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11192017BiblicalSingingInWorshipDonRuhl
This sermon is based on:
Biblical Singing in Worship
From an Anabaptist–Mennonite Video: https://www.youtube.com/user/sesamonte/about
Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • November 19, In the year of our Lord, 2017
Prelude:
- God desires the words and the hearts of His worshipers.
Persuasion:
- In the Old Testament God commanded Israel both to sing and to play specific instruments that He authorized to worship Him.
- Psalm 33.2–32 Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
(Psalms 33.2–3) - Psalm 149.33 Let them praise His name with the dance;
Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.
(Psalms 149.3) - Psalm 150.1, 31 Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
(Psalms 150.1, 3)
- Psalm 33.2–32 Praise the LORD with the harp;
- As part of Old Testament worship, Musicians were appointed and part of the Levitical services both in the tabernacle and the temple.
- First Chronicles 15.1616 Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy (1 Chronicles 15.16).
- Second Chronicles 7.66 And the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the LORD, which King David had made to praise the LORD, saying, “For His mercy endures forever,” whenever David offered praise by their ministry. The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood (2 Chronicles 7.6).
- Second Chronicles 29.2525 And he stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for thus was the commandment of the LORD by His prophets (2 Chronicles 29.25).
- Second Chronicles 29.2727 Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD also began, with the trumpets and with the instruments of David king of Israel (2 Chronicles 29.27).
- In contrast to the Old Testament, Christ introduced a system of worship that no longer involves the temple, its aesthetics, offerings, and priestly services and rituals
- John 4.2121 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father” (John 4.21).
- Acts 17.2424 “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 17.24).
- Acts 17.2525 “Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things” (Acts 17.25).
- Christ fulfilled the Levitical priesthood. His superior priesthood superseded it, discontinuing all priestly temple services
- Hebrews 7.1212 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law (Hebrews 7.12).
- Hebrews 9.1, 111 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation (Hebrews 9.1, 11).
- Hebrews 8.1313 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away (Hebrews 8.13).
- Christ introduced in the New Testament the kind of worship that is acceptable to God. It must be in spirit, in truth, and is based on understanding
- John 4.23–2423 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4.23–24).
- First Corinthians 14.1515 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding (1 Corinthians 14.15).
- Christians are commanded to sing praise in the New Testament. It is the only commandment that involves music when employed in worship
- First Corinthians 14.2626 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification (1 Corinthians 14.26).
- Ephesians 5.1919 [speak] to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5.19).
- Colossians 3.1616 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3.16).
- Hebrews 13.1515 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name (Hebrews 13.15).
- James 5.1313 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms (James 5.13).
- The New Testament records how the early Christians used the only music authorized when used in worship, that is vocal music, setting an example for the church to follow
- Matthew 26.3030 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26.30)
- Acts 16.2525 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16.25)
- Romans 15.99 [The Gentiles will] glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:
“For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,
And sing to Your name.”(Romans 15:9)
- First Corinthians 14.1515 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding (1 Corinthians 14.15).
- Hebrews 2.1212 “I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
(Hebrews 2:12)
- VIII.When music is employed in the New Testament worship, singing of praise is the only offering or sacrifice authorized. It is the fruit of our lips, yielded out of a worship heart. This is the essence of worship being in spirit.
- Hebrews 13.1515 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name (Hebrews 13.15).
- Ephesians 5.1919 [Speak] to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5.19).
- Colossians 3.1616 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3.16).
- God desires a worship in song produced by the only instrument He created: the singing lips that resonate the melody in the heart. God is not worshiped with anything made by human hands
- Acts 17.24–2524 “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things (Acts 17.24–25).