Bible Principles of Musicing (Revisited)-part 2

 

Bible Principles of Musicing (Revisited)-part 2

           Not all music was considered appropriate for public worship in ancient Israel.  There were many instruments mentioned in the Bible but only some of them were used in Temple worship.  Some music was no doubt used for sensual purposes including harlotry.  Loud music was played at funerals by the hired professional mourners.  A word by word study of dance in the Bible reveals that most of the references do not refer to any type of religious dancing.  Some of the dancing was used specifically for idol worship and some of it was possible used for human sacrifices.  Dancing and furious drum beating was certainly never used in the Temple in the worship of Jehovah and dancing or rhythmic movement is nowhere traceable in the first or second Temple.        Although some secular music was used for improper purposes, not all references to secular music in the Bible were considered improper or for lewd effect. The student of music in the Bible should look very carefully at the occasion and content of each mention of music to see if it was performed in the Temple as a part of public worship of YHVH or if it was a part of a public entertainment or a military victory which was not public worship at all.

           The term “joyful noise” of the Authorized Version is most unfortunate since the Hebrew word translated “joyful noise” meant with power, acclamation and great joy, NOT NOISE or noisy raucous music.  However, the Bible does say in Ezekiel 26:13, “And I will cause the noise (hamown 1995) of thy songs to cease...” and Amos 5:23, “Take thou away from me the noise (hamown 1995) of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.”  The word hamown used in the aforementioned Scripture does not mean strength or joy or acclamation but rather NOISE.