Articles
The Commands of David
The Commands of David
Most people say about mechanical musical instruments in worship: “They used them in the Old Testament, so of course we can use them in the church today!” There’s a major four-word problem with that argument: the commands of David. Before Solomon built the temple, David gave the commands for how temple worship was conducted. But they weren’t David’s commands; they were God’s. “‘All this,’ said David,’ the LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the details of this pattern.” (1 Chronicles 28:19). David, by God’s inspiration, appointed Levites to be singers, “with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals to raise sounds of joy.” (1 Chron. 15:16).
With that in mind, notice what happens every time temple worship is re-established in the Old Testament. When Solomon built the temple, he did so “according to the ordinance of his father David…” (2 Chron. 8:14a). 170 years pass and temple worship falls into disorder. A priest named Jehoiada restores it “with rejoicing and singing according to the order of David.” (2 Chron. 23:18c). 80 years pass and the worship falls into disorder. King Hezekiah re-institutes worship and “He then stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with harps, and with lyres, according to the command of David…” (2 Chron. 29:25). 130 years pass and worship falls into disorder again. King Josiah re-institutes worship and “the singers, the sons of Asaph, were also at their stations according to the command of David…” (2 Chron. 35:15a). 170 years go by, and we come to the book of Ezra. By this point, the temple had been destroyed and they’ve set out to rebuild it. When they do, “the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the directions of King David of Israel.” (Ezra 3:10). And just in case the dead horse isn’t dead enough yet, 50 years later they do the same thing under Nehemiah’s leadership “as prescribed by David the man of God…” (Nehemiah 12:24).
Here’s the point: if someone says we can use mechanical musical instruments in worship like they did in the Old Testament, we’re going to have to do so according to the commands of David! That means only Levites can use them, only certain instruments like harps, lyres, and cymbals can be used (that means guitars, pianos, and drums are out), and they can only be used collectively in worship at the temple in Jerusalem. But notice, the apostles never urged the church to follow the commands of David in worship. How could that be? Because mechanical instruments are an obsolete form of Old Covenant worship connected to the physical temple, tribal distinctions, and a priestly sacrificial system that is no longer needed (Hebrews 9:8-10)! As Christians, we are the temple, we are the priests, and we are the instruments, “singing and making melody with our hearts to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19).
