Psalm 47:7 states: "For God is the king of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding." The Cambridge scholars (cf) rendered the word sakal ((7919) translated "with understanding" in the KJV as "every one that hath understanding". We have been studying singing with understanding in II Timothy. Now let us look at some what the OT teaches about musicing with understanding.
We should note that the aforementioned verse uses the word zamar (2167) which means to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument. So, we are considering vocal and instrumental musicing unto God. This OT reference instructs us that we can and should music unto God with understanding. Since instrumental music is so entwined with singing in this Hebrew word, we must further deduce that our instrumental musicing should yield understanding.
What is the meaning of this understanding connected with instrumental music? I contend that since the entire OT is notated, that this ancient musical notation was incorporated into the Hebrew Scripture in order to increase the understanding of the hearer--and the performer. The precise musical notation (te'amim) of all of the OT Scripture was conceived as the "handmaiden", so to speak, of the word of Jehovah.
Instrumental music was not absolute music, but rather, an aid to Scripture in order to help the listener and the performer to better understand the import of the Word of God. Music was not created as an autonomous, independent closed system that only a few erudite musicians could understand. It was an art form, but it certainly was a useful, understandable art form. It was understandable by the common hearer. As a matter of fact, many writers believe that the ancient Hebrews did not consider their music in terms of what we now understand to be an art form. Some music historians believe that they only considered sacred music to be a vehicle for aiding their worshiping of Jehovah.
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