Question 1

Does God like music? Is he honored by it?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 31:19“So write down the words of this song, and teach it to the people of Israel. Help them learn it, so it may serve as a witness for me against them.”God told Moses to write down his words in the form of a song. God wants us to see that at times music enables us to capture and express thoughts and emotions that mere words cannot. Music can also help us remember people, truths, or events that are important to the church or in carrying on our spiritual heritage. Music continues to play a significant role in the community of faith today. Worship hymns and songs help us memorize Scripture, highlight biblical truths, and express our love and adoration for God.2 Chronicles 5:13-14The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.God enjoys music and is certainly honored by musical worship. Here he came with his powerful presence and entered the newly constructed Temple during a time of musical worship.Zephaniah 3:17“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”God created music, and apparently he sings!Psalm 147:1Praise the Lord! How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting!God delights when we use music to praise him.

Question 2

What role does music play in worship?

Accepted Answer

1 Chronicles 25:1, 6-7David and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God’s messages to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. Here is a list of their names and their work: . . . All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the Lord. Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, harps, and lyres at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king. They and their families were all trained in making music before the Lord, and each of them—288 in all—was an accomplished musician.Psalm 95:1-2Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.Psalm 150:1-6Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!Throughout Scripture we read about music being used to worship the Lord. The fact that King David appointed 4,000 musicians and singers to serve in worshiping God testifies to the importance of music in worship. Through the beauty and harmony of music, we testify to the glory and majesty of God, and we express our thanks and praise for our Creator and Provider.Exodus 15:1-2Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him!”After God’s mighty victory over the Egyptians, Moses, Miriam, and other Israelites composed a song of praise and worship to the Lord. Music played a central role in Israel’s worship and has continued to play a central role in Christian worship. In addition to the joy of singing praise to God, songs are a powerful tool for teaching and remembering the truths of God. Deep worship often causes music to well up within us, and music often causes worship to well up within us, too.Judges 5:1-2On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: “Israel’s leaders took charge, and the people gladly followed. Praise the Lord!”Deborah and Barak used this victory song to retell the story of the wonderful things God had done for them. Music can help us worship God by retelling stories of God’s greatness. Singing hymns and songs is also a testimony and expression of our gratitude and praise, bringing us into God’s presence in a unique way. When evil hears God’s people singing, it will likely stay away; evil has no desire to come near the presence of almighty God.Psalm 81:2-4Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp. Blow the ram’s horn at new moon, and again at full moon to call a festival! For this is required by the decrees of Israel; it is a regulation of the God of Jacob.David saw music as an essential form of worship.Psalm 150:3-5Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.Colossians 3:16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.Music energizes our praise of God.

Question 3

What musical instruments are appropriate in a worship service?

Accepted Answer

Nehemiah 12:27-28, 31, 41-42For the dedication of the new wall of Jerusalem, the Levites throughout the land were asked to come to Jerusalem to assist in the ceremonies. They were to take part in the joyous occasion with their songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps, and lyres. The singers were brought together from the region around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites. . . . I led the leaders of Judah to the top of the wall and organized two large choirs to give thanks. One of the choirs proceeded southward along the top of the wall to the Dung Gate. . . . We went together with the trumpet-playing priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah— and the singers—Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer. They played and sang loudly under the direction of Jezrahiah the choir director.Psalm 150:3-5Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.Any instrument can help people praise God! The priests and Levites used percussion, strings, and brass. Psalm 150 expands this list. The question is not which instruments are appropriate for worship. The question is how we most effectively energize a worshiping community to praise the God “loudly and clearly” (Nehemiah 12:42). The Bible puts far more emphasis on exuberant praise to God than on what instruments are appropriate for offering the praise.

Question 4

What types of music should I avoid?

Accepted Answer

Philippians 4:8Now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.We should protect our minds from anything that is not pure. We should avoid music that leads us to think about false, dishonorable, shameful, or impure things.