There have been many attempts to justify using musical instruments in worship.  The first question that will often be asked when confronted with the truth that there is no authority in the Bible for the use of them is, “What about David?”  However, we have seen in this study that we are not under the same law that David was under in his day.  He was under the law of Moses while we are under the law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21).  The truth is, David did several things that would not be authorized today, including having a plurality of wives.

Others will ask when challenged with this issue, “Where did God say we cannot use the musical instrument?”  This question is produced because many erroneously believe that the silence of the scriptures authorizes us to do things.  In other words, if God has not said “thou shall not,” it must be okay.  Many things make this kind of thinking fallacious.  From a logical standpoint, it is an absurd conclusion.  Just think of all the things that would be authorized if such were the case.  Can we serve cake and cola for the Lord’s Supper as opposed to the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine that scripture prescribes?  If not, why not?  Where did God say, “Thou shall not?”  Anyone should be able to see that to operate like that would be disastrous spiritually.

Another thing that reveals the “thou shall not” argument as being false is the bible itself.  In Hebrews 7, this false view is exposed as being clearly wrong.  Most know that under Judaism only those from the tribe of Levi could be priests (Hebrews 7:5; Numbers 18:21).  But we only know this because of specific statements, not because God ever said that men from other tribes could not be priests.  The Hebrews writer uses this truth to prove that the law for God’s people has changed seeing that Jesus is our High Priest but He is not from the tribe of Levi.  Here is what the writer wrote:

Hebrews 7:12–14 (ESV)
¹² For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.  ¹³ For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.  ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

There you have it.  God, through His prophet and lawgiver, Moses never said that a man from Judah could not be a priest.  Yet, we all know that, based on what scripture positively says about the Levitical priesthood, Jesus could not have been a priest under the law of Moses.  The silence of the scriptures does not authorize.

What about the “psallo” argument?  This is a popular defense of musical instruments in worship.  Paul used the word “psallo” in Ephesians 5:19.

Ephesians 5:19 (ESV)
¹⁹Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,

The words “making melody” come from the Greek word “psallo.”  It is argued that the Greek word means to pluck on a stringed instrument; thus, Paul gave his apostolic approval to play musical instruments in worship services.  While it is true that at one time the word “psallo” meant to pluck, words evolved.  Listen to Vine’s definition of the word:

E. Vine, Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
psallo (ψάλλω, 5567), primarily “to twitch, twang,” then, “to play a stringed instrument with the fingers,” and hence, in the Sept., “to sing with a harp, sing psalms,” denotes, in the NT, “to sing a hymn, sing praise”; in Eph. 5:19, “making melody” (for the preceding word ado, see SING). Elsewhere it is rendered “sing,” Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; in Jas. 5:13, RV, “let him sing praise” (KJV, “let him sing psalms”)

Since this word can refer to either playing an instrument or singing, how do we know that Paul was only referring to singing in this passage?  We know because what proves too much, proves nothing at all.  Since Paul is setting forth a command in Ephesians 5:19, anyone who does not do what he commanded, in this case, “making melody to the Lord,” sins against God.  If the word “psallo” demands the use of musical instruments, it would condemn Paul himself, along with all the other apostles, because they never used a musical instrument with which to praise God in a worship service.

When all the arguments are said and done, the truth will continue to prevail—God desires for us to sing praises to Him, not play a musical instrument.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.