later, Deborah led Israel’s army commanders in a song of celebration after the defeat of Sisera’s Canaanite army. During the rout of his army, Sisera fled to the tents of Jael, hoping to be received safely. After giving him a drink and concealing him beneath a cover, she showed herself less friendly than Sisera had hoped, driving a tent stake through his head while he slept. (Try putting that to music!) The entire 5th chapter of Judges contains the song of victory sung by Deborah; “I will sing to the Lord, I will sing; I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel… Praise the Lord!” Asking all who passed by to, “…consider the voice of the singers at the watering places. (As) they recite the righteous acts of the Lord, the righteous acts of his warriors in Israel.” Judges 5:3,9 & 11
Later still, Samuel records Israel’s foolish parading of the ark of the covenant into battle, hoping by its presence to ensure victory. Consequently they lost the battle and the ark to the Philistines; who displayed it in their temple to Dagon – for which they paid a terrible price, causing them to return it to Israel in the care of Abimelech. ( 1 Samuel 4:5,6) After David united the tribes of Israel into a cohesive unit under his rule and established Jerusalem as his capitol, he brought the ark “home.” As he did so, “David and the whole house of Israel was celebrating with …songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.” 2 Samuel 6:5 Afterwards, “…David put (men) in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there… minister(ing) with music before the tabernacle… until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.” 1 Chronicles 6:31,32
Years later, after leading Israel’s army to victory over the Moabites and Ammonites, Jehoshaphat, “…appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him… as they went out at the head of the army,…” (Reminiscent of the trumpets leading Joshua’s assault of Jericho – Joshua 6. A scene they re-enacted as they returned home victorious.) As “they entered Jerusalem and went to the temple with harps and lutes and trumpets.” 2 Chronicles 20:21 & 28
During one of Israel’s repeated falls from grace, exile and repentance, the prophet Ezra records how the Persian King – inspired by God – allowed the Jewish people to return to their homeland. In the busyness of resettling the land, rebuilding Jerusalem and laying the foundation of the temple, the priests – with trumpets – and the Levites – playing cymbals – led the people in praise and thanksgiving to God, singing “He is good, his love to Israel endures forever.” Ezekiel 3:10
And finally, Hezekiah wrote about his testing by God and the judgement visited upon him for his dealings with foreign rulers, saying “The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord.” Is. 38:20
All of which demonstrates the consistency worship held in the life of the older testament “church” and the diverse richness of style and instrumentation. Mirrored in the worship of the newer testament church of which we are a part.
Check back next week for more Old and New testament references to music and its place in worship in the church.
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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