As the name suggests, 1 Chronicles is a historical record. Beginning with a chronological listing of names from Adam to David and his sons, it goes on to give highlights of the events from Saul’s end to David’s death. So why, in a brief summary of David’s life, include a song?
Many cultures have used music, in the past and present, as a form of or as a part of worship. In the early church, music never really used to include instruments. Some 1,200 years passed before the organ was tentatively used. Before then there were many church leaders against the introduction of this instrument, including the great Reformer, Martin Luther. He went so far as to say that the “organ in the worship service is a sign of Baal.”*
Many cultures have used music, in the past and present, as a form of or as a part of worship. In the early church, music never really used to include instruments. Some 1,200 years passed before the organ was tentatively used. Before then there were many church leaders against the introduction of this instrument, including the great Reformer, Martin Luther. He went so far as to say that the “organ in the worship service is a sign of Baal.”*
One argument against the use of the organ in worship services was the interference and corruption of worship they believed instruments would cause. But as music became more and more intricate and complicated, the introduction of instruments was inevitable. And now, it is hard (and perhaps painful) to think of praise and worship without instrumental accompaniment.
King David was musically minded. He put so many of his words to music, or at least into poetic form: his joy and praise (Psalm 150) and his grief and pain (Psalm 22). He composed many songs of thanksgiving for victories won and a number of heartfelt confessions and pleas for forgiveness—like for the terrible things he did to satisfy his lust for Bathsheba (Ps. 51:1–6, 17). We also know he played at least one instrument—the harp (1 Sam. 16:23) and that he composed songs for voice with instrumental accompaniment, a fact early church leaders seemed to have overlooked in their arguments against music.
Music, by its nature, is emotive. It is meant to inspire some sort of re-action. This is why some early church leaders feared it. They feared worship would become more about feeling good than about praising God—perhaps a fear not entirely unfounded.
King David was musically minded. He put so many of his words to music, or at least into poetic form: his joy and praise (Psalm 150) and his grief and pain (Psalm 22). He composed many songs of thanksgiving for victories won and a number of heartfelt confessions and pleas for forgiveness—like for the terrible things he did to satisfy his lust for Bathsheba (Ps. 51:1–6, 17). We also know he played at least one instrument—the harp (1 Sam. 16:23) and that he composed songs for voice with instrumental accompaniment, a fact early church leaders seemed to have overlooked in their arguments against music.
Music, by its nature, is emotive. It is meant to inspire some sort of re-action. This is why some early church leaders feared it. They feared worship would become more about feeling good than about praising God—perhaps a fear not entirely unfounded.
*“Historical Quotes About Music in Worship,” http://www.bible.ca/ef/topical-historical
-quotes-about-music-in-worship.htm (accessed May 12, 2010). Also see “The Organ in Worship—Historically,” http://www.churchmusic.ca/org3.html (accessed May 12, 2010) for other facts about the history of music in worship.
-quotes-about-music-in-worship.htm (accessed May 12, 2010). Also see “The Organ in Worship—Historically,” http://www.churchmusic.ca/org3.html (accessed May 12, 2010) for other facts about the history of music in worship.
Written by: Kerry Arbuckle, Cooranbong, Australia
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