"INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AND THE OLD TESTAMENT"
Larry Yarber
"And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. And his brothers name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ" (Genesis 4:20-21).
It is interesting to note that the origin of the mechanical instrument of music can be traced back to the descendants of Cain. Many scholars believe that it was the descendants of Cain who bare the "daughters of men" (worldly, carnal women - LY), who seduced the "sons of God" (worshippers of God - LY), and led them into such immorality that God had to bring an end to all flesh save Noah and his family, "There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowl of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Genesis 6:4-8).
These instruments were later used in idolatrous worship as is evidenced by their use in worship of the idol made and set up by king Nebuchadnezzar, "Then a herald cried aloud, To you it its commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye shall fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace" (Daniel 3:4-6). When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to obey this decree, they were thrown into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:16-20). Of course, God delivered them out of the furnace (Daniel 3:24-27). We only mention this incident to illustrate how instrumental music was used in worship of idols.
That David brought the use of these instruments into the worship of Jehovah, there can be no doubt. Several Old Testament passages confirm this very fact. We quote but a couple here due to limited time and space, "And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth forever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood" (2nd Chronicles 7:6). And, "And his brethren Shemaiah, and Azarael, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them" (Nehemiah 12:36) That God reprehended David for having done so is clearly seen by reading God's rebuke toward David from the pen of Amos, "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, ... That chant to the sound of the viol and invent to themselves instruments of music, like David;" (Amos 6:1-5). And, "Take away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols" (Amos 5:23). Some at this point may ask, "what about 2nd Chronicles 29:25-27”? We will look more closely at this text in our next study.
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