Saturday, January 23, 2010

What of 1 Corinthians 13:1? This says, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." The purpose here is to show how out of place it would be to not have love in one's heart. Both those who say there should be no instruments and those that say there should must keep this in mind, to love one another with the grace of God. Should there be instruments? God seems to become displeased with the use of instruments if it interferes with the focus on Him? As in Amos or Jeremiah. It was not always the case that He was displeased with instruments. For instance, in 2 Chronicles 30:21, the priests praised God and the use of instruments is well recorded. Also this is seen in Joshua 6:8. But this changes to mourning and sadness in 2 Chronicles 35:25 and Daniel in Daniel 3:5-15 refused to bow down to idols or listen to the music that was presented to the king. Instruments have many uses, particularly in Luke 15:25 to celebrate the return of the prodigal son. The lack of instruments was to denote sadness, as the people don't want to play (Psalms 137:2-4) and not even the king wants to hear instruments (Dan 6:5). Could it be an expression that these are the last days and being in mourning that although someday I will be in heaven that when I now come before God I need to be in mourning and so there should be no instrumentation?

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