“Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.” (Amos 5:23, NKJV)
In the previous teaching we found that the Charismatic claim on the restoration of the tabernacle of David as continuous, organised praise and worship is alas not Biblically founded. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, makes this important argument regarding the matter, that the tabernacle of David IS “the dead body of the Messiah to be raised”. Given then that the Bride of Christ is also called the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27), this “tabernacle of David” then typologically specifically means “the Body of Christ”! Praise and worship must originate from the totality of the Body, not from a worship group or leader. 1 Cor. 14:26: “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm …”
The misconception is that worship is only concerned with music, singing and instruments. Paul teaches that worship should be manifested in all areas of a believer’s life. In Rom. 12:1 it is spelled out: “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, dedicated and acceptable to God; that is the kind of worship for you, as sensible people”. The Message-translation paraphrases it even more clearly: “Take your everyday, ordinary life–your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.” The believer’s “spiritual service of worship” (NASB) is clearly not only music and singing, but any expression of worship. Praising and worshiping is a condition of the heart, which does not necessarily need a medium (like music) to be manifested. In Ps. 141:2 David captures the essence of worship: “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Take note – this is without music.
In the conversation Jesus has with the Samaritan woman at the well he makes this important remark: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The condition for true worship is someone who draws near to God in spirit and in truth.
We thus conclude the seventh myth concerning the contemporary church, namely the myth that organised praise and worship in the ekklesia is of central importance when praising God.
- Selah: Can you worship God without musical instruments?
- Read: 1 Chr. 1-2
- Memorise: 1 Chr .2:1-2
- For a more in-depth understanding: Try to glorify God in other ways not dependant on music.
