Music and Worship

 Music

 From time immemorial, music has been a part of celebration, partying and merry making. we cannot imagine a party without upbeat music! Music does something to the soul of man. It also stimulates our bodies to respond. Don't we begin to tap our feet or move our body or clap our hands with the beat and rhythm even without being conscious of it?

Music and happiness 

We sing naturally when we are glad. Little children don't need to be asked to sing when they are happy. Is it possible to get a sad and upset child to sing?

 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing... But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

Luke 15:21-25, 28

The return of the prodigal son and the return of the presence of the LORD (the Ark of the Covenant) to Jerusalem, resulted in great celebration with music and dancing!

When we observe such celebration, in an assembly or Church, let our attitude not become like that of the older son or like that of Michal.

Let us not be observers from the outside, but let us get in the midst of such celebration, correcting the attitude of our heart, connect with GOD and rejoice in his presence!

 So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom with joy. And so it was, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams. David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps. And it happened, as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her heart.

Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
1 Chronicles 15:25-29, 2 Samuel 6:23

In the Old Testament, music was an important part of praise and worship of GOD. GOD's people celebrated special occassions of GOD's goodness and victories with great music and praise to GOD.

 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel." Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
Ezra 3:10-11

Now these are the men whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark came to rest. They were ministering with music before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they served in their office according to their order.
1 Chronicles 6:31-32

And he appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to commemorate, to thank, and to praise the Lord God of Israel: Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, and Obed-Edom: Jeiel with stringed instruments and harps, but Asaph made music with cymbals; Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests regularly blew the trumpets before the ark of the covenant of God. On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the Lord:
1 Chronicles 16:4-7

Music and worship

There is a glorious party going on in Heaven with music and songs of praise and worship of the Almighty GOD and the Lamb of GOD!  

 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!" Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Revelation 5:8-14

Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
Revelation 14:1-3

We must use the best musical instruments, with the best possible skill, to praise and glorify the GOD of the universe. Yet, hearts that are fine tuned to GOD in praise and worship please the LORD more than the sound of any professional musical orchestra!

 Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.
Amos 5:23-24

Let us therefore sing meaningful words to praise and worship the Almighty GOD, accompanied by good skillfully played music that will be pleasing to the LORD. Let our hearts by pure as we seek to connect with Him and receive His blessing. 

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. Psalm 57:7

Music and Entertainment and Enjoyment

"As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, 'Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.' So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. And when this comes to pass--surely it will come--then they will know that a prophet has been among them." Ezekiel 33:30-33

If our music and singing in Church is simple entertainment for enjoyment, there will be no fruit or change of hearts. The messages and prophetic words will also simply be for enjoyment! 

By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion. We hung our harps Upon the willows in the midst of it. For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, And those who plundered us requested mirth, Saying, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!" How shall we sing the Lord's song In a foreign land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget its skill! If I do not remember you, Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth-- If I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy.
Psalm 137:1-6

Worldly Music and idol worship 

Then a herald cried aloud: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Daniel 3:4-7

Like King Nebuchadnezzar, the world compels us to worship and coform to its values and ways. Those refusing to obey their commands, are threatened and punished. Those who love GOD and fear Him, will have the courage to refuse such worldly authorities. GOD's people should have faith to understand the greatness of GOD and that He is the Highest Authority and must be feared above all else! 

 But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. "And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Daniel 5:22-25

While Moses was on the mountain with GOD, receiving the ten commandments the first two of which were reproof of idol worship, the children of Israel were worshiping the molten calf at the foot of the same mountain!

 And the Lord said to Moses, "Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, 'This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!' "...

And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is a noise of war in the camp." But he said: "It is not the noise of the shout of victory, Nor the noise of the cry of defeat, But the sound of singing I hear." So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses' anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.
Exodus 32:7-8, 17-19

Trumpet Sound and Prayer

In the Old Testament, the sound of the trumpet was also a call to prayer.  

 Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us."
Nehemiah 4:20

The trumpet sound was also a call to war. Now, we war spiritually with the word of GOD and prayer, as led by the Holy Spirit.

 Gaining Spiritual Victory by Singing and Praising GOD

King Jehoshaphat led his army to war by a choir that sang praises to GOD! GOD fought on their behalf and the enemies were defeated. 

 And he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you." And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high. So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper." And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever." Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.

2 Chronicles 20:15-24

In the spiritual sense too, when we go through difficult situations, if we look to the Almighty GOD and praise Him and exalt Him above the mountain we may be facing, He brings us to victory! The LORD lifts up our soul and gives us an aerial view of the situation. Our mindset changes as we see things, situations and people with the right perspective. We will then come through the problem victoriously, strengthened in our faith!

Music and Prophecy

 Spiritual singing should stir our spirit to connect with GOD. When a musician played on his instrument, the Prophet Elisha was able to clear his mind and connect with GOD.

 And Elisha said, "As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. But now bring me a musician." Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, "Thus says the Lord: 'Make this valley full of ditches.' For thus says the Lord: 'You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.' And this is a simple matter in the sight of the Lord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones."
2 Kings 3:14-19

Music is attractive to human beings and to all living creatures. Snake charmers use music played on their flutes to arouse the snakes!

worldly music is made towards arousing carnal passions, luring us into worldliness.

Loud upbeat music stirs the soul carnally. Spiritual music should be such so that it drowns and overcomes carnal mindsets, enabling the soul to seek GOD spiritually. The words we utter in song are even more important than the music itself.

We should therefore give thought to the kind of music we listen to or get involved in playing or singing. The words of worldly music and songs can be subtle and deceptive and demonic, indoctrinating and resetting the mind against GOD and against others. If constantly listened to, such music will bring your soul into demonic bondage and depression and even to aggressive behaviour!

True Praise and Worship of the Only True GOD 

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a Psalm, With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King. Psalm 98:4-6

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night, On an instrument of ten strings, On the lute, And on the harp, With harmonious sound. For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. Psalm 92:1-4

 Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.

Psalm 108:2

Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. Psalm 33:2-3
God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding. Psalm 47:5-7
Sing aloud to God our strength; Make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob.

Raise a song and strike the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the lute. Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon, on our solemn feast day. Psalm 81:1-3

Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:1-6

As we, the ransomed of the LORD, sing with His joy in our hearts, we will be progressing towards our eternal home!

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 35:10

Personal Edification with Song and Music

speaking to one another 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

Imparting Peace and Rest Like a Lullabye through Music and Song

Picture a mother putting her baby to sleep.

She is holding the baby, lovingly embracing the baby in her arms.

She is humming and singing quietly, while gently rocking her baby to sleep.

A busy mother might place the baby in the cot and play soft music from a device!

The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Music and the Holy Spirit

 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him. And Saul's servants said to him, "Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you. Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well." So Saul said to his servants, "Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me." Then one of the servants answered and said, "Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him." Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by his son David to Saul. So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer. Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight." And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.
1 Samuel 16:14-23

When the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. At the same time, David had been anointed by Samuel as instructed by the LORD, and the Spirit of the LORD came upon him.

The antidote to the troubled soul of Saul was the soothing effect of the Holy Spirit working through David and his music. Yet, Saul's natural mind envied David because of the LORD's favour and anointing upon him, making him angry enough to kill him! "Surely Saul, that is not the way you can get back the Spirit of the LORD upon yourself!"

And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul's hand. And Saul cast the spear, for he said, "I will pin David to the wall!" But David escaped his presence twice.
1 Samuel 18:10-11

The Holy Spirit is the author of peace and love. The evil spirit is the author of anger and  restlessness, resulting in murder and suicide. King Saul and Judas were those who traded the Holy Spirit for the evil spirit!