The Songs of the LORD

The Songs of the LORD

 “One of the most curious phrases (and concepts) of Rabbinic Judaism is making a fence around the Torah (asu s’yag latorah). It is found in the very first passage of Avot (Pirke Avot) and is part of the ‘genealogy’ of Rabbinic Authority: ‘Moses received the Torah from Sinai and committed it to Joshua, and Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the Prophets, and the Prophets to the Men of the Great Assembly.  They said three things: Be deliberate in judgment, raise up many disciples, and make a fence around the Torah.’”  https://www.britshalomstatecollege.org/torah-commentaries/2017/11/20/making-fences-around-the-torah    This concept is quite foreign to many Christians in this century.  As a matter of fact, it is very much in vogue for Christian scholars to very loosely translate Scripture with more emphasis being put on easy reading rather than on the exact , or as nearly exact, a translation as is possible.  More and more Christians, by their actions, see little need for protecting Scripture with accuracy. 

Since it is in vogue to treat the Holy Writ with much latitude since it is perceived to be only a loose guideline for what a Christian does, Christian musicians often do not treat what the Bible says about music and musicing with much respect.  Since the OT was written thousands of years ago, there is often, among worship leaders, disbelief of the statement in 2Timothy 3:16 that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”  What is written by Christian musicians is many times scattered verses about praise and worship without careful systematic study of what the Bible teaches about music and musicing. 

The ancient Jews were deeply serious about accurate transmission of Scripture.  The Temple musicians were also very careful to preserve accurate and careful musicing.  We know this with certainty because of Scriptures like, 1Chronicles 25:7, “So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.”  Christian musicians would do well to take a lesson from these ancient temple musicians.  Instead of sitting glibly by while pop music mutates Christian worship, there needs to be a resurgence of “building up a wall around sacred music and musicing.”

Song for the Day - Find us Faithful  by Steve Green