Worshiping God with Music Approaching God in Worship

Worshiping God with Music

Approaching God in Worship • • In spirit and truth, John 4: 23 -24 By faith, Hebrews 11: 4 In reverent holiness, Lev. 10: 1 -3 Otherwise, God’s judgment will roll down upon us, Amos 5: 21 -27 2

Approaching God in Worship • • NT: Singing, Eph. 5: 19; Col. 3: 16 Does the word of Christ approve adding musical instruments to singing? • If so, we must use them • If not, we do not have the right to add them! (Matt. 21: 23) 3

Principles of Acceptable Worship • Approved worship is regulated by the will of God, Matt. 15: 7 -9 • God alone has the right to decide the elements of acceptable worship • Ex. Proper fire, Lev. 10: 1 -2 • Ex. Proper priests, Num. 3: 10 • Sinful to change, 1 Kgs. 12: 28 -33 4

Divinely-Revealed Law of Moses Worship Included Musical Instruments • Tabernacle worship, Num. 10: 1 -2, 8, 10 • Trumpets and sacrifices • Annual Feast of Trumpets (Lev. 23: 24) • Priests authorized to trumpets blow 5

Divinely-Revealed Law of Moses Worship Included Musical Instruments • Temple worship, 2 Chrn. 29: 25 -28 • “According to the commandment of David…for thus was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets” (v. 25) • Instruments of David 6

Divinely-Revealed Law of Moses Worship Included Musical Instruments • Temple worship, 2 Chrn. 29: 25 -28 • Pre-temple Chrn. 15: 13 -16, 28 • Temple preparations 1 Chrn. 23: 5; 25: 1, 6 • Inspired inclusion of musical instruments 1 Chrn. 28: 10 -12, 19 -20 1 7

Lessons from the Law of Moses • • God regulated worship under the Law of Moses, including music God regulated specific instruments: • Tabernacle: Trumpets (Num. 10: 10) • Trumpets with the “instruments of David” in the Temple (1 Chrn. 23: 5; 2 Chrn. 29: 27) 8

Lessons from the Law of Moses • • The “commandment of David” included Levitical singers along with the trumpets of Moses and various other instruments David’s introduction of musical instruments in worship was by God’s command (2 Chrn. 29: 25) 9

Lessons from the Law of Moses • • • God’s command by David was respected for remainder of OT age Men of God viewed all worship as under God’s authority Evil men devised worship from their “own heart”, 1 Kgs. 12: 29 -33 10

Lessons from the Law of Moses • Time and culture did not change Godapproved music in worship: • About 170 yrs. after David (Jehoiada), 2 Chrn. 23: 18 • About 270 yrs. after David (Hezekiah), 2 Chrn. 29: 25 -27 • About 380 yrs. after David (Josiah), 2 Chrn. 35: 4 11

Lessons from the Law of Moses • Time and culture did not change Godapproved music in worship: • About 550 yrs. after David (Zerubbabel and Jeshua), Ezra 3: 10 • About 600 yrs. after David (Nehemiah and Ezra), Neh. 12: 24 12

Lessons from the Law of Moses • About 600 years after David, in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra… • Priestly trumpets and instruments of David, Neh. 12: 35 -36 • “The charge of God. . . according to the command of David…”, Neh. 12: 45 -46 13

The Law of Moses, with its Worship, was Temporary • • • Shadows of Christ, Heb. 9: 9 (1 -10); 10: 1 -4 Taken away to establish the new covenant, Heb. 10: 8 -10 Abolished by Christ, Col. 2: 14 -17 (Heb. 8: 13) 14

Respecting and Obeying Christ’s Authority Matt. 17: 5; 28: 18 • • • Christ and his apostles, Col. 3: 17 (Acts 2: 42; 1 Cor. 4: 17) Where is Christ’s authority to sing? Eph. 5: 19 Where is Christ’s authority to play musical instruments? 1 Pet. 4: 11 15

Respecting the Silence of Christ’s Word • • “The Bible doesn’t say ‘not to’ use musical instruments in worship!” Didn’t say “no priests from other tribes” (1 Kgs. 12: 31), Heb. 7: 12 -14 • God’s silence is man’s restraint man’s license to act) • Do not go beyond what is written, 1: 8 -9; 1 Cor. 4: 6 (not Gal. 16

When We Violate God’s Authority and Disregard its Restraints… • • We sin and forfeit fellowship with God, Matt. 15: 7 -9; 2 Jno. 9 We open the floodgate to error and apostasy, 2 Tim. 2: 16 -17 17

Let Us Offer God Musical Praise that Pleases Him! 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. (Hebrews 13: 15) 18