Music The Spiritual Thermomet
MUSIC – The Spiritual Thermometer
by Lenny Seidel
Of all the dynamic themes and subjects in the Word of God, few have as much coverage as music does. God is vitally interested in music. He is a musical God as recorded in Zephaniah 3:17 where we read: “The Lord thy God…. will joy over thee with singing.” Music has always been in existence. We’re told in Job 38 that at the time of the creation, there was much rejoicing and singing. “The morning stars (angels) sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (v. 7).
The textbook “God’s New Song” lists 802 references to music in the Bible. There are numerous requirements and qualifications for God’s musicians, references to instrumentation and choral production, and many principles that relate to the Christian life.
One theme that constantly recurs is that the great design of sacred music is to awaken and express every holy affection of the heart toward God. God imparts to His people, in both the Old and New Testament, a new kind of music which is used to express this affection. This music is decidedly different than the old song which is outside the fold of salvation.
Many references in the Word make it perfectly clear that when the people of God fell into sin and slipped backward in their spiritual life, their music was corrupted in parallel decadence with their spiritual declension. Thus, music becomes a unique spiritual thermometer. Let’s look at four specific references.
In Exodus 32 we read of Moses’ returning from the mountain with the laws of God. He had left Joshua to wait for him, and he now returns. Joshua’s first words to him indicate a concern for a certain sound. “There is a noise of war in the camp,” he declared to Moses (v. 17). Moses, being the excellent musician that he was, immediately said that it was not the sound of those begging for mercy or crying for a great leader. Rather he said, “It is …the noise of them that sing do I hear” (v. 18). The people were listening to music which Joshua and Moses described as “noise” and “war.”
Quickly the two made their way to the base camp where they found idolatry (the golden calf), wild dancing and nudity (see v. 25). The people of God had fallen into gross decadence, and the music they were using was equally corrupt. Music is not amoral. Certain types of music are powerful in triggering the very sins that Paul preached about to all those churches in the New Testament.
Another example is the entire Book of Amos. Here was a preacher sent by God to the Northern Kingdom in the eighth century B.C. to try to get those people right with God. They were tremendously rich and had everything going for them including large homes, luxury bedrooms, plenty of leisure time and all the best kinds of food (see Amos 6:4). Yet, they were utterly backslidden, and Amos went to preach to them with no success.
Again the spiritual thermometer was music. God said, “Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols” (5:23). Interestingly, that word “noise” is the same word that Moses and Joshua used. Unfortunately, those people never got right with the Lord, and they were destroyed. Their music was turned to howlings, screamings and wailings in that day of destruction (see 8:2,3).
Isaiah records a similar situation for us. Here again the same pattern emerges as the people of God consume strong drink and entertain themselves with music but “regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.” (Isa. 8:3).
Ezekiel also indicates that when the people of the Lord fall into decadence, their music is also corrupted. God said through the prophet that the land would be made desolate and the music program (pomp) would cease. God approached his people as a beautiful piece of music, but again they heard the word of the Lord but would not obey (see Ezek. 33:32).
These are just four instances of this truth; there are many more in God’s word. Israel was on a roller coaster spiritually; when they were spiritually and morally wrong, their music was corrupt. When they were right, their music was glorious. And so has it ever been.
We are facing strange times in the Church today. Certain sounds are heard which are all too familiar with a life-style that is contrary to the teaching of New Testament principles. One reason for this confusion is that Satan is a master musician. Ezekiel 28 makes that truth known. In addition to being beautiful and wise, this created angel knows music perfectly. Since the fall he has sought to corrupt man through those three areas of his strength. What better place to bring confusion than into the Body of Christ, the Church.
The song of the Lord (music that is decidedly different from corrupt music) is heard from those who know the “joyful sound” (Ps. 89:15). Moses sang this song (see Ex. 15:1-21). David certainly sang this new song and wrote about it in the Psalms. Paul and Silas, their backs bruised and bleeding were given songs in the night. Debra and Barak sang this song in Judges 5.
When God is the central figure in life, the direction is changed. II Corinthians 2:17 states: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”
Lenny Seidel is director of Grace Unlimited Ministries which schedules piano concerts and choral seminars. They also have available a textbook of music in the Bible and provide materials for young people involved in music. Their address is 7124 Freshaire Drive, Springfield, Virginia 22153.
Copied by permission from GOOD NEWS BROADCASTER, November 1982 and Lenny Seidel.
Reprint permission was granted to Computers for Christ #22 for the expressed purpose of posting this tract in electronic form. Please DO NOT modify this file nor distribute hard copies of this file.
Reprinted by permission from Confident Living (formerly the Good News Broadcaster), copyright (c) 1982 by the Good News Broadcasting Association, Inc. P.O. Box 82808, Lincoln, NE 68501.
Reprinted by permission from Lenny Seidel, Grace Unlimited Ministries, 7124 Freshaire Drive, Springfield, Virginia 22153