What the Bible Says About Music
Scriptures on Music:
(Harp, harps, sing, song, singing, Psalter, trumpet, timbrel, etc)
Remember that narrative is not normative. The “SOUND” of music in the Bible is all but lost to us, but we can glean valuable insights from the descriptions and settings of music in the Bible.
Old Testament
1. Jubal
Genesis 4:21 — And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
2. Moses 3 Songs
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a. Exodus 15 — God Delivered Israel from Egypt in Parting the Red Sea
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b. Deuteronomy 32:1-43 — God is that Rock of Our Salvation
- A Song as a Memorial Witness
Deuteronomy 31:19,21,22 — Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. 21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware. 22 Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.
Israel will in a time to come forget God, but this song that won't be forgotten by their children will stand as a witness to God's power and faithfulness.
… for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed…
- c. Psalm 90 — From Everlasting to Everlasting, thou Art God.
3. King David Instructed for the Appointment of Levites as Singers and Musicians
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.
1 Chronicles 23:5 — Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.
- 4000 out of 38,000 priests were singers or musicians — 1 in 10 Levites were singers or musicians. (1 Chronicles 23:4 38,000 priests;)
- Among the temple singers (a total of 4,000; see 23:5) were 288 specially skilled musicians. Included in these were twenty-four leaders (25:1-7). These 288 musicians were also divided into twenty-four groups that served in rotation. Their job was apparently to train and lead the section to which they were assigned (8-31).
- There wre more priests than necessary for the service of the tabernalce for most of the year so David divided the Levites into 24 different groups (1 Chronicles 23:7-19) that would serve for 2 weeks out of the year each. The last unnaccounted 4 weeks of the year all priests would be on duty ( Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles).
4.
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;
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