How Should We Then Worship? Part 3

How Should We Then Worship? Part 3

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

A few more observations are worth making about music in the First Temple.  Note that the priests played the trumpets (chatsotserah 2689) because these instruments which were made of one piece of silver were signaling instruments rather than melodic musical instruments.  The melodic instruments played by the Levite musicians were psalteries (nebel 5035) that were hollow bodied large harps and (kinnore 3658) that were hand lyres.  Also notable was the use of cymbals (metseleth 4700) that was a duel set of cymbals.  The important thing about their use was that the temple orchestra only utilized one pair that was played by the leader to mark beginnings and pauses in the music.  They were never used as continuous jangling or clashing devices. Other instruments not mentioned in this list of instruments were added only on festal occasions.

Singing and song was frequently mentioned in conjunction with worship.  Scripture references were made such as: 1Chronicles 25:6, “All these were under the hands of their father for song [shiyr 7892] in the house of the LORD…” 1Chronicles 25:7, “… that were instructed in the songs [shiyr 7892] of the LORD, 2Chronicles 29:27, “And when the burnt offering began, the song [shiyr 7892] of the LORD began also…”; 2 Chronicles 29:28 And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers [shiyr 7892] sang [shiyr 7891]…” ; 2Chronicles 29:30, “…And they sang praises….[halal 1984].  We will not discuss the nuances of these Hebrew words that were quoted, but it will suffice to say that they all refer to actual singing.  (For a thorough study of song and singing in the Bible please read my Book Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective published by Schmul Publishing Co. in 1995.)  So, singing with musical instruments was very important in ancient worship in the Bible.