Knowledge Must be Accompanied by Faith—part 4

Knowledge Must be Accompanied by Faith—part 4

            I suppose that my blog readers could legitimately ask, “What is the usefulness of a doubting music historian’s comments about the accounts of ancient musicing recorded in the Old Testament?”  Just because a writer does not trust the Old Testament record does not mean that a believer cannot benefit from that music historian’s knowledge of ancient Hebrew language or from his or her knowledge of ancient Jewish music history. A problem arises when a musician who is a believer looks through the eyes of faith at that skeptical music historian’s written comments. Quoting a doubting music historian’s writings must therefore be done with great carefulness in order to not interpret that musician’s writings as though that musician was a believer. Honest quoting must never implicate spiritual relationship with God to the writings of a non-believing music historian.  

            When a historian exhibits insight into the history of ancient musicing recorded in the Bible or in extra-biblical literature, a believer should use those comments in his or her writings about music in the Bible.  When a writer, believer or non-believer, makes a written statement, that statement may be used at face value if used in the context of what that writer was saying.  It seems credulous for an author to cast definite doubt on the authenticity of what the Bible teaches and records about music in ancient Israel merely because a twenty first century writer believes that the ancient Hebrew authors exhibited prejudice in their writings.  This is especially true when there is no extra-biblical proof for such a musical hypothesis.