Song of Moses Song of Moses: Rubel Shelly in Faith Matters appeals to the music of heaven where the redeemed held harps given them by God. However, exhilarating theatrical worship is not the primary goal of the church. Because Rubel Shelly is of my own fellowship and spends huge sums each year to "facilitate" or introduce radical changes into churches of Christ; and because he has become the "head of the nail" raised "above the plains" of radical Change Agents, we will attempt to review his "new paradigms" replacing "old patterns" based upon clear Biblical and historical facts. This is not a personal attack, but an adult dialog.To understand why Rubel Shelly and Woodmont Hills understands music you may want to read Rubel Shelly's repudiation of the none use of instrumental music in worship. This, of course, is the step required before the use of musical worship teams could be presumed to have mediating power between God and the worshiper.
While Rubel Shelly proposes to preach only a "core gospel" he not only repudiates any presumed authority for not using instruments, he goes further and demands that they are the gift of God. At the same time, he declares on the side of A Capella for the "plenary" sessions of the church but allows them for other "non-worship" rituals.
However, at the Restoration Forum at Abilene Christian University (ACU), Rubel Shelly had already established a foundation hostile to the purely A Capella view by repudiating those who resist full fellowship with instrumental groups.
We might add that "Contemporary Christian Music" (is that an oxymoron?) is troubling to many denominations including those who have used instrumental music at least from the mid to late eighteen hundreds. The Song of Moses is a witness to Israel's infidelity to the Book of the Covenant. Because Israel rejected the Covenant with pagan song, music and dance, God gave The Book of the Law. Each time the song was sung it was God's testimony against unfaithfulness to His Word.
In The Song of Moses and the Lamb Rubel Shelly notes that:
"Worship renewal is ongoing throughout the church around the world. Thank God that his Spirit is stirring believers to a keener consciousness of worship as the first business of the church
However, the Great Commission was to send the professionals into all the world to preach the gospel. Paul told the Hebrews that it was:
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, Ephesians 3:10
This does not happen in the "church building" but by the church senting evangelists into all the world.
Rubel Shelly: With all distance and barriers removed between God and his people, we will worship then as we wish we could worship now. No distractions. No possibility of self-absorption. Only glory, honor, and praise to heaven's throne occupants !
(Note: When a "spirit" begins to ferment our "new wine" we might believe that it is not a "holy" spirit.
"And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Acts 7:59. Zechariah said that Jehovah-Saves would be king and priest on the one throne and there would be harmony between the two {offices}
Therefore, Christ is the Spirit in a personal sense and His Words are Spirit and Life to us (John 6:63)
Paul told those seeking the gods, always with music and wine-
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: Acts 17:27
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17:28
Lord Jesus Christ, and not the worship facilitator, is the only mediator between man and God. Click Here for more details. Jesus Christ returned as the "another Comforter" (John 14:18) and He said that Father-Son would make their abode with those who keep His commandments (John 14:23). Christ mediates by instilling His Mind (Holy Spirit) into our minds or spirits (1Cor 2). If we have to go looking for the lost god we are no better than the prophets of Baal and Asherah who also used chant and instruments.
Rubel Shelly: In a brief glimpse of heavenly worship given in Scripture, the redeemed from Earth "held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb."
Harps were the actual idols of pagans who believed that they could attract the gods. However, why don't we just wait and see what God will give us? Like the literal bowls of incense under legalism becoming the spiritual prayers, perhaps, as many ancients believed, the harps God gave them was their voice able to make melody in the heart.
Rubel Shelly: If you wish to know the Song of Moses, read Exodus 15. It is a song that exults in God's faithfulness and power. It recounts his mighty acts among the descendants of Abraham to deliver them from bondage and to give them a promised land.
However, God knew that Israel would reject the Book of the Covenant as a restatement of the covenant with Abraham and turn back to Egypt in their heart. Without going into detail we should note that:
"In the first place, it will be noticed from the account of the triumphant rejoicing on the shore of the Red Sea that the men sang only: 'Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake saying.'" (Girardeau, George, p. 33) (Actually recited)
"The triumphal hymn of Moses had unquestionably a religious character about it; but the employment of music in religious services, though idolatrous, is more distinctly marked in the festivities which attended the erection of the golden calf." (Smith's, Music, p. 589).
Miriam was not condemned for repeating what had already been revealed by Moses. However, later she claimed that her poetic inspiration was God speaking to her. Therefore, God judged her.
Miriam is one of the prototypical insubordinate women who always bring in paganism.
"In the second place, it was Miriam and the women who used instruments of music on the occasion: 'And Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went after her (escaped) with timbrels and with dances." (Girardeau, p. 33).
Psalms or songs were never written to be accompanied by instruments. They were the personal property of the poet and should not be used by others until after the death of the composer. Therefore, the book of Psalms had the musical notation added by those who followed the worship changed by David.
In Numbers 10:7 it is clear that God outlawed instruments or music when He was speaking to Israel in assembly or congregation.
Therefore, under the influence of the Spirit of Christ Moses spoke or recited the songs which were not musical in nature. The goal was that the elders could learn the songs and repeat them to their tribes. When Israel sang the last song God revealed it would be a judgmental witness against them.
On the other hand, Moses spoke or recited the songs which were not musical in nature. The goal was that the elders could learn the songs and repeat them to their tribes.
THEN sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, (meaning command with speech) I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Exodus 15:1 (This singing has no instruments)
But: And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. Exodus 15:20
Miriam is called a prophetess only because she prophesied musically or poetically which was singing, dancing and playing instruments as they had in the worship for hundreds of years in Egypt. Her usurpation of leadership seems prophetic of what would happen at the foot of Mount Sinai where noise replaced silence and they los The Book of the Covenant and had it replaced with The Book of the Law.
Miriam led the women away from Moses' recital. When they went out the Hebrew word is:
Yaca (h3318) yaw-tsaw'; break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, threat, without), be condemned, departure, draw forth, in the end, escape,
Miriam's need to be subordinate did not make her inferior. However, God has the right to select those who will speak for Him. Another example of people being led out in the wrong sense has God warning Ezekiel that he will be treated like Himself, like Moses or any other truth speaker:
Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord. Ezekiel 33:30
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. Ezekiel 33:31
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. Ezekiel 33:32
Later, when Miriam "led away" Aaron it was to usurp God's right to assign authority. She was trying to escape her role and became a threat to God's plan. As a result, she was condemned. Therefore, when she led the women away from the quiet, orderly teaching environment it was in imitation of ancient "prophesying" which include singing, dancing and playing musical instruments. The goal was to get a direct message from the "gods." Consistent with the later episode of singing, playing instruments and dancing in the Egyptian form of "play" at Mount Sinai we have God announcing firmly that what they are doing is wrong.
This could easily be prophetic of Israel's desertion of God as their king and their demand for a human king who would let them "worship like the nations."
Miriam, the usurper, is thought to be in Paul's mind when he uses the "law" as the reason that women should not use their authority which is defined in sexual terms. For more details Click Here.
Rubel Shelly: The Song of Moses and the Lamb (Rev. 15:3-4) is modeled on the same outline. It focuses on what God has done throughout the ages to reveal himself as the Faithful Deliverer of his people.
However, in the fifteenth of Revelation, we see the seven angels who hold the seven last plagues which will complete God's wrath upon false religion. As the angels go forth with the plagues, those who have been faithful stand as Moses stood on the edge of the Red Sea as God brought down His wrath upon Pharaoh's army. In the Old Testament, when harps are mentioned as tools of worship they are always called "the harps" or "instruments of David" in contrast to the "songs of God" or "trumpets of God." In this passage, the harps are harps which God has given and not those which David constructed. Ancient writers treated the harps symbolically along with the bowls of incense which were the prayers or hymn-songs.
Just as Moses and Israel "sang" the defeat of Pharaoh and his army, again the perfected first fruits repeat this judgment song over Satan whom Pharaoh represented:
I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues--
last, because with them God's wrath is completed. Revelation 15:1
And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and,standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name.
They held harps given them by God Revelation 15:2
and sang (Ado = just sing) the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:
"Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Revelation 15:3
Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. Revelation 15:4
And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: Revelation 15:5
And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. Revelation 15:6
And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. Revelation 15:7
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. Revelation 15:8
Remember in chapter 14:
And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpers playing on their harps Revelation 14:2RSV
And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. Rev 14:3
This is the judgment music against Israel, Egypt and Assyria.
Behold, the name of the Lord comes after a long time, burning wrath; the word of his lips is with glory, a word full of anger, and the anger of his wrath shall devour as fire. Isaiah 30:27 LXX
And his breath, as rushing water in a valley, reach reach as far as the neck, and be divided, to confound the nations for their vain error; error also shall pursue them and overtake them. Isaiah 30:28 LXX
Must ye always rejoice, and go into my holy places continually, as they that keep a feast? and must ye go with a pipe, as those that rejoice into the mountain of the Lord, to the God of Israel Isaiah 30:29 LXX
and the Lord shall make his glorious voice to be heard and the wrath of his arm, to make a display with wrath and anger and devouring flame: he shall lighten terribly, and his wrath shall be as water and violent hail. Isaiah 30:30 LXX
For by the voice of the Lord the Assyrians shall be overcome, even by the stroke where with he shall smite them. Isaiah 30:31 LXX
And it shall happen to him from every side, that they from whom their hope of assistance was, in which he trusted, themselves shall war against him in turn with drums and with harp. Isaiah 30:32 LXX
For thou shalt be required before thy time: has it been prepared for thee also to reign? nay, God has prepared for thee a deep trench, wood piled fire and much wood: the wrath of the Lord shall be as a trench kindled with sulphur. Isaiah 30:33 LXX
Beginning in chapter forty, Ezekiel described an "idealized temple" in symbolic language. When Ezekiel heard God He was coming in judgment against the old temple and especially the Levites who had gone astray--
AFTERWARD he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: Eze 43:1
And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. Eze 43:2
And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. Eze 43:3
In the ancient vases and tombstones musical instruments are symbolic of the unhampered happiness in the afterlife with no responsibilities. However, the dead receive the harps and other instruments as symbols and are never seen playing them.
The Song was an:
Ode (g5603) o-day'; from 103; a chant or "ode" the gen. term for any words sung; while 5215 denotes espec. a religious metrical composition, and 5568 still more spec. a Heb. cantillation): - song.
Strong constasts this song to both hymns (inward prayers) and Psalmos which had anciently meant with instruments but did not in the contemporary Greek. The song was not:
Humnos (g5215) hoom'-nos; appar. from a simpler (obsol.) form of hudeo , (to celebrate; prob. akin to 103; comp.); a "hymn" or religious ode (one of the Psalms): - hymn
Psalmos (g5568) psal-mos'; from 5567; a set piece of music, i.e. a sacred ode (accmpanied with the voice, harp or other instrument; a "psalm"); collect. the book of the Psalms: - psalm. Comp. 5603.
In both of the songs given by God to Moses, he recited it so that others could hear, understand and teach the message to their tribes.
All ancient scholars understood that the "harp" given by God, as opposed to the ones invented by David and which was the actual idol or god of the pagans, was the vocal cords "hymning" words which were propelled out of the mouth (double-edged sword) by the wind (spirit) and used to "teach and admonish one another Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16)
In Revelation 18 wont the prostitute religions (Catholic and Protestant) still be taking up their literal harps and try to lead the effeminate out to escape God's rule?
God didn't give Moses literal harps and music has had no place except to warn Israel not to try ot "approach to God." Therefore, the harps are symbolic of God speaking through the lips (double-edged sword) of Moses.
The harps in the book of Revelation, therefore, are the harps which God has given. The playing of these "harps" always produces the the fruit of the lips. It is hard to play literal harps flat on your face:
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders
.........fell down before the Lamb,
......... having every one of them harps,
......... and golden vials full of odours,
......... ......... which are the prayers of saints. Revelation 5:8"It is trivial to ask and then to explain how the elders managed the zither and the incense bowl so as to play on the former." Lenski, Commentary
Without literal animal sacrifices there was no legal or rational place for instrumental music. Therefore, the Psalmist wrote:
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2 (This was turning the palms up and not waving them around like children)
God always wanted personal love, obedience, and praise and never wanted sacrifice, music, or ritualism because Israel took the remedies for their sins and elevated them to acts of worship. This is not unlike an immature adult who flails himself as worship because he was disciplined when he was a child. The addition of these practices into the early apostate church came only after they saw the need to earn or merit salvation by performing acts and rituals&emdash;something totally repulsive to God.
The Word of God as His power is represented as waters, tongues of fire, wind, a played harp, a trumpet, and a sword. Ante-Nicene Fathers often contrasted the human voice and spirit to the musical instruments of paganism and some Jewish practices. Writers before and after the time of Christ had made this analogy clear. For instance, from the Odes of Solomon we hear:
"As the hand moves over the harp, and the strings speak, so speaks in my members the Spirit of the Lord, and I speak by His love. For it destroys what is foreign, and everything that is bitter." Ode 6:1-3
In the language of Paul, when Solomon's "plucked prophet" teaches the Word of the Lord a spirit of unity is produced. Later, the writer prays to God and asks:
- "Teach me the Psalms of thy truth,
- that I may bring forth fruit in thee: And
- open to me the harp of thy Holy Spirit,
- that with all its notes I may praise thee, O Lord." Ode 14:7-8
In a later Ode these harps, symbolic of Spirit, produce an ode which does not include literal instruments:
- I poured out praise to the Lord, for I am His: and
- ........ I will speak His Holy song, for my heart is with Him.
- ........ For His harp is in my hands, and the Odes of His rest shall not be silent.
I will cry unto him from my whole heart:
........ I will praise and exalt Him
........ with all my members." Ode 26:1-4A new psalm with song
........ in gladness of heart,
........ the fruit of the lips
........ ........ with the well-tuned instrument of the tongue,
........ the first fruits of the lips
........ ........ from a pious and righteous heart" Psalms of Solomon, 15:3Justin Martyr describes early worship services in which the singing (reciting) of Biblical Psalms played a part with hours of reading the undiluted Word. In describing the "harp" he, as does Clement and others, treats it in the same language as the Apocalyptic Solomon&emdash;
"For neither by nature nor by human conception is it possible for men to know things so great and divine, but by the gift which then descended from above upon the holy men,
who had no need of rhetorical art, nor of uttering anything in a contentious or quarrelsome manner,
but to present themselves pure to the energy of the Divine Spirit,
........ in order that the divine plectrum itself, descending from heaven,
........ and using righteous men as an instrument like a harp or lyre,might reveal to us the knowledge of things divine and heavenly." (Justin's Horatory Address to the Greeks, Chapt. VIII)
Music and Commerce in Revelation
"The term music had a much wider signification among the Greeks than that which we attach to it. 'The primative education at Athens consisted of two branches: gymnastics for the body, music for the mind. Music comprehended from the beginning everything appertaining to the province of the nine Muses." (Vincent, Musicians, Revelation 18:22)
"MOUSIKOS "minstrels" (musicians); Bengel and others translate it 'singers.' Primarily the word denoted 'devoted to the Muses' (the nine goddesses who presided over the principal departments of letters), and was used of anyone devoted to or skilled in arts and sciences, or 'learned." (Vincent, Minstrel)
When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players (minstrels) and the noisy crowd, Matthew 9:23NIV
he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. Matthew 9:24
After the crowd had been put outside (more or less violently), he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. Matthew 9:25
To the Corinthians who were not inspired to reveal supernatural knowledge, Paul told them to "speak to themselves and to God." In 14:9 he said that they were just "speaking into the air." This would prevent "doing more harm than good" in the assembly (1 Corinthians 11:17).
In an almost parallel statement, Plato has Socrates recommending that the flute player play to herself or anyone else she could find. This is because it is elementary that through sex and noise, musical worship teams totally neutralize serious dialog about and with the Lord Jesus Christ.
"The female flute-players, usually dissolute characters, were indispensable attendants at the Greek banquets. Plato in 'the Symposium' has the character say: 'I move that the flute-girl who has just made her appearance, be told to go away and play to herself, or, if she likes, to the women who are within. Today let us have conversation instead."
Again, Socrates speaks vividly about hiring a musical worship facilitor no doubt to make up for the total loss of the Words of Christ and to facilitate intercourse or intercession:
Again, Socrates says: 'The talk about the poets seems to me like a commonplace entertainment to which a vulgar company have recourse; who, because they are not able to converse and amuse one another, while they are drinking, with the sound of their own voices and conversation, by reason of their stupidity, raise the price of flute-girls in the market, hiring for a great sum the voice of a flute instead of their own breath, to be the medium of intercourse among them." (Vincent, Pipers, Revelation 18:2).
This is why the music and commerce as "worship" will end
Silence, blessed silence so we can hear the "whisper of the voiced silence" of God Who is not in the whirlwinds of the world.
The king of Tyre and Babylon as Lucifer's agents depended heavily upon music to tranquilize the customers so that everyone was quiet when "the collection plate was passed." Isaiah showed that even the pine trees will praise God when the great ones fall. Rather than exult in the music and the musicians (Solomon said "for my own pleasure" and as concubines), even the trees worship when the musicians are silenced as tools of worship:
Even the pine trees and the cedars of Lebanon exult over you and say, "Now that you have been laid low, no woodsman comes to cut us down." Isaiah 14:8
The grave below is all astir to meet you at your coming; it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you-- all those who were leaders in the world; it makes them rise from their thrones-- all those who were kings over the nations. Isaiah 14:9
All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you. Isaiah 14:11
When the church can rejoice in the silence by falling on its face or "holding" the harps which only God can give to pass judgment upon Babylon, the great prostitute, who defeated God's people with praise music:
Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.'" Revelation 18:20
Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said: "With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again. Revelation 18:21
The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone ("grinders" are prostitutes) will never be heard in you again. Revelation 18:22
The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. Your merchants were the world's great men. By your magic spell all the nations were led astray. In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth." Revelation 18:23-24
The Final Condition
Revelation 21-22 describes the great New Jerusalems whose gates need not be shut for fear of the enemy (Rev. 21:22) and which contains no physical temple where "those who do his commandments" (22:14) have the right to enter through the gates into the city. There is no temple in it "for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple" (21:22). Lord Jesus Christ is with us and does not need music to call Him to His temple or to arouse Him.
Just as there is no room for clergy-singers in Ezekiel's ideal temple, there is no evidence that celebrative or ritualistic religion is allowed.
This did not prevent Catholicism from moving pagan practices into the worship. A separate order of singers is said to be "the first heresy widely pervading the church."
"The first change in the manner of singing was the substitution of singers who became a separate order in the church, for the mingled voices of all ranks, ages, and sexes, which was compared by the great reformer of church music to the glad sound of many waters" (H. H. Milman, Hist. of Christianity, Vol, iii, pp. 406, 409).
"The outward forms of religion became gradually more and more imposing. From the ancient temples the incense and many ancient customs of heathenism were transferred to the churches. By the use of tapers and perpetual lamps, the solemnity of nocturnal festivals was combined with the light of day....Soon after, in face of continual opposition to all instrumental music, the organ...was brought to Italy from Greece" (Karl. A. Hase, History of the Christian Church, p. 153).
However, God pleads:
"Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
........ Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to Him,
........ 'Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously,
........ that we may present the fruit of our lips'" (Hosea 14:2). (Lit. bull calves; LXX)."And indeed though the worshippers bring nothing else, in bringing themselves they offer the best of sacrifices, the full and truly perfect oblation of noble living, as they honor with hymns and thanksgiving their Benefactor and Savior, God,
sometimes with organs of speech,
........ sometimes without tongues or lips,
when within the soul alone their minds
........ recite the tale or utter the cry of praise.These one ear only can apprehend, the ear of God" (Philo, Special Laws I.272).
Shelly: concludes the article by getting back to the only "praise" which God accepts:
Rubel Shelly: "Do you get any ideas from this about the worship we should be learning to offer through the church today? Let's have fewer songs that focus on our situation and needs, fewer that exhort us to this or that. Let's have more that exalt the Lamb, rehearse the story of his saving acts, and celebrate the certainty of hope.
How about training the sentimental poetry we call "gospel music" in on the unsermonized, unversified Word of Christ "as it has been delivered to us?"
Rubel Shelly: Worship whose goal is to fix a mindset or mood among those who have assembled must give way to worship that exalts the only one who is worthy of praise. Worship is not for our entertainment but for his glory.
"It is not too early to rehearse the praise we will give in heaven forever!
This sounds good but it doesn't fit with a musical worship facilitator to "help bring the worshipers into the presence of God."
In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. Mt.13:14
He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
........ "'These people honor me with their lips,
........ but their hearts are far from me. Mk.7:6Charismatic, paganistic forms of worship are often the last recourse of one who has lost the love of the Word. As a result, God has plugged his ears and closed his eyes so that he cannot understand. The moment, we say that God "cannot communicate in human languages" we have lost it.
Stupefy yourselves and be in a stupor, blind yourselves and be blind!
........ Be drunk, but not with wine;
........ stagger, but not with strong drink! Isaiah 29:9RSVFor the LORD has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep,
........ and has closed your eyes, the prophets,
........ and covered your heads, the seers. Isaiah 29:10And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed.
........ When men give it to one who can read, saying, "Read this,"
........ he says, "I cannot, for it is sealed." Isaiah 29:11Musical or any other form of human liturgy must ever have to be memorized with the help of rehearsal:
And when they give the book to one who cannot read, saying,
........ "Read this," he says, "I cannot read." Isaiah 29:12And the Lord said: "Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips,
........ while their hearts are far from me,
........ and their fear of me is a commandment of men learned by rote; Isaiah 29:13therefore, behold, I will again do marvelous things with this people, wonderful and marvelous;
........ and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
........ and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hid." Isaiah 29:14Musical worship is God's absolute supernatural sign that people have "grown" beyond listening to the unaltered Word of God:
And they come unto thee as the people cometh,
and they sit before thee as my people,
and they hear thy words,
........but they will not do them:for with their mouth they shew much love,
........ but their heart goeth after their covetousness. Ezekiel 33:31And, lo, thou art unto them
........ as a very lovely song of
........ one that hath a pleasant voice,
........ and can play well on an instrument:
........ ........ for they hear thy words,
........ ........ but they do them not. Ezekiel 33:32In Corinth, the only person who might worship during church "assembly" was the unbeliever who would feel God's presence when Corinth gave up the music and revealed the Words of Christ in speaking to one another (Gal 3:16; Eph 5:19)
I hope I don't have to hire a worship facilitator to rehearse me for heaven!
Our Rock, Lord Jesus Christ created and led Israel to be missionaries to the nations-not to "worship" in ceremonial legalism. However, the story of the Songs of Moses is the song of witness against a people who would turn from the commandments of God to the ritual worship of Babylonia, Egyp and Canaan. This always involved music:
'And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.' (1 Corinthians 10:4)
The Song of Moses for This Generation which Belittles God's Laws
And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware. Deut 31:21
Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel. Deut 31:22
Lamad (h3925) law-mad'; a prim. root; prop. to goad, i. e. (by impl.) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive): - [un-] accustomed, * diligently, expert, instruct, learn, skilful, teach (-er, - ing).
And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee. Deut 31:23
And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, Deut 31:24
That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, Deut saying, Deut 31:25
Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. Deuteronomy 31:26
For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death? Deuteronomy 31:27
Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears,
and call heaven and earth to record against them. Deuteronomy 31:28
For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. Deuteronomy 31:29
And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended. Dt 31:30
Deuteronomy 32:1 - Deuteronomy 32:43 (KJV)
When Israel ROSE UP TO PLAY at Mount Sinai it was the MUSICAL IDOLATRY of the Egyptian TRIAD. The symbol of Osiris was the APIS bull and that of Isis the Hathor Cow. Miriam would have automatically been a PROPHETESS of Hathor. She WAS punished for presuming to be a prophetess in the sense of SPEAKING FOR GOD.
Deut 32:1 GIVE ear, O ye heavens, and I will SPEAK; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
God SPEAKS. The Hebrew DABAR is the same as Greek LOGOS. When God SINGS to people the word is often a BURDEN and you had better watch out and draw in the little singy-clappy stuff.
Dabar (h1696) daw-bar'; a prim. root; perh. prop. to arrange; but used fig. (of words) to SPEAK; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue: - answer, appoint, bid, command, COMMUNE, declare...pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, TEACH
When MOSES and Hoshea HEARD God SPEAK the song (any poetic piece), the object of SPEAKING was to TEACH as in all of the so-callled singing passages. When they returned to all of the people:
This "song" was put in the side of the Ark of the Covenenant. It would be SUNG later as a WITNESS that they had been turned over to worship the STARRY HOST according to Stephen and others. Note the end of the "song" has Moses SPEAKING it as the COMMANDS of God just as Paul said to SPEAK the Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs which are ALL inspired Biblical text:\
And Moses came and SPAKE all the words of this song in the EARS of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun. Deut 32:44
And Moses made an END of SPEAKING all these WORDS to all Israel: Deut 32:45
And he said unto them,
........ Set your HEARTS unto all the WORDS which I testify among you this day,
........ which ye shall COMMAND your children to OBSRVE to do, all the WORDS of this LAW. Deut 32:46SET is Suwm (h7760). commit, consider, convey, determine.., hold, impute, LAY (down, UP), PRESERVE, preserve, REHEARSE.
God told MOSES to SPEAK to one another with the WORDS of God. Only then could they SET or put the WORDS into their heart. "Make melody" means the same as "with Grace" singing IN THE HEART. Go to SYNAGOGUE and learn a long passage of SCRIPTURE. Leave and MAKE MELODY in the heart as you REHEARSE the words by speaking TO YOURSELF or to OTHERS.
My DOCTRINE (Teaching Instructing) shall drop as the RAIN, my SPEECH (commandments are SAID) shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Deut 32:2
In Isaiah 55 God said that the FOOD and DRINK of the WORD are FREE OF CHARGE. HE SAYS that, like the WATER CYCLE, the words must RETURN to Him or they are EMPTY.
Because I will PUBLISH (go out and CONFRONT) the name of the Lord:
........ ascribe ye greatness unto our God. Deut 32:3
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment:
........ a God of TRUTH and without iniquity, just and right is he. Deut 32:4BUT THEY has sinned, lost THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT, been turned over to a TITHING-FINANCED Priesthoos, QUARANTINED from the presence of God, and given THE BOOK OF THE LAW to govern the LAWLESS. They had been sentenced to captivity and death BEYOND BABYLON.
THEY have CORRUPTED themselves, their SPOT (blemish) is not the spot of HIS CHILDREN: they are a PERVERSE (distorted, false) and CROOKED (a twisted vine) generation. Deut 32:5
Do ye thus requite (repay) the Lord, O FOOLISH people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee? Deut 32:6
Foolish is the Hebrew:
Nabal (h5036) naw-bawl'; from 5034; STUPID; wicked (espec. impious): - fool (-ish, -ish man, -ish woman), VILE person.
h5034 means to disgrace, make VILE which is the meaning of HALAL or PRAISE from which we get the word LUCIFER. And cHALAL which translates as "play the flute, take your inheritance, pollute and prostitute.
Nebel (h5035) neh'-bel; or nebel nay'-bel; from 5034; a SKIN- BAG for liquids (from COLLAPSING when EMPTY); hence a vase (as similar in shape when full); also a LYRE (as having a body of like form): - bottle, pitcher, PSALTERY, vessel, VIOL
The king/queen of Babylon went into SHEOL along with his/her MUSICIANS and VIOLS to rot on a bed of MAGGOTS. She shows up again in Revelation 18 with all of the "harem of the gods" as singers and musicians.
Which has the same meaning as the WITCHES "familiar spirit."
Owb (h178) obe; from the same as 1 (appar. through the idea of PRATTLING a FATHER'S name); prop. a mumble, i. e. a water-skin (from its hollow sound); hence a necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar): - bottle, familiar spirit.
6) [line 31] BA'AL OV V'YID'ONI - one who practices the forms of witchcraft known as "Ov" and "Yid'oni"
(a) OV - The Gemara (Sanhedrin 65b) defines a Ba'al Ov as someone who attempts to communicate with the dead by bringing up a deceased person through sorcery and having it speak. To get it to speak, the diviner would put a certain bone in his armpit and flap his arms or move around in various ways.
"Singing served as a means of inducing ecstatic prophecy (speaking in tongues).
Thus the essential relationship between music and prophecy can be clearly seen.
This relationship also explains why the expression for "making music" and "prophesying" was often identical in the ancient tongues. origen contra celsum 8.67.
The Hebrew word Naba signifies not only "to prophesy" but also "to make music." (Quasten, Johannes, Music and Worship in Pagan and Christian Antiquity, p. 39)
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied (includes being a poet) in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful (miracles) works? Matt 7:22
"The religious ecstasy induced by music expressed itself either in an outburst of emotions, thus giving rise to religious catharsis,
or in a transfer to the state of prophecy. In this way music became an important factor in divination. In the mysteries of Magna Mater
this relationship between music and divination is particularly clear.
Through the din of tambourines, cymbals and flutes the ecstatic worshiper of the goddess prophesied the future to those present. From time immemorial music had been especially valued in the service of prophecy. " (Quasten, Johannes, Music and Worship in Pagan and Christian Antiquity, p. 39)
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt 7:23
Apochoreo (g672) ap-okh-o-reh'-o; from 575 and 5562; to go away: - depart.
That is, He sent them into EMPTY PLACES.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Matt 7:24
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Matt 7:25
In the Greek world, the rhetoricians, sOPHISts (serpents), singers and musicians were known as sorcerers or poisoners who administered poison with MUSIC. As a result they were called PARASITES.
This is what Jesus said when he disowned the 'PROPHESIERS' who chanted Lord, Lord" or Hel (Ja, Ja).
Which has the same meaning as the brass ECHO CHAMBERS used by the SORCERERS and WARRIORS trying to turn the enemy COWARDS.
Chalkos (g5475) khal-kos'; perh. from 5465 through the idea of hollowing out as a vessel (this metal being chiefly used for that purpose); copper (the substance, or some implement or coin made of it): - brass, money.
The WITCH or WARRIOR placed the EMPTY WINESKIN over a hole in the ground and pretended to get a REVELATION from the gods: ANGELIC VOICES in 1 Cor 13:1
Chalao (g5465) khal-ah'-o; from the base of 5490; to lower (as into a VOID): - let down, strike.
Apollo or Abaddon or Apollyon unleases the MUSES as LOCUSTS (musical performers). They were sentenced in Legend into the UNDERWORLD. Therefore, these witches were trying to DESCEND to bring Christ up in the same way the Witches used ventriloquism pretending that the INSTRUMENT was the home of the gods as in MOST paganism.
Dt 31: 7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.
Dt 31: 8 When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
Dt 31: 9 For the Lords portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
Dt 31: 10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.
Dt 31: 11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: (Hovered over)
Dt 31: 12 So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
Dt 31: 13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;
Dt 31: 14 Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.
Dt 31: 15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Dt 31: 16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
Dt 31: 17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. (musical Apis worship)
Dt 31: 18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
Dt 31: 19 And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.
Dt 31: 20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
Dt 31: 21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Dt 31: 22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
Dt 31: 23 I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.
Dt 31: 24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.
Dt 31: 25 The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
Dt 31: 26 I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:
Dt 31: 27 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the Lord hath not done all this.
Dt 31: 28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
Dt 31: 29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end
Dt 31: 30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?
Dt 31: 31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
Dt 31: 32 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:
Dt 31: 33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.
Dt 31: 34 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?
Dt 31: 35 To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
Dt 31: 36 For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.
Dt 31: 37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
Dt 31: 38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.
Dt 31: 39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
Dt 31: 40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
Dt 31: 41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.
Dt 31: 42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.
Dt 31: 43 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.
Dt 32:44 And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.
Dt 32:45 And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel:
Dt 32:46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
This song of Moses-of judgment-was first of all against Moses:
Dt 32:51 Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.
In Heaven: In Revelation 6:9 John saw the souls of victorious saints. Souls don't need literal harps made by the hands of men out of material. They need "harps from God" or the ability to sing and speak.
Meanwhile Back on the Earth (where I live)--Christ wants us to be busy teaching the gospel to everyone in every nation. That doesn't leave much time for worshipping ourselves in songs with instruments and dance teams to call God down to the big meeting:
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Revelation 14:6
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. Revelation 14:7
John is demanding that we worship the God who created all material things including the "sounds of rushing waters" and not worship the "gas" from a hole in the rock, human inventors or the mechanical devices they used to pretend that it was the voice of God.
By analogy, when we see a great painting do we honor the canvas or the artist!
While modern charismatic movements claim to "lift up the name of the Lord" I am afraid that the watching world can see only the waving, dancing musical preaching or musical singing - violating the law to recite: "Speak to yourselves in Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs" - all the revealed Word of God.
The following Web Site may be helpful:
Moses wrought wonders destructive, Christ wonders preservative: he turned water into blood, Christ water into wine; he brought flies and frogs and locusts and caterpillars, destroying the fruits of the earth, and annoying it; Christ increased a little of these fruits, five loaves and a few fishes, by blessing them, so that he herewith fed five thousand men. Moses smote both men and cattle with hail, and thunder and lightning, that they died, Christ made some alive that were dead, and saved from death the diseased and sick. Moses was an instrument to bring all manner of wrath and evil and sick. Moses was an instrument to bring all manner of wrath and evil angels amongst them, Christ cast out devils and did all manner of good, giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, limbs to the lame, and cleansing to the leper, and when the sea was tempestuous appeasing it. Moses slew their first-born, thus causing an horrible cry in all the land of Egypt; Christ saveth all the first-born, or by saving them so; for thus they are called (Hebrews 12:23).
Kenneth Sublett
Counter added 12.14.04 8p 1799