Music and musical instruments in bible times

Music & musical instruments in Bible Times

Laindon Bible Class

21st June 2017

Where did it all begin?

Genesis 4:21

21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.

Music & musical instruments 2

From Hebrew: wind instruments

Instruments mentioned

• musical instruments

• flute

• pipe

• trumpet

• ram’s horn, shofar

• lyre

• stringed instruments

• sistrum or rattle

• bells

• cymbals

• harp

• tambourine, timbrel

• cornet (horn)

• psaltery

• sackbut (lyre)

• dulcimer (bagpipe?)


Music: can be a force for good or ill

Psalm 33:1-3

1 Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

2 Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.

3 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

Isaiah 5:11-12

11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.


Why consider it?

Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.


From Hebrew root: to shout

Hebrew specifically: a hymnHebrew specifically: a choirof worshippers

David ordained singing and music in the Temple services

1 Chronicles 15:16-17

16 And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.17 So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;


Solomon’s Temple


Heralded by a shofar the ark is moved into the Temple

Uses of song and music (OT)

• At family gatherings and celebrations eg Genesis 31:27 & Luke 15:25

• At time of harvesting and well-digging eg Isaiah 16:10 & Numbers 21:17

• Celebrating military victory eg 1 Samuel 18:6

• Part of worship and temple ministry eg 1 Chronicles 23:5

• Part of court life of kings eg Ecclesiastes 3:8

• Part of mourning and lament eg 2 Chronicles 35:25

• To bring a change of mood eg 2 Kings 3:15

• A characteristic of a righteous man see Proverbs 29:6


Uses of song and music (NT)

• A hymn after the last supper see Matthew 26:30

• Mary and Zechariah each sang in connection with the birth of John and Jesus see Luke 1:46-56 & 67-79

• Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns in prison see Acts 16:25

• Singing was part of 1st century worship see 1 Corinthians 14:26

• James exhorts us to sing Psalms when happy see James 5:13

• Jesus will sing praise concerning the redemption of his brethren see Hebrews 2:12 (quoting Psalm 22:22)

• The song of the redeemed (“a new song”) in Revelation eg 14:3


Special use of trumpets

• “Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.” Numbers 10:2

• To call to worship see Numbers 10:1-6

• To celebrate sacrifice or a holy day eg Numbers 10:10 & 29:1

• To break camp or sound an alarm see also Numbers 10

• Responsibilities of the watchman see Ezekiel 33

• Also moments of great significance eg destruction of Jericho see Joshua 6 & Gideon’s conquest of the Midianites see Judges 7


Some examples of epic songs

• The song of Miriam at the Red Sea see Exodus 15

• Song of Moses see Deuteronomy 32

• The song of Deborah the prophetess see Judges 5

• The song of Hannah see 1 Samuel 2

• David’s lamentation for Saul and Jonathan see 2 Samuel 1

• Song of Solomon

• Psalms


Singing sometimes included dancing

• The song of Miriam

• Jephthah's daughter (Judges 11:34)

• The daughters of Shiloh (wives for the Benjamites; Judges 21:21)

• When David returned from slaughtering the Philistines (1 Samuel 18:6 & 21:11)

• David danced before the returning ark (2 Samuel 6:15-17)


Singing and our relationship with God


Singing, praising& dancing

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” Ephesians 5:19

Prayer Singing

Worship

An expression of emotion

Meditation

Some key lessons for us

• Singing and music were a key part of the spiritual life of faithful Israel

• They give us the opportunity to express our heart felt emotions

• It is not our skill at singing that pleases God but the state of our heart as we sing

• Together with prayer they are the means of worship, so essential to our spiritual health


Music and musical instruments in bible times

Spiritual

Transcript of Music and musical instruments in bible times