Topical Bible: Music: Instruments of Great Diversity of

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Bible presents a rich tapestry of musical expression, showcasing a wide array of instruments that were integral to worship, celebration, and daily life in ancient Israel. These instruments, often mentioned in the context of praise and worship, reflect the cultural and spiritual significance of music in biblical times.

Stringed Instruments

Stringed instruments were prominent in biblical music, with the harp and lyre being the most frequently mentioned. The harp, or "kinnor" in Hebrew, is often associated with King David, who played it to soothe King Saul (1 Samuel 16:23). The lyre, similar to the harp, was used in temple worship and personal devotion. Psalm 33:2 exhorts, "Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to Him with a ten-stringed lyre."

Wind Instruments

Wind instruments, such as the trumpet and flute, played significant roles in both religious and civic life. The trumpet, or "shofar," made from a ram's horn, was used to signal important events, including the start of festivals and battles. Numbers 10:10 instructs, "Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed feasts and New Moon festivals—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God."

The flute, another wind instrument, is mentioned in contexts of joy and celebration. Isaiah 30:29 describes, "You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your hearts will rejoice like when people go up with flutes to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel."

Percussion Instruments

Percussion instruments, such as tambourines and cymbals, were vital in creating rhythm and enhancing the communal aspect of music. The tambourine, or "timbrel," was often used in dance and celebration, as seen in Exodus 15:20 , where Miriam the prophetess took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her with timbrels and dancing.

Cymbals, used in temple worship, added a dramatic and celebratory sound. Psalm 150:5 calls for praise with "resounding cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals."

Diverse Usage in Worship and Celebration

The diversity of musical instruments in the Bible underscores their importance in worship and celebration. Instruments were used to express joy, lament, and reverence, often accompanying psalms and hymns. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 describes a powerful moment when the musicians and singers were as one, making music to the LORD, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

Instruments also played a role in prophetic ministry, as seen with the company of prophets in 1 Samuel 10:5 , who came down from the high place with harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres before them, prophesying.

Conclusion

The Bible's depiction of musical instruments reveals their integral role in the spiritual and cultural life of ancient Israel. From the soothing strains of the harp to the triumphant blast of the trumpet, these instruments were not merely tools of sound but vessels of worship, carrying the hearts of the people to their Creator.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ecclesiastes 2:8
I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I got me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Third Tractate. On the Kinds of Being (3).
... objects and making use of perceptible instruments and sense ... things, how can grammar
and music serve as ... Suppose that we say "great diversity" instead of "the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/plotinus/the six enneads/third tractate on the kinds.htm

David's Choristers
... the viol and devise for themselves instruments of music ... of praise whose surges break
in music and roll ... are enforced most chiefly by the great Apostolic metaphor ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/davids choristers.htm

Psalm CL.
... but whereby He hath made them great, many as ... general name for all instruments of
music, although usage ... I have said, to all musical instruments, this instrument ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cl.htm

The Relation of the Will of God to Sanctification
... God's will has a reaction upon the instruments whom He ... this one reason, at
least"perhaps the great one"that ... to God"discordant notes in the music of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/the ideal life/the relation of the will.htm

Of the Necessity of Divine Influences to Produce Regeneration in ...
... 4. Sometimes this great work is accomplished by secret ... the mind, without any visible
means, instruments, or occasions at ... till the sound of their music, and the ...
/.../practical discourses on regeneration/discourse vii of the necessity.htm

Third Tractate. Problems of the Soul (1).
... it were one musical utterance: the music, the harmony ... Thus all begins with the great
light, shining ... that acts through its appropriate instruments " through a ...
/.../plotinus/the six enneads/third tractate problems of the.htm

Dialogue iii. --The Impassible.
... walk; the body is like an instrument without music. ... material and colour, using for
its instruments the parts ... forward some took part in that great Council; some ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/dialogue iii the impassible.htm

Church Fabrics and Services.
... where so much liberty of thought and diversity of opinion ... is in itself a sufficient
proof that a great number of ... 1007] in some cathedral towns the music of the ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter x church fabrics and.htm

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits ...
... not that by which we arrogantly extol ourselves before God, or set a great value
on ... was gradually assigned to each, so that, according to diversity of business ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of prayera perpetual.htm

part i
... the friends of mankind, angels of consolation, instruments or ministers ... There are
a great many mysteries in nature which ... the flesh and the spirit of the music. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm