Music In Worship-Introduction

– 1. Introduction

• The degree to which we ascribe worship to music is the degree that we either know God, or not. That is, if we believe that worship begins with music, we place too much importance on music and not enough upon God. However, if we know God by means of His revelation (i.e. Scripture) and as a result are filled with praise and accompany that with arranging what we have learned in skillfully done songs, then we have the right balance.
   
  

  1. Music in Worship

  1. Why are we studying this?
     
     1. Because it is a prominent theme in Scripture.
        
        2. Because, for many, the music defines worship.
        3. Because, for Berean, we want the music we make and use to be useful in worship.
     2. I want to work through these considerations with you.
        
        1. Because it is a prominent theme in Scripture.
           1. When was music first introduced in creation/Scripture?
           
           1. Job 38:7 – the indication is that the angels shouted/sang for the power of the creation ( בְּרָן־יַ֭חַד כּ֣וֹכְבֵי בֹ֑קֶר וַ֝יָּרִ֗יעוּ כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃)
              
              1. “Stars of the Morning” = stars that precede the morning of creation.
                 
                 1. Genesis “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” = the creation of the earth and the heavens (plural).
                    
                    2. Then, after God created the rough matter of the earth and heavens, He then created light.
                    3. Hence, the angels were created just prior to the creation of the foundations upon which YHWH created the earth.
                    4. Different term, same concept = Isaiah 14:12.

1. Revelation 12:3–4

• 3     Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.
  4     And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.
  
  
  1. Luke 10:18
• 18     And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.
• 1. Revelation 6:13
• 13     and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind.
• 1. Revelation 8:10–11
• 10     The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters.
  11     The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter.
  

1. Therefore, indicates that Satan also was one who sang for joy at the creation of the world. In fact, since there is a hierarchy among the angels, he probably led the angels in their chorus.

• 1. The term here, רוע (וַ֝יָּרִ֗יעוּ = Hiphil imperfect 3cp “they were caused to continue singing”), is one that most usually means to “shout.”
     
     1. It is often translated also as “sing.”
     2. Notice that they shouted “as one” = in unison.
        
        1. This would indicate order and arrangement.
        2. This unity, togetherness, was appropriate to truly reflect the magnificent display of God and His works.
  2. What were they singing?
  
  1. Praise of God’s creation knowledge- vv. 1-3
     
     2. Praise of God’s creation power – vv. 4-6
  1. To whom were they singing?
  
  1. To God – Job 1:6; 2:1
     
     2. To one another – remember, in unison.
  2. Genesis 2:23
  1. Genesis 2:23
  • 23     The man said,
    “This is now bone of my bones,
    And flesh of my flesh;
    She shall be called Woman,
    Because she was taken out of Man.”
  1. “This is now
     
     1. bone of my bones,
     2. And flesh of my flesh;
        
  2. She
     
     1. shall be called Woman,
     2. Because she was taken out of Man.”
  3. This is poetry (explanatory parallelism-Chisholm, pp. 142-143).
  4. This is a complex structure of thought that centers around “this one.”
     
     • Because
       she was taken out of Man.
       This is now bone of my bones,
       And flesh of my flesh;
       She shall be called Woman,
        
       Genesis 2:23
       23    וַיֹּאמֶר֮ הָֽאָדָם֒
        זֹ֣את הַפַּ֗עַם
                עֶ֚צֶם מֵֽעֲצָמַ֔י
               וּבָשָׂ֖ר מִבְּשָׂרִ֑י
       לְזֹאת֙ יִקָּרֵ֣א אִשָּׁ֔ה
       כִּ֥י מֵאִ֖ישׁ לֻֽקֳחָה־זֹּֽאת׃
        
  5. There is the repetition of “this one,” “Man/Woman,” and aspects of the bone and flesh creation of the man replicated in the woman.
     
  6. Genesis 4:14-19
     
     1. The cursing of the serpent, and the earth, along with the puishment of the man and woman, are spoken in a kind of poetic song, a mourning.
     2. This is a prophetic anthem/declaration against these things by YHWH.
        
        1. Very often used in the prophets
        2. It demonstrates a judgment.
  7. Genesis 4:18-22
     
     1. The implementation of putting complex thought of expression to instruments that would express those thoughts, complex thoughts.
        
        1. V. 21: Literally: “all taking hold of lyre and harp.”
           
           1. “lyre” = harp, multiple (possibly originally 10, Gesenius p.404) strings and plucked with the hand.
           2. “harp” = flute. Job 21:12; 30:31. Spoken of a “vertically standing” pipe with various air holes making differing notes/tones/pitch etc…
        2. Early in the creation of man, there was complex thought that was then given notes, tones, pitch, and skill learned while instruments developed for that expression.
     2. Psalm 150
  8. You will see more of this: the expression of the excellencies of God must be made.
     
     1. By complex thought put to words.
     2. By skillful, and accompanying complex notes, put to music & song.
        

• 1. For many, music defines worship.

  1. That is to say, too many believe that unless there is music there is no worship.
     
     1. This is not the teaching of Scripture.
        
        2. We will examine this more over the next weeks.
     2. Knowledge of God is the goal of all creation.
     
     1. John 17:3
        
        1. The purpose of eternal life, the very condition of it, is to know the Father.
           
           2. This knowledge includes His Person and His works.
        2. It is therefore right to express this extolling of who God is in notes, tones, pitch, and song with instruments.
     2. However, the notes, tones, pitch, and song do not add to that knowledge by means of teaching.
     3. These things accompany teaching, truth about God, and accurate information concerning His kingdom.
     4. However, they don’t define worship.