Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.-- 2 Samuel 6:5 (NKJV)
The Bible makes it abundantly clear that music has always played an important role in worship. Every worship service I can remember employed music in some form or another. Sometimes soft and in the background, sometimes just from one or two people, sometimes from everyone, sometimes loud and full of life and spirit. It was this last aspect that is recorded for us in 2nd Samuel: music played loud, on every manner of instrument, filling the streets, lifting a joyful noise unto God on high!
Too often we think that only the music we play is right for a church service, that those other churches are going to far in what they include in their service. All those electrically amplified instruments and voices, with big screens showing pictures and the words to the more contemporary songs, and people clapping and even dancing, and ... And isn't that just a little too much for a church service? Are we here to be entertained, or to worship God?
We're here to worship, and however we do so is not as important as just doing it with all our heart and with joy bursting from our inner core and spreading to all those nearby! Based on the above verse and others in the Bible, David and the whole house of Israel would have employed any of the more modern means of worship and more. Think of all that God has given you. Jump up and down, shout out your thanks, acknowledge your King! If you can play an instrument, then play. Even if you can't carry a tune in a bucket, sing. If nothing else, speak the words of glory and praise for your God has given you the greatest gift imaginable, He has made the greatest sacrifice possible, just so that you can have everlasting life with Him. So let the music play!
Father, thank You for giving us voice to sing of Your glory. May we never be afraid or ashamed to shout Your praises to the world. Let us ever honor You and thank You with the music we offer up from our instruments and our lips. Amen.
