MUSIC IN THE LORD’S CHURCH

SCRIPTURE LESSON JAMES 5 : 13

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF PSALMS, IS IT WHAT THE WORLD SAY, OR IS IT SOMETHING ELSE

WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IS THE BOOK OF PSALMS AND THE WORDS WRITTEN IN THAT BOOK

VARIOUS NAMES ARE GIVEN TO THE PSALMS. (1.) SOME BEAR THE HEBREW DESIGNATION SHIR (GR. ODE, A SONG). THIRTEEN HAVE THIS TITLE. IT MEANS THE FLOW OF SPEECH, AS IT WERE, IN A STRAIGHT LINE OR IN A REGULAR STRAIN.

THIS TITLE INCLUDES SECULAR AS WELL AS SACRED SONG.

(2.) FIFTY-EIGHT PSALMS BEAR THE DESIGNATION (HEB.) MITSMOR (GR. PSALMOS, A PSALM), A LYRIC ODE, OR A SONG SET TO MUSIC; A SACRED SONG ACCOMPANIED WITH A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(3.) PS. 145, AND MANY OTHERS, HAVE THE DESIGNATION (HEB.) TEHILLAH (GR. HYMNOS, A HYMN), MEANING A SONG OF PRAISE; A SONG THE PROMINENT THOUGHT OF WHICH IS THE PRAISE OF GOD.

UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES THERE WAS NO PROVISION FOR THE SERVICE OF SONG IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD.

DAVID FIRST TAUGHT THE CHURCH TO SING THE PRAISES OF THE LORD.

HE FIRST INTRODUCED SINGING AND PLAYING THE INSTRUMENT INTO THE RITUAL OF THE TABERNACLE

^KJV 1 CHRONICLES 15:16 AND DAVID SPAKE TO THE CHIEF OF THE LEVITES TO APPOINT THEIR BRETHREN TO BE THE SINGERS WITH INSTRUMENTS OF MUSICK, PSALTERIES AND HARPS AND CYMBALS, SOUNDING, BY LIFTING UP THE VOICE WITH JOY.

^KJV 2 CHRONICLES 5:13 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;

^KJV 2 CHRONICLES 7:6 AND THE PRIESTS WAITED ON THEIR OFFICES: THE LEVITES ALSO WITH INSTRUMENTS OF MUSICK OF THE LORD, WHICH DAVID THE KING HAD MADE TO PRAISE THE LORD, BECAUSE HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOR EVER, WHEN DAVID PRAISED BY THEIR MINISTRY; AND THE PRIESTS SOUNDED TRUMPETS BEFORE THEM, AND ALL ISRAEL STOOD. {BY THEIR...: HEB. BY THEIR HAND}

^KJV 2 CHRONICLES 23:13 AND SHE LOOKED, AND, BEHOLD, THE KING STOOD AT HIS PILLAR AT THE ENTERING IN, AND THE PRINCES AND THE TRUMPETS BY THE KING: AND ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND REJOICED, AND SOUNDED WITH TRUMPETS, ALSO THE SINGERS WITH INSTRUMENTS OF MUSICK, AND SUCH AS TAUGHT TO SING PRAISE. THEN ATHALIAH RENT HER CLOTHES, AND SAID, TREASON, TREASON. {TREASON: HEB. CONSPIRACY}

2ND CHRONICLES 29 : 22 - 28 SO THEY KILLED THE BULLOCKS, AND THE PRIESTS RECEIVED THE BLOOD, AND SPRINKLED IT ON THE ALTAR: LIKEWISE, WHEN THEY HAD KILLED THE RAMS, THEY SPRINKLED THE BLOOD UPON THE ALTAR: THEY KILLED ALSO THE LAMBS, AND THEY SPRINKLED THE BLOOD UPON THE ALTAR. ²³ AND THEY BROUGHT FORTH^C THE HE GOATS FOR THE SIN OFFERING BEFORE THE KING AND THE CONGREGATION; AND THEY LAID THEIR HANDS UPON THEM:  ²⁴ AND THE PRIESTS KILLED THEM, AND THEY MADE RECONCILIATION WITH THEIR BLOOD UPON THE ALTAR, TO MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR ALL ISRAEL: FOR THE KING COMMANDED THAT THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE SIN OFFERING SHOULD BE MADE FOR ALL ISRAEL. ²⁵ AND HE SET THE LEVITES IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD WITH CYMBALS, WITH PSALTERIES, AND WITH HARPS, ACCORDING TO THE COMMANDMENT OF DAVID, AND OF GAD THE KING’S SEER, AND NATHAN THE PROPHET: FOR SO WAS THE COMMANDMENT OF THE LORD BY HIS PROPHETS.  ²⁶ AND THE LEVITES STOOD WITH THE INSTRUMENTS OF DAVID, AND THE PRIESTS WITH THE TRUMPETS. ²⁷ AND HEZEKIAH COMMANDED TO OFFER THE BURNT OFFERING UPON THE ALTAR. AND WHEN^D THE BURNT OFFERING BEGAN, THE SONG OF THE LORD BEGAN ALSO WITH THE TRUMPETS, AND WITH THE INSTRUMENTS ORDAINED BY DAVID KING OF ISRAEL. 

²⁸ AND ALL THE CONGREGATION WORSHIPPED, AND THE SINGERS^E SANG, AND THE TRUMPETERS SOUNDED: AND ALL THIS CONTINUED UNTIL THE BURNT OFFERING WAS FINISHED.

^KJV 2 CHRONICLES 34:12 AND THE MEN DID THE WORK FAITHFULLY: AND THE OVERSEERS OF THEM WERE JAHATH AND OBADIAH, THE LEVITES, OF THE SONS OF MERARI; AND ZECHARIAH AND MESHULLAM, OF THE SONS OF THE KOHATHITES, TO SET IT FORWARD; AND OTHER OF THE LEVITES, ALL THAT COULD SKILL OF INSTRUMENTS OF MUSICK.

AMOS 6)."

¹ WOE TO THEM THAT ARE AT EASE IN ZION, AND TRUST IN THE MOUNTAIN OF SAMARIA, WHICH ARE NAMED CHIEF OF THE NATIONS, TO WHOM THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL CAME!  ² PASS YE UNTO CALNEH, AND SEE; AND FROM THENCE GO YE TO HAMATH THE GREAT: THEN GO DOWN TO GATH OF THE PHILISTINES: BE THEY BETTER THAN THESE KINGDOMS? OR THEIR BORDER GREATER THAN YOUR BORDER? ³ YE THAT PUT FAR AWAY THE EVIL DAY, AND CAUSE THE SEAT^A OF VIOLENCE TO COME NEAR;  ⁴ THAT LIE UPON BEDS OF IVORY, AND STRETCH THEMSELVES UPON THEIR COUCHES, AND EAT THE LAMBS OUT OF THE FLOCK, AND THE CALVES OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE STALL;  ⁵ THAT CHANT TO THE SOUND OF THE VIOL, AND INVENT TO THEMSELVES INSTRUMENTS OF MUSICK, LIKE DAVID;  ⁶ THAT DRINK WINED IN BOWLS, AND ANOINT THEMSELVES WITH THE CHIEF OINTMENTS: BUT THEY ARE NOT GRIEVED FOR THE AFFLICTION OF JOSEPH.  ⁷ THEREFORE NOW SHALL THEY GO CAPTIVE WITH THE FIRST THAT GO CAPTIVE, AND THE BANQUET OF THEM THAT STRETCHED THEMSELVES SHALL BE REMOVED.

TODAY WE WANT TO LOOK AT THREE POINT ABOUT MUSIC IN THE LORD’S CHURCH

POINT ONE HOW SONG EXPRESS THE SPIRIT OF THE WORSHIPER

POINT TWO, HOW WE ARE TO USE SONG IN THE WORSHIP

POINT THREE HOW WE ARE NOT TO EXPRESS OUR WORSHIP

POINT ONE HOW SONG EXPRESS THE SPIRIT OF THE WORSHIPER IN SONG

WE ACKNOWLEDGE IN SINGING GRATITUDE, PRAISE THAT SHOULD BE IN OUR HEARTS AND THANKS FOR THE PROVIDENTIAL CARE THAT GOD PROVIDES FOR US EACH AND EVERY DAY OF OUR LIVES.

THE BIBLE TELL US TO OFFER TO GOD THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE TO THE LORD THAT IS THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS HEB 13:15

THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS INCLUDE MANY THINGS,

PRAYING TO GOD

THANKSGIVING TO GOD

PRAISING GOD

EXPRESSING OUR JOY TO GOD IN SONG

HEBREWS 13:9 - 15 ⁹ BE NOT CARRIED ABOUT WITH DIVERS AND STRANGE DOCTRINES. FOR IT IS A GOOD THING THAT THE HEART BE ESTABLISHED WITH GRACE; NOT WITH MEATS, WHICH HAVE NOT PROFITED THEM THAT HAVE BEEN OCCUPIED THEREIN. ¹⁰ WE HAVE AN ALTAR, WHEREOF THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO EAT WHICH SERVE THE TABERNACLE. ¹¹ FOR THE BODIES OF THOSE BEASTS, WHOSE BLOOD IS BROUGHT INTO THE SANCTUARY BY THE HIGH PRIEST FOR SIN, ARE BURNED WITHOUT THE CAMP. ¹² WHEREFORE JESUS ALSO, THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY THE PEOPLE WITH HIS OWN BLOOD, SUFFERED WITHOUT THE GATE. ¹³ LET US GO FORTH THEREFORE UNTO HIM WITHOUT THE CAMP, BEARING HIS REPROACH. ¹⁴ FOR HERE HAVE WE NO CONTINUING CITY, BUT WE SEEK ONE TO COME 15 BY HIM THEREFORE LET US OFFER THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE TO GOD CONTINUALLY, THAT IS, THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS GIVING THANKS TO HIS NAME.

WHAT KIND OF FRUIT DOES THE LORD WANT FROM PEOPLE THAT WORSHIP HIM, THE LORD WANT SOME WORDS AND NOT SOME PLAYING

GOD WANTS WORDS AND NOT DANCING

THE FRUIT IS SPECIFIED AND I HAVE NO RIGHT TO CHANGE THE SPECIFIED FRUIT THE LORD WANTS

GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT WORSHIP WHEN CHRISTIANS ARE ASSEMBLED ARE SPECIFIC

GOD WANT SOME TEACHING GOING ON, SOME PRAYING GOING ON AND SOME PRAISE COMING UP TO HIM

^KJV 1 CORINTHIANS 14 : 12 - 17

EVEN SO YE, FORASMUCH AS YE ARE ZEALOUS OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS, SEEK THAT YE MAY EXCEL TO THE EDIFYING OF THE CHURCH. 13WHEREFORE LET HIM THAT SPEAKETH IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE PRAY THAT HE MAY INTERPRET. 14FOR IF I PRAY IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE, MY SPIRIT PRAYETH, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS UNFRUITFUL. 15WHAT IS IT THEN? I WILL PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT, AND I WILL PRAY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO: I WILL SING WITH THE SPIRIT, AND I WILL SING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO. 16ELSE WHEN THOU SHALT BLESS WITH THE SPIRIT, HOW SHALL HE THAT OCCUPIETH THE ROOM OF THE UNLEARNED SAY AMEN AT THY GIVING OF THANKS, SEEING HE UNDERSTANDETH NOT WHAT THOU SAYEST? 17FOR THOU VERILY GIVEST THANKS WELL, BUT THE OTHER IS NOT EDIFIED.

^KJV HEBREWS 2:12 SAYING, I WILL DECLARE THY NAME UNTO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CHURCH WILL I SING PRAISE UNTO THEE.

^KJV JAMES 5:13 IS ANY AMONG YOU AFFLICTED? LET HIM PRAY. IS ANY MERRY? LET HIM SING PSALMS.

^KJV ACTS 16:25 AND AT MIDNIGHT PAUL AND SILAS PRAYED, AND SANG PRAISES UNTO GOD: AND THE PRISONERS HEARD THEM.

THE WAY YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE SINGING OF THE CHURCH IS THE WAY YOU FEEL ABOUT THE LORD

AND THE WAY YOU SING IN THE CHURCH HAS A DEFINITE EFFECT ON THE OTHERS AROUND YOU

WHO HEARD PAUL AND SILAS PRAISING GOD, THE OTHER PRISONERS, THAT IS WHAT NEED TO BE HEARD IN THE CHURCH, OTHER MEMBERS SHOULD HEAR YOU PRAISING GOD

INSTEAD OF PRAISING GOD, WE ARE TALKING TO OUR NEIGHBOR KEEPING THEM FROM PRAISING GOD

THAT IS WHY NO INSTRUMENT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD, GOD SHOULD BE YOUR OWN GOOD FEELING EACH AND EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE

WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, YOU SHOULD START SINGING

OH HOW I LOVE JESUS

AS YOU START YOUR DAY,

YOU SHOULD START SINGING, THERE’S NOT A FRIEND LIKE THE LOWLY JESUS

AROUND NOON TIME, YOU SHOULD START SINGING ANY WAY YOU BLESS ME LORD I’LL BE SATISFIED

WHEN IT GETS OVER IN THE AFTERNOON, YOU SHOULD START SINGING, LORD YOU BLESSED ME WITH ONE MORE DAY

WHEN YOU LAY DOWN AT NIGHT, YOU SHOULD START SINGING

WATCH YE THEREFORE YOU KNOW NOT THE DAY WHEN THE LORD WILL CALL US AWAY

AND IF YOU STRAYED AWAY FROM THE LORD DURING THE DAY, YOU SHOULD START SINGING BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP, LORD I WONDERED FAR AWAY FROM YOU AND NOW I’M COMING HOME BEFORE I CLOSE MY EYES TONIGHT

CHURCH IF YOU USE SINGING LIKE THE LORD WANTS US TO USE IT, IT WILL KEEP YOU HAPPY AND IT WILL KEEP YOU PRAISING THE LORD EVERY CHANGE YOU GET

POINT TWO, HOW WE ARE TO USE SONG IN THE WORSHIP

KJV ROMANS 15:9 AND THAT THE GENTILES MIGHT GLORIFY GOD FOR HIS MERCY; AS IT IS WRITTEN, FOR THIS CAUSE I WILL CONFESS TO THEE AMONG THE GENTILES, AND SING UNTO THY NAME.

^KJV EPHESIANS 5:19 SPEAKING TO YOURSELVES IN PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING AND MAKING MELODY IN YOUR HEART TO THE LORD;

^KJV COLOSSIANS 3:16 LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM; TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER IN PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEARTS TO THE LORD.

CHURCH TAKE A LOOK AT THE WHY, WHAT, WHERE AND HOW OF SINGING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

SPEAK TO YOURSELVES, IN PSALMS

PSALMS CAN BE SUNG IN THE ASSEMBLY TO ONE ANOTHER OR ALONE TO YOURSELF

HYMNS IS SCRIPTURE THAT CAN BE SUNG

SPIRITUAL SONGS, WORDS OF PRAISE THAT ARE PROMPTED BY THE JOY OF YOUR LIFE, YOU JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN MAKE US SOME WORDS THAT SHOW YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE LORD AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR YOU

IN SINGING, YOU ARE TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER IN SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEART

WHAT ARE YOU TO SING, PSALMS, HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS

WHY ARE YOU TO SING, YOU WANT TO FIVE THANKS TO THE LORD AND TO TEACH OTHERS BY YOUR SINGING

WHERE ARE YOU TO DO THIS SINGING, IN THE ASSEMBLY

^KJV 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. {SAINTS: OR, NATIONS, OR, AGES}

^KJV MATTHEW 26:30 AND WHEN THEY HAD SUNG AN HYMN, THEY WENT OUT INTO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. {HYMN: OR, PSALM}

^KJV MARK 14:26 AND WHEN THEY HAD SUNG AN HYMN, THEY WENT OUT INTO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. {HYMN: OR, PSALM}

^KJV REVELATION 5:9 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;

^KJV REVELATION 14:3 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.

POINT THREE HOW WE ARE NOT TO EXPRESS OUR WORSHIP

REMEMBER WE ARE STILL FOLLOWING THE PATTERN PRINCIPAL IN ALL WE DO IN THE CHURCH

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THAT GOD HAS TOLD US JUST EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS AND WHAT HE DOES NOT WANT, AND THAT IS THE WAY HIS WORD IS STATED IN BOTH THE OLD AND THE NEW TESTAMENT

TAKE A LOOK AT THE PATTERN THAT WAS SET IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THEN WE WILL LOOK AT THE NEW TESTAMENT

DEUT. 4:2 YE SHALL NOT ADD UNTO THE WORD WHICH I COMMAND YOU, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH OUGHT FROM IT, THAT YE MAY KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD WHICH I COMMAND YOU.

DEUT. 12:32 WHAT THING SOEVER I COMMAND YOU, OBSERVE TO DO IT: THOU SHALT NOT ADD THERETO, NOR DIMINISH FROM IT.

LEVITICUS 10:1 – 2 AND NADAB AND ABIHU, THE SONS OF AARON, TOOK EITHER OF THEM HIS CENSER, AND PUT FIRE THEREIN, AND PUT INCENSE THEREON, AND OFFERED STRANGE FIRE BEFORE THE LORD, WHICH HE COMMANDED THEM NOT. 2AND THERE WENT OUT FIRE FROM THE LORD, AND DEVOURED THEM, AND THEY DIED BEFORE THE LORD.

PROVERBS 30:6 ADD THOU NOT UNTO HIS WORDS, LEST HE REPROVE THEE, AND THOU BE FOUND A LIAR.

1 COR. 4:6 AND THESE THINGS, BRETHREN, I HAVE IN A FIGURE TRANSFERRED TO MYSELF AND TO APOLLOS FOR YOUR SAKES; THAT YE MIGHT LEARN IN US NOT TO THINK OF MEN ABOVE THAT WHICH IS WRITTEN, THAT NO ONE OF YOU BE PUFFED UP FOR ONE AGAINST ANOTHER.

REV. 22:18-19

FOR I TESTIFY UNTO EVERY MAN THAT HEARETH THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK, IF ANY MAN SHALL ADD UNTO THESE THINGS, GOD SHALL ADD UNTO HIM THE PLAGUES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK: 19AND IF ANY MAN SHALL TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS OF THE BOOK OF THIS PROPHECY, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY HIS PART OUT OF THE BOOK OF LIFE, AND OUT OF THE HOLY CITY, AND FROM THE THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK.