The first step
to acquiring a Biblical philosophy of music is to acknowledge that music
cannot be considered "amoral." The word "amoral" means "neither moral nor
immoral." Without question, music is a form of communication, and just
as in speaking or drawing, when communication takes place, there exists
the potential for delivery of a moral or immoral message. Individual elements
of these forms of communication may be considered "amoral," because these
elements in and of themselves do not communicate until joined with other
elements.
For example,
the letters of the alphabet are "amoral." However, one can combine certain
letters in specific sequences to create curses. On the other hand, these
same letters can be used to form words of blessing and encouragement. Similarly,
the elements of music (notes, timbres, instruments, etc.) are "amoral"
until they are combined to produce a message. Music (apart from whatever
words may be sung to it) has the innate ability to communicate a message
all its own to the listener. This message can either enforce or contradict
the words.
Musical style,
performance techniques, and compositional ingredients all influence the
message that is communicated. This message has the power to touch our body,
our soul, and our spirit. Music can also have societal associations that
the Christian should avoid in order to not be worldly.
How does the
Bible define worldliness? 1 John 2:16 says
For all that
is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
In music, just as
in any other form of communication, there exists the potential for a wicked
message.
Proponents of
"contemporary Christian music" (CCM) vociferously contend that musical
styles and performance techniques are only a matter of personal taste.
Supporters of this view contend that the lyrics (words) carry the only
message: notes, rhythms, styles, artistic techniques, and other elements
of music, they say, are amoral. In other words, music alone has no moral
or spiritual message, and therefore music can have no influence for either
good or evil.
The Bible contains
so many references to the spiritual influence of music that a denial of
the spiritual side of music can be considered tantamount to a denial of
Scripture.
I. Spiritually
Positive Music
First, we will
examine Bible examples of music with positive spiritual influence, and
then we will look at examples of evil music.
A. The Godhead
God created music.
Colossians 1:16 says:
All things
were created by Him and for Him.
God created musical
instruments. God created at least one angel to be musical (Lucifer). God
created man to be musical. God participates in music. All three persons
of the Trinity are involved in music. God ordained music to be an integral
part of worship in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. Entire families
of the priestly tribe of Levi were set apart to practice, perfect, and
perform worship music as a full-time profession. Apparently, music (including
both vocal and instrumental music) is the only art form encouraged and
promoted by the Bible. Can we really be so foolish as to believe that God
is not concerned with what kind of music we perform, what styles and techniques
we use or expose ourselves to?
1. God the
Father
The first person
of the Godhead is God the Father, the Jehovah of the Old Testament. He
is the authority figure, the One who makes decisions and sits on the throne
of justice and judgment. God the Father is the Judge, whose righteousness
demands a perfect sacrifice for sin. God's very presence on Mount Sinai
caused the mountain to tremble and created terrible thunder, lightning
and smoke to issue forth from the mountain. God the Father is holy and
demands that we be holy, even as He is holy.
We have two references
in Scripture to show God the Father's participation in music.
a. Sings to
show His joy
The first reference
to God the Father participating in music is found in Zephaniah 3:17.
The LORD
thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over
thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
Can we as mere mortals
even come close to comprehending what an awesome thing it would be to hear
God the Father sing? What causes God to sing? Consider Luke 15:10;
Likewise,
I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over
one sinner that repenteth.
This passage in
Luke is often explained by painting a picture of multitudes of cheering
angels. However, I believe this "joy in the angel’s presence" is the singing
of God the Father expressing His joy over the sinner who experiences the
new birth.
b. Plays the
trumpet
Zechariah 9:14:
And the LORD
shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning:
and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of
the south.
In this passage,
it seems that God is using the trumpet more in a military fashion, as in
a call to war. One thing is sure, however, when God blows the trumpet it
is not to make an uncertain sound. He most certainly plays with precise
rhythm and a recognizable melody. The sounds He produces are meaningful,
not just noise
2. God the
Son:
a. Jesus sang
with His disciples
Matthew 26:30
and Mark 14:26:
And when
they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.
The Word, which
became flesh and dwelt among men, participated in all normal activities
that any human would be involved with, with the exception of anything sinful.
He placed His stamp of approval on the appropriateness and the rightness
of singing as an integral part of spiritual worship. Jesus was no hippie
rebel as is so commonly portrayed, but was a man of immense strength, both
physically and personally. The Creator God in human flesh sang a hymn of
worship and praise with His disciples at this important Passover.
b. The Song
of the Lamb
Revelation 15:3:
And they
sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are
thy ways, thou King of saints.
The phrases "song
of Moses" and "the song of the Lamb" seem to imply two things: authorship
of the song and/or singing of the song. Without question, God writes music,
for He is the One who inspired the writers of the Psalms and other songs
in the Bible.
3. God the
Holy Spirit: Filling of the Holy Spirit is revealed in singing
In the Old Testament,
the Holy Spirit came upon certain people to accomplish specific tasks or
to deliver a particular message. After Jesus ascended back into heaven,
the Holy Spirit began to indwell all believers as the Comforter, as the
One who would guide them into all truth, and as the One who convicts the
world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Ephesians 5:18-20 states:
And be not
drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; speaking
to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto
God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
One of the results
and evidences of being filled with the Holy Spirit, according to the Scriptures,
is singing.
B. Old Testament
Examples
1. Worship
Music
The one individual
who had the greatest impact on the music of the Bible was David, the "Sweet
Psalmist of Israel" (II Samuel 23:1). He was a musician from early
childhood, and it was said of him in I Samuel 16:18 that he was "cunning
in playing" the harp. At least 73 of the psalms in the book of Psalms
can be attributed to David. These psalms provide a glimpse into the
heart and life of the "man after God's own heart," and are filled with
praise to God for His great mercy, as well as reflecting great contrition
and humble repentance for sin. II Chronicles 23:18 states that as
king, David established music as an integral part of worship in the temple.
Also Jehoida
[the priest] appointed the offices of the house of the Lord by the hand
of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of
the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in
the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by
David.
In I Chronicles
15:16, 17 we find:
David spake
to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers
with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding,
by lifting up the voice with joy. 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.
2.
Dedication Music
II Chron. 25:13,
14 states that the glory of the Lord descended into the newly built temple
when the singers and instrumentalists were praising Him. At this
time, there were 288 music teachers with as many as 200,000 singers and
a 4,000 member orchestra!
It came even
to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to
be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their
voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised
the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that
then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; so
that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for
the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
Again, when Hezekiah
cleansed the temple in his day and began to offer his sacrifices in the
temple, the musicians played an important role. II Chronicles 29:27,
28 states:
And Hezekiah
commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the
burnt offering began, the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets,
and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. And all
the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded:
and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
3.
Spiritually Soothing Music
I Samuel 16:23
says:
And it came
to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an
harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and
the evil spirit departed from him.
Notice the three
results of David's music. Saul was refreshed (soul), and was well (physical),
and the evil spirit departed (spirit). Music has spiritual power,
as well as the ability to affect our minds and our bodies.
4. Music that
Moved the Hand of God
Not only was
music in the Old Testament used for worship, it also participated in warfare
on occasion. In a couple of different instances, such as the overthrow
of Jericho, trumpets and other instruments of music were used to bring
about the defeat of the enemies of Israel (II Chronicles 13:4). Notice
this unique passage of Scripture found in II Chronicles 20:
And
they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa:
and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and
ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye
be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when
he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and
that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the
army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against
the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah;
and they were smitten.
Their songs were
not pleas for help, nor were they songs extoling their own prowess.
The songs they sang praised the Lord and the beauty of holiness.
When the Lord saw that the people were serious about praising Him, He won
the victory for them.
C. The
Morning Stars
Job 38:7
When the
morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Hebrew poetry
takes one idea and states that idea in two different ways. Therefore, apparently
the phrase "sons of God" is equal to "morning stars" in Job. Could
this be referring to angels? Possibly. If so, this is the only passage
in Scripture that indicates that angels sing.
E. The Saints
in Heaven
Revelation
5:8-14
And
when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders
fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials
full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a
new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals
thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood
out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made
us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne
and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand
times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom,
and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature
which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as
are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and
honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And
the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for
ever and ever.
Revelation
14:2, 3
And
I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice
of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their
harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before
the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the
hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
II. Spiritually
Negative Music
A. Lucifer
Musical instruments
(tabrets and pipes) were created as part of Lucifer's body. He was created
to produce music to worship the Lord. No doubt, Satan is a master musician.
Can we really believe that Satan has no interest in using music to achieve
his own ends? Today, the person who calls certain types of music a tool
of the Devil is liable to be mocked and laughed to scorn. However, the
Bible indicates that God made Lucifer musical from the day he was created.
Music is an integral part of his being. Without a doubt wicked music is
one more weapon in his arsenal in his ill-begotten war against God.
B. Idolaters
-- Examples of ungodly music
1. Worshipping
the golden calf
Moses and Joshua
coming down off Mt. Sinai after receiving the commandments from the hand
of God heard a noise coming from the camp of Israel. At first, they thought
there was a war taking place. Then they were able to distinguish that the
noise was the sound of music. Idol worship had come to the children of
Israel, and they were singing and dancing to celebrate their devotion to
the golden calf.
2. Worshipping
Nebuchadnezzar's statue
Hananiah, Azariah,
and Mishael were part of the crowd required to attend the unveiling of
the new statue of Nebuchadnezzar. They were instructed to bow down as soon
as they heard the instruments play. Music was a call to worship. They refused
to obey the call of the music, even though they knew it could cost them
their lives.
3. Song of
the harlot
Isaiah 23:16:
Take an harp,
go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody,
sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
4. Song of fools
Ecclesiastes
7:5:
It is better
to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
What message is
communicated through the song of fools? Music is a reflection of the heart.
How much better it is to have a wise man point out our errors than to listen
to the advice of foolish men presented in a song with a catchy tune. This
is certainly an apt description of most of the music broadcast over the
airwaves today.