The following presentation of evidence and reasoning will be true to our hermeneutic, examining first the OT passages and then the NT passages related to instrumental music.
When reading the Scriptures, it is difficult to ignore the significance of harps to the heart of God.
Of all the earthly treasures we presently enjoy from God, he chose the harp as the one precious gift we would carry beyond the grave.
In heaven we are promised a white robe (Rev 7:9), an everlasting crown (1 Cor 9:25) and a harp (Rev 15:2):
“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, and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb.” We know that God gives good gifts to those he loves (Matt 7:11), but why would a stringed musical instrument be so important as an expression of God’s love for our victory over evil? The superficial answer is that God loves our praise and therefore the instrument is simply a vehicle of encouragement to produce accompanied singing. But God’s love for stringed instruments goes much deeper than just as an aid to singing praise.
The Impact of a Great Musician on the Heart of God
The history of the use of stringed instruments in worship provides an insight into God’s character and the importance of this gift. The harp did not become a part of the ministry of the temple worship until the time of David, the great musician(1 Chron 25ff). Instruments were common among God’s people. Jubal was “the father of all who play the harp and flute” (Gen 4:21). We know that instruments were popular in celebrations such as the missed opportunity for a party recorded in Gen 31:27. Females seem to particularly favor percussion instruments like the tambourine, such as Aaron’s sister, with the praise recorded in Exod 15:20. King David had a special gift for playing the harp. David clearly proclaimed God’s love for accompanied singing throughout the book of Psalms, particularly with the strings of a harp. David became God’s benchmark for playing the harp (2 Ki 18:3).
David literally defined how God was worshipped in the temple by writing much of God’s songbook, the book of Psalms. But it is the very special and remarkable relationship of King David to the heart of God the Father that sealed God’s love for harps. Children often introduce activities into our lives that we accept and enjoy. Those activities then remind us of our children even when they are not present. So it is with the harp. It reminds God of the great king and of his eternal promise to David: “He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father and he will be my son . . . . My love will never be taken away from him . . . your throne will be established forever” (2 Sam 7:13-16).
This promise to David is so significant that prophets repeat it for generations to come (Isa 9:6-7) and, of course, it finds its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus Christ. Playing the harp for God reminds him of King David, a favorite child “a man after His own heart” (1 Sam 13:14; Amos 6:5) and of his promise to David that one of his descendants would be on the throne forever. No wonder it is our heavenly gift for being people of justice (Amos 5:21-24) and for being victorious over evil (Rev 15:2).
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