Instrumental Music in the Old Testament: Part 3 (Instruments and God’s Displeasure)Posted on February 20, 2011 by Jay Guin
Updated 2.20.11 11p
Instruments used ironically
Jay Guin: Various writers use instruments as symbolic of a man’s contentment, often in an ironic sense.
Thus, a rich man who is evil is often spoken of as enjoying instrumental music despite failing to honor God.
The point in such passages is not that instrumental music is evil
but that those blessed by instrumental music should remember to honor God.
The irony arises from the conflict between living a blessed life (symbolized by instrumental music) despite not deserving the blessings.
Life is sweet for the self-reliant and the worker,
but he who finds treasure is better off than both. Ecclesiasticus 40:18.Children and the building of a city establish a man's name,
but a blameless wife is accounted better than both. Ecclesiasticus 40: 19.Wine and music gladden the heart,
but the love of wisdom is better than both. Ecclesiasticus 40: 20.The flute and the harp make pleasant melody,
but a pleasant voice is better than both. Ecclesiasticus 40: 21.
While the names of musical instruments often occur, the context shows that they are figurative of the lips and heart. The musicians were under the king and commanders of the army for Temple affairs. However, Sirach notes that in a spiritual sense they made melody with their voices:
In all that he did he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, with ascriptions of glory; Ecclesiasticus 47: 8.
he sang praise with all his heart, and he loved his Maker.He placed singers before the altar,
to make sweet melody with their voices. Ecclesiasticus 47: 9.He gave beauty to the feasts, and arranged their times throughout the year,
while they praised God's holy name,
and the sanctuary resounded from early morning. Ecclesiasticus 47: 10.The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his power for ever;
he gave him the covenant of kings and a throne of glory in Israel. Ecclesiasticus 47: 11.
However, Sirach reminds us that God gave Israel kings as punishment and not to become "musical worship ministers."
How glorious you were, O Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! And who has the right to boast which you have? Ecclesiasticus 48:4.
You who raised a corpse from death and from Hades, by the word of the Most High; Ecclesiasticus 48: 5.
who brought kings down to destruction, and famous men from their beds; Ecclesiasticus 48: 6.
who heard rebuke at Sinai and judgments of vengeance at Horeb; Ecclesiasticus 48: 7.
who anointed kings to inflict retribution,
and prophets to succeed you. Ecclesiasticus 48: 8.O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. Hosea 13:9
I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? Hosea 13:10
I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath. Hosea 13:11
ARISTOTLE WITH ALL OTHER WRITERS AGREE:
[Aristot. Pol. 8.1338a [1] But leisure seems itself to contain pleasure and happiness and felicity of life. And this is not possessed by the busy but by the leisured; for the busy man busies himself for the sake of some end as not being in his possession, but happiness is an end achieved, which all men think is accompanied by pleasure and not by pain
The branches of study at present established fall into both classes, as was said before. There are perhaps four customary subjects of education, reading and writing, gymnastics, music, and fourth, with some people, drawing; reading and writing and drawing being taught as being useful for the purposes of life and very serviceable,
and gymnastics as contributing to manly courage;
but as to music, here one might raise a question.For at present most people take part in it for the sake of pleasure;
but those, who originally included it in education
did so because, as has often been said, nature
itself seeks to be able not only to engage rightly in business
but also to occupy leisure nobly;
for--to speak about it yet again --this is the first principle of all things.For if although both business and leisure are necessary,
yet leisure is more desirable and more fully an end than business,
we must inquire what is the proper occupation of leisure.
Hence our predecessors included music in education not as a necessity (for there is nothing necessary about, nor as useful (in the way in which reading and writing are useful for business and for household management and for acquiring learning and for many pursuits of civil life, while drawing also seems to be useful in making us better judges of the works of artists),
nor yet again as we pursue gymnastics, for the sake of health and strength (for we do not see either of these things produced as a result of music);
it remains therefore that it is useful as a pastime in leisure, which is evidently the purpose for which people actually introduce it, for they rank it as a form of pastime that they think proper for free men. For this reason Homer wrote thus:
But him alone
'Tis meet to summon to the festal banquet;
and after these words he speaks of certain others
Who call the bard aoidos
that he may gladden all.And also in other verses Odysseus says that this is the best pastime, when, as men are enjoying good cheer,
- The banqueters, seated in order due ristotle politics, masculine journey,
- Throughout the hall, may hear a minstrel sing, aoidaô
The POINT is just the opposite: wine, women and instrumental music is always the MARK of people who refuse to listen to the Word of God: it needs no proving, next week decide whether you are enjoing instrumental music or obeying the direct command to SPEAK "that which is written with one mind and one mouth." Church is a School of the Word of Jesus Christ: disciples do not make musical noises when the Master Teacher comes to give us REST (stop the speaking, singing, playing, acting) form the LADED BURDEN which is "spiritual anxiety created by religious rituals." Specificially a burden in Hebrew and Greek is a song which repeats for pleasure with no goal of teaching "that which is written."
(Job 21:7-13 ESV) 7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? 8 Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them. 10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry. 11 They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe. 13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.
Thus, Job no more condemns instruments than he condemns safety as home, having many children, or having fertile cows.
Music derived from "mystery" meant to "make the lambs dumb before the slaughter." All of the examples quoted shows that the RESULT of the wine, women and instruments in the temple--and a father and son going in to the same temple prostitute--causes the people to hunger and thirst for the Word: the result is that the innocent lambs are deliberately scattered.
Job may be the oldest story in the Bible: chapter 21 speaks of the fertility rituals (Cainites): They gave credit to the encomiast or praise singer and refused to give the Creator credit or even listen to His Word.
JOB 21 DEFINES THE ATTITUDE OF THOSE ENGAGED IN FERTILITY RITUALS.
See Alexander Hislop The Great Red Dragon
THE ORIGIN OF IDOLATRY Recognitions of Clement. Just after the Flood
"But when all these things were done, men turned again to impiety; [There is a similar chapter in Homily IX. 7, but in a discourse: on the following day.-R.] and on this account a law was given by God to instruct them in the manner of living.
But in process of time, the worship of God and righteousness were corrupted by the unbelieving and the wicked, as we shall show more fully by and by.
Moreover, perverse and erratic religions were introduced, to which the greater part of men gave themselves up,
by occasion of holidays and solemnities, instituting drinkings and banquets,
following pipes, and flutes, and harps, and diverse kinds of musical instruments, and indulging themselves in all kinds of drunkenness and luxury.Hence every kind of error took rise; hence they invented groves and altars, fillets and victims, and after drunkenness they were agitated as if with mad emotions.
By this means power was given to the demons to enter into minds of this sort, so that they seemed to lead insane dances and to rave like Bacchanalians; hence were invented the gnashing of teeth, and bellowing from the depth of their bowels; hence a terrible countenance and a fierce aspect in men, so that he whom drunkenness had subverted and a demon had instigated, was believed by the deceived and the erring to be filled with the Deity.
Chapter VII.-Sacrificial Orgies.
"But they did not cease to worship images, by reason of the evil intelligence of the magicians, who found excuses for them, which had power to constrain them to the foolish worship For, establishing this things by magical ceremonies, they assigned them feasts from sacrifices, libations, flutes, and shoutings,
by means ofj which senseless men, being deceived, and their kingdom being taken from them, yet did not desist from the worship that they had taken up with.
To such an extent did they prefer error, on account of its pleasantness, before truth.
They also howl after their sacrificial surfeit, their soul from the depth, as it were by dreams, forewarning them of the punishment that is to befall such deeds of theirs.
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth Job 21:5 .
Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh. Job 21:6
Wherefore do the WICKED live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? Job 21:7
Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. Job 21:8
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. Job 21:9
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. Job 21:10
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. Job 21:11
They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. Job 21:12
They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Job 21:13
WHAT DID THEY TELL GOD?
Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. Job 21:14
What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? Job 21:15
I rest my case!
Of the Evil Lamech family or Cainites.
Genesis 4:19 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.The Handle and Organ words have deep meaning: for instance Jesus marks the Scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites by naming rhetoricians, singers and instrument players. The ORGAN word is the inordinate love of the singing.
Genesis 4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
Genesis 4:21 And his brother’s name was Jubal:
he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
Handle means "without authority." Taphas, similar to Topheth.
Mark 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him,This was OUTLAWED for the Church in the wilderness: Common decency when God's Word (only) is being taught.
Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders,
but eat bread with unwashen hands?
Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them,
Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written,
This people honoureth me with their LIPS, but their heart is far from me.
Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me,
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (songs, sermons)
Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God,
ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups:
and many other such like things ye do.
Mark 7:9 And he said unto them,
Full well ye reject the commandment of God,
that ye may keep your own tradition.
Hupokrinô REPLY, make answer
2. expound, interpret, explain [outlawed by Peter as private opposition] II. Att., speak in dialogue, hence play a part on the stage, be an actor, kômôidian, of orators and rhetoricians, represent dramatically, use histrionic arts, exaggerate,rhêtor-ikos , ê, on, oratorical, hê rhêtorikê (sc. technê).
Similar Words:
Erôtikôn dramatôn 3. of an orator, use histrionic arts, exaggerate, ape, mimic, Mania or religious frenzy.LATIN: canto I. Neutr., to produce melodious sounds (by the voice or an instrument), to sound, sing, play (class. in prose and poetry; rare in Cic.). ad manum histrioni, in comedy, to sing and play while the actor accompanies the song with gestures or dancing 2. Of an actor, to represent a part, to act, 2. Of the singing pronunciation of an orator,
Ezek. 33:3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
Ezek. 33:4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning;
if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
Ezek. 33:30 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.
Ezek. 33:31 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.
Christ's definition of nothing of value
Ezek. 33:32NET Realize that to them
you are like a sensual song,
a beautiful voice and skilled musician.
They hear your words, but they do not obey them.
Ezek. 33:33 When all this comes true–and it certainly will–
then they will know that a prophet was among them."
Jay Guin: Isaiah condemns those who celebrate with instruments while not honoring God.
(Isa 5:12-13 ESV) 12 They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands. 13 Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge; their honored men go hungry, and their multitude is parched with thirst.
Isaiah sarcastically urges Tyre to “take a harp” to enjoy its days pending God’s destruction.
(Isa 23:15-16 ESV) 15 In that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, like the days of one king. At the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the prostitute: 16 “Take a harp; go about the city, O forgotten prostitute! Make sweet melody; sing many songs, that you may be remembered.”
Amos demands that the people stop playing the harp, not because it’s wrong but because God will not accept the worship of the unrighteous even if holy in form. Amos also rejects the offering of fattened animals, even though such offerings are commanded.
(Amo 5:21-24 ESV) 21 “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. 23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. 24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Christ speaks to the Qahal, Synagogue or Church of Christ in th wilderness: after Israel's fall from grace because of musical idolatry God turned them over to worship the starry host and those were the gods the worshipped. The Synagogue was then and always a Set-Time-Place to Rest from the pagan Sabbath rituals, Read the Word and Rehearse it. The synagogue was A School of the Word and Christ suplies all of the Words.
I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord. Amos 4:11
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. Je.23:14
Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. Zep.2:9
For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: Amos 5:4And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. Re.11:8
But seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nought. Amos 5:5
Seek the Lord, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el. Amos 5:6
Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth, Amos 5:7
Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name: Amos 5:8That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress. Amos 5:9They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. Amos 5:10Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. Mi.3:9Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat:
JFB notes: 23. Take . . . away from me--literally, "Take away, from upon Me"; the idea being that of a burden pressing upon the bearer. So Isa 1:14, "They are a trouble unto Me (literally, 'a burden upon Me'): I am weary to bear them.
"the noise of thy songs--The hymns and instrumental music on sacred occasions are to Me nothing but a disagreeable noise.
I will not hear--Isaiah substitutes "prayers" (Isa 1:15) for the "songs" and "melody" here; but, like Amos, closes with "I will not hear.Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Isaiah 1: 13
"Amos, we are told, is the sharpest critic of musical instruments in pre-Christian times. through him God expresses a preference for justice and honesty over bloody sacrifice and its attendant music of song and instruments. This sentiment, we are told, was revolutionary, making part of a similar change felt over the civilized world... And overall view of the evidence, McKinnon thinks, reveals a relationship between the three elements: a higher conception of God, a rejection of sacrifice, and a rejection of musical instruments." (Green, William M, Pepperdine College, in Restoration Quarterly, v. 19, 1966).
"To hear a man's or woman's voice sing Handel's solo... beats through one's chest with some sort of a throb depending on how well he or she is singing, and how much you respond to this kind of music. But no matter how much you may 'enjoy' Handel's solo, the words are not meant to be entertainment." (Schaeffer, Edith, Christianity is Jewish, p. 1)
"Amos stressed "that violations of the moral law could not be remedied by means of festive rites, offerings, or liturgical indulgence on the part of the sinner. In point of fact, God was already standing beside the altar (Am. 9:1ff), poised and ready to shatter it. No ritual, however, elaborate and symbolic in nature, could possibly substitute for the sincere worship of the human spirit, grounded in high moral and ethical principles." (Harrison, p. 895).
"Not surprisingly, most Israelites declined the prophet's invitation to enter into a dialog with Yahweh. They preferred a less demanding religion of cultic observance either in the Jerusalem Temple or in the old fertility cults of Canaan. This continues to be the case: the religion of compassion is followed only by a minority; most religious people are content with decorous worship in synagogue, church, temple and mosque. The ancient Canaanite religions were still flourishing in Israel... the Israelites were still taking part in fertility rites and sacred sex there, as we see in the oracles of the prophet Hosea, Amos' contemporary." (Armstrong, Karen, A History of God, p. 47).
Isaiah 55 forbids us from spending our money on what is not food and Isaiah 58 forbids us to seek our own pleasure or even speak our own words.
Is. 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Is. 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places:
not doing thine own ways,
thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations;
and thou shalt be called,
The repairer of the breach,
The restorer of paths to dwell in. Isa 58:12
nor finding thine own pleasure,
nor speaking thine own words: Isa 58:13
Cycle One
Cycle Two
WE then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Romans And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. Romans 15:10 Romans 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. Romans 15:3And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. Romans 15:11 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning (teaching), that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust. Romans 15:12 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: Romans 15:5 Now the God of hope fill you (not with wine but) with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify (tell of His works) God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:6 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Romans 15:14 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister (deacon) of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: Romans 15:8 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God. Romans 15:15 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will (2) that the offering (bloodless sacrifice) up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:16 (1) confess to thee among the Gentiles, and (1) That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, (2) sing unto thy name. Romans 15:9
ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed. Rom 15:18
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Rom 15:19
See Martin Luther on Romans 15 who speaks for all historic scholarship.
For instance, the distracted world attempts to serve God by setting apart houses, churches, cloisters;
........... vestures, gold-trimmed, silk and [50] every other kind;
........... silver vessels and images; bells and organs, candles and lamps;
........... the money for which expense should have been appropriated to the poor
........... if the object was to make an offering to God.Further, it keeps up a muttering and wailing in the churches day and night.
........... But true praise and honor of God, a service that cannot be confined to place or person,
........... is quietly ignored the world over.The pretenses of priests and monks about their system of exercises
being service to the Lord, are false and delusive.Amos later condemns those who take their ease or enjoy instrumental music when God is planning to destroy them for their sin. His condemnation is not the instruments but the attitude of living in luxury when the people ought to be in mourning.
Stephen connects the Amos idolatry to the musical idolatry at Mount Sinai: there is no way you can engage in musical idolatry in the presence of God and also have a good mental attitude. If you are the enemy of Christ you are not going to be sad--yet.(Amo 6:1-8 ESV) “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! … 3 O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence?
4 “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, 5 who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, 6 who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! 7 Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.” 8 The Lord GOD has sworn by himself, declares the LORD, the God of hosts: “I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds, and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.”
The Battle of Baal and Yahm Aloud they [summon the assembly of the gods/ do cry to those near]. They invitethe distant ones / those far away, to the assembly of `El
they summon/do cry: "`El remains seated
[in his marzeah/banqueting hall/among his cult-guests (dM)] . . .The shame of the Eternal One
The shameful conduct of the usurper . . .
O gods, (to) the house of your lord . . .
[Who surely travels (S)
lest he go (D/G) quickly
the Runner will not walk (dM)] through the land, . . .
who goes in the dust (of) destruction
a mess of mud on the ground . . .Comments: Smith believes lines 7-8 should be interpreted "Either literally, as `El walking through the underworld, or an allusion to `El being "dead drunk," or both metaphorical, and ironic, as the marzeah serves as the setting for feasts for the dead and for the living mourning the dead (p. 145).
Conrad L'Heureux demonstrated that the marzeah, or symposium (feast, gathering, banquet, assembly) of El that is found in the Rephaim Texts of Ugarit "must be a reflex in the divine world of the symposium celebrated by the members of the earthly marzeah of El...each guild apparently had a divine patron."42 The heavenly marzeah had participants called rp'm, which we also find in the earthly marzeah, e.g., "May Krt be greatly exalted among the rp'm of the earth...the rp'm constitute an aristocracy of which the Canaanite kings were a part."43 Moses, and the prophets following him were proclaimed as "Speakers for Yahweh," showing the people that "they are sent from the divine king, the suzerain of treaties, to reprove and to pronounce judgment upon Israel..."44
Note 42: Conrad L'Heureux, "The Ugaritic and Biblical Rephaim," Harvard Theological Review, 67(1974): 270-271.
Note 43. Conrad L'Heureux, Rephaim, 271. Cf. 272, footnote 25, the authority of El is ordinarily exercised through the younger generation of gods whom we could call the executive deities. It is also possible to understand the term rp'm as "the assembly of the gods." The entire premise of Jacobsen's article "Primitive Democracy," is that the groups and assemblies on earth reflected what the gods had done in heaven.
See Plato define the Greek Symposium.
Amos no more considers instrumental music inherently sinful than he condemns eating lamb. He condemns the pride that is leading to the fall of God’s people. People should not celebrate while living lives that displease God!
That's true: Amos is condemning the music in the TEMPLE which by direct command should get you executed.
See Amos 8: see what Christ thought
Amos 8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD,
that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of the LORD:
Amos 8:12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east,
they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
Amos 8:13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.
Amos 8:14 They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say,
Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth;
even they shall fall, and never rise up again.If you have ever read Acts 7, Stephen proves that the "worship" in Amos is identical to the musical idolatry at Mount Sinai.Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The loss of instrumental music is a sign of unhappiness or God’s displeasure
Job cries –
(Job 30:31 ESV) 31 My lyre is turned to mourning, and my pipe to the voice of those who weep.
Isaiah’s prophecy of the fall of Babylon includes —
(Isa 14:11 ESV) 11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, the sound of your harps; maggots are laid as a bed beneath you, and worms are your covers.
Christ in Spirit defines Lucifer as the "singing and harp playing prostitute." Babylon and Tyre are guided by the spirit of Lucifer.
Isa 14:9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: i
t stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth;
it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.Isa 14:10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?
Isa 14:11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave,
and the noise of thy viols:
the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Isa 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Pomp: H1347 gâ’ôn gaw-ohn' From H1342 ; the same as H1346 :—arrogancy, excellency (-lent), majesty, pomp, pride, proud, swelling.
NOISE is never MUSIC:
1949. hoom; a primitive root (compare 2000); to make an uproar, or agitate greatly:—destroy, move, make a noise, put, ring again.
2000. hamam, haw-mam´; a primitive root (compare 1949, 1993); properly, to put in commotion; by implication, to disturb, drive, destroy:—break, consume, crush, destroy, discomfit, trouble, vex.
H1993 hâmâh haw-maw' A primitive root (compare H1949 ); to make a loud sound (like English “hum”); by implication to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor:—clamorous, concourse, cry aloud, be disquieted, loud, mourn, be moved, make a noise, rage, roar, sound, be troubled, make in tumult, tumultuous, be in an uproar.
Is. 23:12 And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice,
O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim;
there also shalt thou have no rest.
Is. 23:13 Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not,
till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness:
they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.
Is. 23:14 Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.
Is. 23:15 And it shall come to pass in that day,
that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king:
after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.
HERE IS THE SONG OF THE PROSTITUE
Is. 23:16 Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten;
make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.
Is. 23:17 And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre,
and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication
with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.And Ezekiel says regarding the fall of Tyre —
(Eze 26:13 ESV) 13 And I will stop the music of your songs, and the sound of your lyres shall be heard no more.
Isa 26:5 For he bringeth down them that dwell on high;
the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low,
even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.Isa 26:6 The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.
Isa 26:7 The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
Isa 26:8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
Isa 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night;
yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early:
for when thy judgments are in the earth,
the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.Seek: 578. anah, aw-naw´; a primitive root; to groan:--lament, mourn.
579. anah, aw-naw´; a primitive root (perhaps rather identical with 578 through the idea of contraction in anguish); to approach; hence, to meet in various senses: befall, deliver, happen, seek a quarrel.
Isa 26:10 Let favour be showed to the wicked,64. tsedeq, tseh´-dek; from 6663; the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity: x even, (x that which is altogether) just(-ice), ((un-))right(-eous) (cause, -ly, -ness).
6663. qAdDx tsadaq, tsaw-dak´; a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense):—cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness).
yet will he not learn righteousness:
in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly,
and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.
2580. chen, khane; from 2603; graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty):--favour, grace(-ious), pleasant, precious, (well-)favouredIsa 26:11 LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see:
7563. rasha{, raw-shaw´; from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person: condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did wrong.
7561. rasha{, raw-shah´; a primitive root; to be (causatively, do or declare) wrong; by implication, to disturb, violate:--condemn, make trouble, vex, be (commit, deal, depart, do) wicked(-ly, -ness).
but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people;
yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.When Isaiah prophesies God’s destruction of the earth at the end of time (see John N. Oswalt, The New International Commentary on the Book of Isaiah Chapters 1 – 39, pp 444 ff), he describes it in terms of the end of instrumental music as punishment for violating God’s “everlasting covenant.”
(Isa 24:7-10 ESV) 7 The wine mourns, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh. 8 The mirth of the tambourines is stilled, the noise of the jubilant has ceased, the mirth of the lyre is stilled. 9 No more do they drink wine with singing; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. 10 The wasted city is broken down; every house is shut up so that none can enter.
Isaiah 24:5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof;
because they have transgressed the laws,
changed the ordinance,
broken the everlasting covenant.Isaiah 24:6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth,
and they that dwell therein are desolate:
therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.Isaiah 24:7 The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.
Isaiah 24:8 The mirth of tabrets ceaseth,
the noise of them that rejoice endeth,
the joy of the harp ceaseth.Isaiah 24:9 They shall not drink wine with a song;
strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.
We don't do that in a School of Christ.
Isaiah 24:10 The city of confusion is broken down:
every house is shut up, that no man may come in.Isaiah 24:11 There is a crying for wine in the streets;
all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.
We don't do that in a School of Christ.Isaiah 24:12 In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.
Isaiah 24:13 When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people,
there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree,
and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.The same idea is found in the Revelation, where the fall of Rome (Babylon) is prophesied.
(Rev 18:21-23 ESV) 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; 22 and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, 23 and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.”
The general theme is that God’s pleasure leads to celebration, which leads to instrumental music. When a person or a kingdom suffers God’s displeasure, they are no longer able to celebrate with instruments. Thus, the absence of instruments demonstrates God’s unhappiness and hence the need for the people to mourn and repent.
When people who ought be mourning because of their sins celebrate with instruments, God is unhappy. Their use of instruments evidences their obtuse, foolish refusal to understand and respond to God’s unhappiness.
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