OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to SSS Next 

Sowing the Seed Series
Class 8 – Instruments of Music

I.              The Short Answer

a.    We do not have the authority to use instruments of music in worship

                                          i.    We are commanded to sing not play (Eph 5:19, Col 3:16)

b.    We have 7 examples of singing in the New Testament

                                          i.    We have 0 examples of playing

II.            The Old Testament

a.    True or False: Some worshiped God with instruments under the Old Law

                                          i.    Some examples are 2 Chr  5:13, Isa 38:20, and 2 Sam 6:5

b.    Did God command it?

                                          i.    God commanded two trumpets be used for 2 reasons (Num 10:1-10)

1.    To call an assembly

2.    To initiate their journeys

                                        ii.    God also commanded trumpets be used over their sacrifices

1.    This was a memorial before man (cf. Ex 17:14)

c.    What about David?

                                          i.    God controlled David’s use of instruments (2 Chr 29:25-27)

1.    These instruments were ordained by David

2.    David made instruments of his own volition to praise God (1 Chr 23:5)

                                        ii.    Solomon also commanded instruments to be used based upon David (2 Chr 8:12-14)

                                       iii.    Hezekiah used instruments based upon David (2 Chr 29:2)

d.    Preference vs Tolerance

                                          i.    True or False: God chose Saul to be king (1 Samuel 9:15-16)

1.    Was it God’s will for Israel to have a king? No (1 Sam 8:7)

                                        ii.    True or False: God chose Solomon to build the temple? (1 Chr 28:2-6)

1.    Was it God’s will for a temple to be built? No (2 Sam 7:2)

                                       iii.    True or False: God commanded a bill of divorcement be written under the law of Moses (Deut 24:1)

1.    Was it God’s will for marriage to end in divorce? No (Matt 19:8)

e.    Conclusion

                                          i.    True or False: God commanded instruments be used in worship to Him under the Mosaical Law?

                                        ii.    David made the addition of instruments into worship, not God

1.    However, God controlled it within boundaries He chose

                                       iii.    Today God doesn’t allow changes to His commands (Acts 17:30, Rev 22:18, 1 Cor 14:37)