Category Archives: Instrumental Music in the Old Testament

Jeremiah’s prophecy First, we return to the Psalms — (Psa 137:1-4 ESV) By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. 2 On the willows there we hung up our lyres. 3 For there … Continue reading →

One of the major Old Testament themes is the exile of the Judea in Babylon. We learn about it in Sunday school class as an interesting historical fact, and we figure that the Exile ended with the rebuilding of the … Continue reading →

Instruments regarding the Messiah The people had been in mourning during the time of the Babylonian captivity. Jeremiah prophesies that the Jews will return from exile and that the coming of the Messiah will result in the restoration of instrumental … Continue reading →

[Once again, my response to a thoughtful comment is too long for the comment section, and so I’m using the posting software.] This is in response to the comment of Alexander (aka aBasnar): aBasnar/Alexander, I learn so much from your … Continue reading →

We’ve covered nearly every Old Testament passage dealing explicitly with instrumental music. We now need to fit them into the larger, overall narrative of scripture. One theme that jumps out of text is that David instituted instrumental worship at the … Continue reading →

Let’s consider the passages Alexander cites. (1Co 3:16-17 ESV) 16 Do you not know that you [plural] are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple … Continue reading →

Reader Alexander (a/k/a aBasnar) and I have been discussing the typology of the Temple in New Testament assembly theology. I think the discussion is important enough to include here in the posts. (And I’m not sure that Alexander will disagree … Continue reading →

Instruments used ironically Various writers use instruments as symbolic of a man’s contentment, often in an ironic sense. Thus, a rich man who is evil is often spoken of as enjoying instrumental music despite failing to honor God. The point … Continue reading →

HistoryGuy posted a comment suggesting that Psalm 81 refers to a statute regarding instrumental music at a time long before David. I’d never studied Psalm 81 before. It’s an interesting and important study. Although HistoryGuy and I disagree as to … Continue reading →

Instrumental music used in worship of God When the ark was being brought to Jerusalem, David and the people celebrated and worshiped with instrumental music — as spontaneous worship and not as part of the formal liturgy of the Tabernacle. … Continue reading →