How Should We Then Worship? Part 2

How Should We Then Worship? Part 2

(Please read 2 Chronicles 29:26-30 again.)

          First, let us consider the use of instruments in ancient worship.  2 Chronicles 29:25, very clearly explains, “And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.”  “He” refers to Hezekiah who was following the original order recorded in I Chronicles 16:1 to use musical instruments in worship.  Notice the long list of Bible authorities including YAHV who is the self-existent, independent, eternal God who is, that so ordered the use of instruments in public worship.  This codification of using musical instruments in worship was first instituted in pre-temple worship in the tent—see 1 Chronicles 15:16-22, 16”1, 16:4-5,25:2 etc.

          Years later when Hezekiah was 25 years old, in the first month of the first year of his reign as king,  he repaired the House of the LORD and made preparation for music in the context of worship in the Temple.  Notice that the Holy Writ states in 2 Chronicles 29:2, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD…”  It is noteworthy that doing right in the sight of the LORD included making preparation of musicing unto YAHV in the Temple.  Perhaps we should take a lesson from the excellence of ancient  Temple administration that was partially responsible for the success of church music in ancient Israel.