INSTRUMENTS IN THE WORSHIP SERVICE

INSTRUMENTS IN THE WORSHIP SERVICE

The following scriptures should help you decide for yourself if God approves of instruments being used to worship Him.

Numbers 4:12 - “They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.

Psalm 150:3-5 - Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

Genesis 4:21 - His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes.

I Chronicles 15:16 - David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.

1 Chronicles 16:42 - Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song.

1 Chronicles 23:5 - Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the Lord with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose.”

2 Chronicles 5:13 - The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.”

2 Chronicles 7:6 - The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the Lord’s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the Lord and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.

2 Chronicles 29:27 - Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As the offering began, singing to the Lord began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel.

2 Chronicles 30:21  - The Israelites who were present in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great rejoicing, while the Levites and priests praised the Lord every day with resounding instruments dedicated to the Lord.

2 Chronicles 34:12 - The workers labored faithfully. Over them to direct them were Jahath and Obadiah, Levites descended from Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, descended from Kohath. The Levites—all who were skilled in playing musical instruments—

Psalm 147:7 - Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. 

Ps. 149:3 - "Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp."

Ps. 150:1-6 - "Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.  Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.  Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD."

Isaiah 38:20 - The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord.

Amos 6:5 - You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments.

If a person uses their musical talent to gain glory or promote themselves in any way, God would frown on that. If a person uses their musical talent to mock God in any way, that too would be unacceptable. It's what's in the heart that counts. All talents of any kind should be used to glorify God.

If a person truly believes playing a musical instrument in church is wrong, then he should not do it because to do so would be a sin.

Compiled by Becky Wall

beckyowall.blogspot.com