What does the Bible say concerning instrumental music as part of Church services?

God’s Word plainly teaches that using musical instruments in the course of praising God is appropriate. Psalm 150:3-4 states, “Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with with stringed instruments and organs.”

In II Chronicles 29:25-28, we read that King Hezekiah “…set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps…for so was the commandment of the LORD by His prophets. And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets…And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded…”

Some falsely claim that the Old Testament is not relevant to God’s Church today. Christ Himself stated, in Matthew 4:4, that man ought to live “by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” He showed that the Old Testament is indeed a valid part of God’s Word (Luke 24:44). In II Timothy 3:16, the Apostle Paul wrote that Scripture is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Keep in mind that, when Paul wrote this, there was, as yet, no New Testament. The Bible consisted only of the Old Testament writings.

The New Testament also shows that God is praised in heaven through the use of instrumental music (Rev. 5:8; 14:2-3). Revelation 15:2-3 shows that the resurrected saints will sing praise to God, and that their voices will be accompanied by the playing of harps.

These scriptures, and others, prove that praising God by singing and/or playing musical instruments is considered proper and right.

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