The theme for our next Holiday program is Music. Can you give me some Bible stories that involved music or where in the Bible music is used to inspire? Or how musical instruments were made? Anything to do with music.
The Lord seems to appreciate music. As you probably know, a psalm is a sacred piece of music and the largest book in the Bible is the book of Psalms. Psalm 89 is a favorite psalm of many. It starts out by saying, “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” This precious psalm includes singing of the mercies of the Lord and His faithfulness. A proper psalm, or song, will speak of the Lord and will honor Him.
The singing of a song can produce adverse effects to some. Consider what we read in 1 Samuel 18:6-8, “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. And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?” What a joyous day as the people celebrated victory over their enemy, the Philistines. Yet, in their music and singing, Saul became very angry because their songs celebrated David’s victory more than Saul’s victory. Perhaps the continual sound of praise to David in the form of music incited Saul to anger.
The characteristic of a Spirit-filled person includes music. We are exhorted in Ephesians 5:18-19, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in PSALMS and HYMNS and SPIRITUAL SONGS, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” For one who is walking in the Spirit, his life will be filled with precious songs from the heart that will be reflected in his life. These songs will be scripturally correct and will honor the Lord.
A few examples of honorable singing in the Bible include:
- Singing a song of redemption in Exodus 15:1-2, “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. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”
- Singing for joy in the Lord in Psalm 33:1-3, “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.”
- Jesus and the disciples singing at the institution of the Lord’s Supper in Matthew 26:30, “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”
- Singing praises in the midst of harsh persecution in Acts 16:25, “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
- Singing of Christ’s worthiness in the Glory in Revelation 5:9, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”
Songs of joy, thanksgiving, praise, redemption are found throughout the Bible. How precious it is when the grateful, Spirit-filled believer sings from the heart to the One who loves him and died for him. The Lord rejoices in this singing. Psalm 47:6 tells us to, “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.” Four times in that one verse, we learn the Lord’s desire that we sing praises to Him. Psalm 96:1-2 says, “O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.” (CC) (644.4)