Instrumental Music in the Old Testament, Part 5 (Temple Typology)

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Jay F Guin

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 with what follows. We’ll see.)

I wrote,

As I’ve said before, I don’t think the Christian assembly is built on the Temple, by being designed to be either like or unlike the Temple. It is its own thing, and closer to the Passover than the Tabernacle or Temple. We Protestants don’t “go to church” to offer a sacrifice. Therefore, the Temple is neither prototype nor antitype of the assembly.)

Alexander responded, Continue reading →

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2 Samuel: An Additional Thought or Two

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Jay F Guin

A man after God’s own heart

Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah — all died young. Amnon was killed by Absalom in vengeance for his rape of his half-sister (and sister of Absalom) Tamar. Absalom was killed by Joab and his men for overthrowing David and taking his throne. Adonijah was killed for disloyalty to Solomon following Solomon’s mercy to him after a failed coup against David.

The overwhelming impression is that David, a great man in many ways, was a terrible father. Over and over, he is blind to the sins of his sons. He took no action in response to Amnon’s crime. He forgave Absalom for killing Amnon, with no punishment other than a temporary exile. When Absalom rebelled, David gave orders that he not be killed — even though he’d driven David from the palace, cuckolded his father with David’s concubines, and led an army to kill David. When Adonijah rebelled against David, David had Solomon anointed king but took no action against Adonijah.

We began the quarter with this question: How is David a man after God’s own heart? Continue reading →

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Thought Question: Levels of Spirituality

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Jay F Guin

babymanThe always thoughtful Scot McKnight proposes that we think in terms of six levels of spiritual maturity —

Level One: I

In this level a human is self-absorbed, perceives himself or herself at the center of the universe — or acts that way, and lives a life that is shaped by self-consumption.

Level Two: I and God

In this level a human is both self-absorbed and aware of God. God is out there and “I” am here. We’re in this world together. …

Level Three: God and I

In this level a human shifts away from self-absorption to giving way to God. …

Level Four: God in Me

In this level a human has a “personal” relationship with God, often in Christian terms or quasi-Christian terms, and God is perceived as at work in “me.” … Health and wealth gospels fit here; therapeutic gospels fit here.

Level Five: I in God

In this level the perception is changing to see that it is not so much God at work to bring about “my” ambitions but that the “I” is now in this world to love and serve God and to bring about God’s “mission” (God’s ambition).

Level Six: We in God, in Christ, through the Spirit

In this level the “I” becomes welded with God’s People — the “I” is part of the Body of Christ. It is not about “me” but about what God has done and is doing and will do in Christ — life, death, burial, resurrection, exaltation, second coming, kingdom, God as All in All.  …

Check out McKnight’s post for further detail. What do you think?

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Instrumental Music: Stephen R. Guthrie, “Singing, in the Body and in the Spirit.”

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Jay F Guin

Bruce Morton mentioned this 2003 essay in a comment. I found the full text on the internet, read it, and found it excellent. I thanked Bruce for mentioning it, and then decided it was a valuable enough contribution to the discussion that I should give the citation to the entire readership so all may read, reflect, and discuss. It’s not very long and WELL worth the time to read.

Here are some key quotations — Continue reading →

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1 Kings 1 – 3: The Beginning of Solomon’s Reign

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Jay F Guin

David and sex

1 Kings begins near the end of the reign of David — about 960 BC. David ruled from about 1000 BC to 960 BC. That dates aren’t exact but they aren’t very controversial.

(1Ki 1:1-4 ESV) Now King David was old and advanced in years. And although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm. 2 Therefore his servants said to him, “Let a young woman be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king and be in his service. Let her lie in your arms, that my lord the king may be warm.” 3 So they sought for a beautiful young woman throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4 The young woman was very beautiful, and she was of service to the king and attended to him, but the king knew her not.

Now, when I was a teenager, this was a passage we underlined and passed around teen to teen during the sermons. I mean — they got the elderly king a beautiful young girl to have sex with! It was just too un-Church of Christ-like for us adolescents. Continue reading →

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Instrumental Music in the Old Testament: Part 3 (Instruments and God’s Displeasure)

Posted on February 20, 2011 by Jay F Guin

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 in such passages is not that instrumental music is evil but that those blessed by instrumental music should remember to honor God. The irony arises from the conflict between living a blessed life (symbolized by instrumental music) despite not deserving the blessings.

(Job 21:7-13 ESV) 7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? 8 Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them. 10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry. 11 They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe. 13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.

Thus, Job no more condemns instruments than he condemns safety as home, having many children, or having fertile cows. Continue reading →

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Instrumental Music in the Old Testament, Part 2.5 (Psalm 81)

Posted on February 19, 2011 by Jay F Guin

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 the implications of this fact, I think he’s right that the Psalm refers to an ancient statute regarding instrumental music.

Here’s my take: Continue reading →

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Elders: Should We Choose Them by Casting Lots?

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Jay F Guin

Here’s an interesting one. Kevin DeYoung writes,

It is not uncommon to hear of churches that select their elders and deacons by casting lots. In fact, I’ve been a part of two congregations that voted to change their election process to incorporate lots. Usually this involves a double slate being chosen by some combination of the church leaders and a nominating committee and then a final selection by a “random” draw. In an effort to avoid a popularity contest and the hurt feelings that can result from winners and losers in a double slate, churches are deciding to choose their officers by pulling names out of hat.

Continue reading →

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Instrumental Music in the Old Testament: Part 2 (Worship)

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Jay F Guin

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.

(2Sa 6:5 ESV) 5 And David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.

The first celebration was ended when God struck Uzzah dead. Afterwards, David and the priests consulted the Law as to the proper means of carrying the ark and renewed their celebration. And this time the music was especially loud!

(1Ch 15:16 ESV) 16 David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. Continue reading →

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Real Restoration: Being the Church, Part 2

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Jay F Guin

Desktop potter's wheelLet me suggest something. It’s called small groups. I’ve talked about small groups before. I’d like you think of them in a new way.

Small groups can be used to do many things in many ways. But I think every church that’s large enough (more than 100 members, I’d think) needs small groups for very particular reasons.

First, small groups are pastoral groups. That means that small groups should be designed in a way to encourage the church to love each other. You see, it’s really hard to love 100 people very effectively. We just don’t have the time or the ability to keep up with that many people. We’d wear each other out trying to care for so many.

The obvious solution is for the church to divide itself into a care groups that create small enough sub-fellowships to allow the group members to truly love and serve each other. Small groups allow us to be more like Jesus. They allow the church to be the church. They allow us to become what we were always meant to be. I can’t serve 100 people, but I can serve 10 — especially if everyone is involved in serving everyone in the group. Continue reading →

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