Bible
Study - Are You Worshipping God In Spirit And In Truth?
Lesson 18
Singing In Worship (Part
2)
There are two different kinds
of music: vocal and instrumental. God has spoken in the New
Testament concerning the kind of music we must use if we expect
to worship Him in spirit and in truth, and that is singing.
Singing is the limit of God’s command. God nowhere in the
New Testament authorized mechanical instruments of music to
be used in worship of the church. A mechanical instrument
of music cannot worship God. Only with our voices can we sing
praises to God. God does not wish to be worshipped with a
lifeless instrument.
People today may think that
it makes no difference if they add mechanical instruments
of music in worshipping God. In the Old Testament we have
the example of Nadab and Abihu who were presumptuous in their
thinking that it made no difference. In Leviticus 10:1-2 (NIV)
we read, "Aaron’s sons, Nadab
and Abihu, took their censers, put fire in them and added
incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before
the Lord, contrary to His command. So fire came out
from the presence of the Lord and consumed them and they
died before the Lord."
In Leviticus 16:12-13 God
commanded, "Then he shall take
a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar"
of burnt offering to burn the incense in the tabernacle. But
Nadab and Abihu decided to do it their own way and get the
coals of fire somewhere else. They offered unauthorized fire.
They died a horrible death because they did something God
did not authorize. They were presumptuous. God will not tolerate
substitutes for His divine way. God is very particular about
the way He wants things done. Just as Nadab and Abihu offered
unauthorized fire, is there any excuse for us to offer unauthorized
mechanical instrumental music to the Lord?
According to Webster, presumptuous
means, "to take upon oneself without permission or authority,
taking too much for granted, showing overconfidence, arrogance."
Being presumptuous as far as God is concerned is a sin. Psalms
19:13 says, "Keep back your servant
from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion
over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent
of great transgression." So we see we can also
be guilty of presumptuous sins when we "take upon ourselves
without permission or authority" of God and add mechanical
instruments of music to our worship. We may not think it will
make any difference, but Nadab and Abihu thought the same
thing. In speaking of people who are displeasing to God, 2
Peter 2:10 says, "They are presumptuous,
self willed."
Some may say, "The Bible
does not say not to use mechanical instruments of music in
worship." But again are we permitted to be so presumptuous?
If so we could add anything else without His authority. The
Bible tells us we are to use the bread and the fruit of the
vine in commemorating the Lord’s Supper. But the Bible does
not say we can’t also use chocolate cake and milk. Of course
it doesn’t. It would be absurd if we tried to use it. But
it is just as absurd when we try to use the same type of reasoning
to justify the use of instrumental music in worship.
When God gives a command to
do something, does He have to say, but don’t do this, and
don’t do this, etc.? No. When God tells us what He wants done,
He expects us to do it that way. God’s commands are both inclusive
and exclusive. His commands include everything He specifies
and they exclude everything He has not authorized. But trying
to confine ourselves to what God has authorized is very important
if we expect to please Him and go to heaven.
If we add mechanical instruments
of music to the worship of God then we have added to God’s
word. In the closing words of the New Testament we are warned
not to add to His word. In Revelation 22:18,
"If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him
the plagues that are written in this book." We
do not have the right to add to God's word. When God
says something in the Bible He means it and He will keep His
promises.
In the sixth chapter of Genesis
we have the example of Noah who was pleasing to God. In Genesis
6:14 we read that Noah was told by God to,
"Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the
ark and cover it inside and outside with pitch."
In the verses that follow God continues to give Noah the details
of construction. Then we read in Genesis 6:22,
"Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded
him, so he did." God specified the ark was
to be built of gopherwood. Did Noah use gopherwood as God
had specified? Yes, Noah did "according to all
that God commanded him." Would Noah have obeyed God if
he had added pine or oak along with gopherwood? No. He would
have disobeyed God by doing something God had not authorized.
Do we disobey God when we add mechanical instruments of music,
which God has not authorized to our worship to Him? Yes we
do.
The use of mechanical instruments
of music in worship does make a difference, because God has
never permitted man to devise the plan or means for his worship
of God. This is very serious, because we will loose our souls
through presumptuous sins just as Nadab and Abihu lost their
lives through their presumptuous sins.
Questions Lesson 18
Singing In Worship (Part
2)
(click on the button of the
answer of your choice)
1) (Leviticus 10:1-2) What happened when
Nadab and Abihu offered unauthorized fire in worship to God?
Nothing.
God was well pleased.
Fire came down from the Lord and they died.
2)
Nadab and Abihu died because they did not worship God
as He directed.
3) (Leviticus 16:12-13)
Where had God commanded Nadab and Abihu to get the coals of
fire to burn the daily incense?
From their own campfire.
From under the altar of burnt offerings.
Anywhere they could find them.
4)
God will tolerate our substitutes for His divine will.
5) (Psalms 19:13) Being
presumptuous as far as God is concerned is
Sin.
All right if we are sincere.
Doesn’t really matter.
6)
We are guilty of presumptuous sin when we take upon ourselves
to do without God’s authority things that pertain to worship.
7) (Revelation 22:18) If
anyone adds to God’s word
It will be all right if he is sincere.
Nothing will ever be done about it.
"God will add to him the plagues written in
this book."
8)
It is all right if we add to God’s word by doing things
we want to do.
9) (Genesis 6:14, 22) When
Noah was commanded of God to build the Ark according to God’s
specifications
Noah made some of his own modifications.
Noah did according to all that God commanded him.
Noah used his own plans.
10)
Noah would have obeyed God if he had added pine along
with the gopherwood.
