They Were Using...Cymbals?
" And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, both with songs and with harps, and with viols, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets." (I Chronicles 13:8 GNV)
It was a time of great celebration and rejoicing for Israel and King David. The Ark of the Covenant, lost to the heathen Philistines had been returned to them. As the Ark entered Jerusalem, the people sang and the priest accompanied them with an assortment of instruments. Harps, viols, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets- boy howdy that must have been loud! And, as any conservative Christian will note, "Where's the piano?" There were none, of course. But among the instruments used are some that will surprise most. Let's investigate.
Just what are these "viols" and "timbrels"? Are those cymbals simply "cymbolic" (couldn't resist a pun there) or are they the real deal? More modern translations, such as the NKJV say they played on "harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets". Argh! There go those cymbals again! I mean, come on. This ain't talking about that hideous instrument Barney Fife drove Andy Taylor crazy with on The Andy Griffith Show is it? Or...is it?
When it comes to instruments for worship, there are many debates but the biggest battle of the "worship wars" as they are called is the conflict over drums. Some say there are of the devil. Others embrace them and shake the foundations of the church building. But, what does the Bible say about drums? Does it say anything? Well, yes and no. Drums per say are not mentioned but cymbals are, as are timbrels (tambourines). These are both percussion instruments, like the drum. And they were using these unholy abominations!? Or are they so unholy?
In his masterpiece Days of Vengeance, David Chilton makes an interesting statement: "All creatures reflect the glory of God and are images of some aspect or other of His nature. God's personality is imprinted on everything He has made. The central value of anything is that it is a symbol of God." (Days of Vengeance p.32). In other words, everything in creation reflects its Creator in one way or another. Music is no exception because music was created by God (not the instruments, but the principles and the existence of music). Thus every instruments worthy for use in worship ought to meet this requirement and all those in I Chronicles 13:8 do so. The harp and the stringed instruments reflect the joyous nature of God, the flowing abundance of His grace and mercy. The Trumpets echo His majesty and royalty. But what about these (ahem *cough*) cymbals? I think Psalms 46:6 says it as well any other verse- "When the nations raged, and the kingdoms were moved, God thundered, and the earth melted." Thunder. You know, the loud banging noise that always scared when you were a little kid? Thunder and lightning just exuded the idea of power and strength. Psalms 18:13 declares "The Lord also thundered in the heaven, and the Highest gave his voice, hailstones and coals of fire." And it's that powerfulness and greatness of God that the cymbal (or drum) remindeds us of.
Now, I'm not saying churches should get rock bands- heaven forbid such a thing- but the drums, used appropriately and rightly can add something to church music. After all, any western buff knows that piano frequented salons as much the did churches back in they day and yet somehow this truly un-Biblical instrument has become a venerated item in most churches. It's not the instrument- it's how you play it.
It was a time of great celebration and rejoicing for Israel and King David. The Ark of the Covenant, lost to the heathen Philistines had been returned to them. As the Ark entered Jerusalem, the people sang and the priest accompanied them with an assortment of instruments. Harps, viols, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets- boy howdy that must have been loud! And, as any conservative Christian will note, "Where's the piano?" There were none, of course. But among the instruments used are some that will surprise most. Let's investigate.
Just what are these "viols" and "timbrels"? Are those cymbals simply "cymbolic" (couldn't resist a pun there) or are they the real deal? More modern translations, such as the NKJV say they played on "harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets". Argh! There go those cymbals again! I mean, come on. This ain't talking about that hideous instrument Barney Fife drove Andy Taylor crazy with on The Andy Griffith Show is it? Or...is it?
When it comes to instruments for worship, there are many debates but the biggest battle of the "worship wars" as they are called is the conflict over drums. Some say there are of the devil. Others embrace them and shake the foundations of the church building. But, what does the Bible say about drums? Does it say anything? Well, yes and no. Drums per say are not mentioned but cymbals are, as are timbrels (tambourines). These are both percussion instruments, like the drum. And they were using these unholy abominations!? Or are they so unholy?
In his masterpiece Days of Vengeance, David Chilton makes an interesting statement: "All creatures reflect the glory of God and are images of some aspect or other of His nature. God's personality is imprinted on everything He has made. The central value of anything is that it is a symbol of God." (Days of Vengeance p.32). In other words, everything in creation reflects its Creator in one way or another. Music is no exception because music was created by God (not the instruments, but the principles and the existence of music). Thus every instruments worthy for use in worship ought to meet this requirement and all those in I Chronicles 13:8 do so. The harp and the stringed instruments reflect the joyous nature of God, the flowing abundance of His grace and mercy. The Trumpets echo His majesty and royalty. But what about these (ahem *cough*) cymbals? I think Psalms 46:6 says it as well any other verse- "When the nations raged, and the kingdoms were moved, God thundered, and the earth melted." Thunder. You know, the loud banging noise that always scared when you were a little kid? Thunder and lightning just exuded the idea of power and strength. Psalms 18:13 declares "The Lord also thundered in the heaven, and the Highest gave his voice, hailstones and coals of fire." And it's that powerfulness and greatness of God that the cymbal (or drum) remindeds us of.
Now, I'm not saying churches should get rock bands- heaven forbid such a thing- but the drums, used appropriately and rightly can add something to church music. After all, any western buff knows that piano frequented salons as much the did churches back in they day and yet somehow this truly un-Biblical instrument has become a venerated item in most churches. It's not the instrument- it's how you play it.
Amen, brother! Drums, like any other medium, is not evil in themselves. The way they are used, however, is the point at which lines are to be drawn.
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