Instrumental Music in the Old

Testament

Instrumental Musicin the Old Testament

The Old Testament has been removed.◦“The priesthood being changed, of necessity there

is also a change of the law” (Heb 7:12). The Law had to be changed for Jesus to serve as our

High Priest. “It is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which

tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood” (Heb 7:14).

◦“In that He says, ‘A new covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away” (Heb 8:13).

Instrumental Musicin the Old Testament

We cannot go to the Old Testament for our religious guide.◦However, the Old Testament often has principles we

need to learn to apply in this age.◦Tonight, we want to look at the Old Testament for

principles to apply to the issue of instrumental music

What Does the Old Testament Say about Instrumental Music?

God absolutelycommanded

instrumental musicin the

Old Testament

Instrumental Musicin the Old Testament

God commanded Moses to use the trumpet in tabernacle worship (Num 10:1-10).◦God instructed Moses on how to make these

trumpets (Num 10:2).◦God specified much about these instruments:

Two trumpets (v 1). Only priests could blow the trumpets (v 8).

◦These two trumpets were the only instruments ever authorized for use in the tabernacle.

Instrumental Musicin the Old Testament

God revealed to David to use other instruments.◦1 Chr 16:5-6.◦1 Chr 23:5.◦People played instruments according to the

command of David. Ezra 3:10. Neh 12:36.

Instrumental Musicin the Old Testament

Why did David bring instruments into worship?◦Some people have said he did so simply because he

was a musician and enjoyed music.◦That is not right: 2 Chr 29:25-26.◦David introduced these instruments because God

told him to do so.

What Should We Learn?

Instrumental Musicin the Old Testament

In worship, God never left instrumental music to the devices of man.◦He told Moses & David precisely what to do in

regard to instrumental music.◦That speaks volumes when we come to the New

Testament and instrumental music in worship is never once mentioned.

Instrumental Musicin the Old Testament

God never authorized talented musicians to play musical instruments in the Old Testament.◦The priests were to blow the trumpets in the

tabernacle and the Levites were to play the instruments in the temple.

◦Today, there is no special class of priests. “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual

house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2:5).

A function of a priesthood is to offer sacrifices and worship to God.

Instrumental Musicin the Old Testament

Since God commanded specific instruments in the Old Testament, if He wanted them in the New Testament, doesn’t it stand to reason that He would tell us precisely what instruments He wanted and how we were to use them?