[ c c m ]
Pop-Idiom Music
In Worship and Evangelism
by Dr Peter Masters
Dr Peter Masters is minister of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London,
England (C.H. Spurgeon's church) and has kindly granted us permission
to reproduce "Pop-Idiom Music" here. If you have any questions
or queries about this article, please feel free to write to Dr Masters
at the address given below, or
contact us at Freedom Ministries.
Section 11
What About the Musical Instruments and Dancing of the Old Testament?
|
Whenever the present-day excesses
of music and instrumentalism are
called into question, the following
questions are raised -
What about the Psalms? What about
the musical instruments of the Old
Testament? Does not the Bible codone
and advocate the use of orchestras and all
kinds of instruments for the
worship of God? Has God changed His
mind? Can something which is wholesome
in the Old Testament suddenly
become unclean in the New?
Such questions as these, important
as they are, arise because many
believers are unaware of the strict rules which governed
the use of music in the worship of the Old Testament.
Too often it is assumed that any number of instruments were
played in a manner of services, but this is a great
misunderstanding.
In Old Testament times restrictions
were imposed which were clearly
designed to prevent musical aids from
occupying too great a place in the worship of God, and thus
stealing from the
spiritual aspect.
This brief summary of the situation
will show how the Old Testament references to music fall into
four categories:-
-
(1) Verses which restrict the number of instruments to be permitted in
the Temple, and give the precise limits to their use.
-
(2) Verses which sanction the use of
the psaltery and harp to accompany psalm singing.
-
(3) Verses which speak of the use of
other instruments for the national
life and cultural enjoyment of
Israel. These verses also show how
the Old Testament distinguishes
between sacred music (which is
part of the act of worship), and
music which may be played and
enjoyed in national festivals and in
everyday life.
-
(4) Verses which refer to instruments
in a purely figurative way, using
them to illustrate various moods or
emotions of the worshippers.
These articles remain
© Copyright Dr Peter Masters 1983
The Metropolitan Tabernacle
Elephant and Castle
London SE1 6SD
England, UK
who should be consulted before any further copying, storing or distribution, either
in whole or in part is made by any means.
|
|
 E-mail a friend about this page
 Printer friendly page
 Search the site
Top
|
|
Daily Devotional
|
|
Click here for today's reading from Faith's Check Book by C.H. Spurgeon.
|
|
|
Free Booklet Offer
|
|
Click here to
sign up for our free booklet offer!
|
|
|
