In the Old Testament the nation of Israel used material things to worship God. They worshiped God using vestments, altars, candles, sacrifices, the temple, and musical instruments.
It’s different in the New Testament.
The New Testament church never used material things like incense, vestments, candles or other Old Testament worship tools.
For Christians, the material things of Old Testament worship have passed away. They now represent spiritual realities. We derive spiritual blessing from the worship styles of the Old Testament not by following their literal examples, but by learning from their symbolism. For example, incense represents prayer (Rev. 8:3-4), sacrificial animals represent Christ (1 Cor. 5:7), and the temple symbolizes the church (Eph. 2:21).
It’s the same with musical instruments. Like other Old Testament worship tools, musical instruments are shadows that symbolize spiritual reality.
What do musical instruments symbolize for us today?
Musical Instruments Represent the Soul
The Bible says musical instruments represent the soul.
Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab, and my inner being for Kir Heres.
Isaiah 16:11
Isaiah said his heart was like a harp. When a harp is played, it releases sounds. In a similar way, when the heart is moved upon by spiritual forces or by other factors, it releases emotions.
People talk about their heartstrings being moved by circumstances or by people. When heartstrings are played upon by various factors, emotions result.
The soul is the invisible part of a person that is the seat of emotions, thoughts, and desires. The heart is part of the soul.
The soul is to be like a musical instrument that is played by the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit moves upon us, the output of our life will be pleasing to God. Good emotions are called the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). These good emotions result from the Holy Spirit operating upon the human soul as if playing an instrument. Good desires and thoughts will also emanate from a soul that is moved upon by the Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah said the heart was like a flute.
Therefore My heart shall wail like flutes for Moab, and like flutes My heart shall wail for the men of Kir Heres.
Jeremiah 48:36a
As a flute can produce sad songs, so the heart will produce sorrowful emotions when affected by sad news.
The human soul is like a musical instrument. It releases emotions like a musical instrument produces songs.
To take this comparison one step further, we can see that the church of God is like a symphony. Each member of the body of Christ has a part to play in this symphony. As our hearts and souls flow together under the influence of the Holy Spirit, a spiritual song will be revealed through the church that will glorify God.
Musical Instruments in Worship?
Musical instruments can stimulate emotions. They can make us feel happy, sad, afraid, or relaxed.
Musical instruments have been used for centuries throughout the world in many religions as an aid in worship. They assist in worship by stimulating emotions of reverence or joy. They were also used for worship in the Old Testament, along with other physical worship tools that helped the Israelites connect with God.
But musical instruments were not used in the New Testament. The early Christians sang together, but they didn’t use musical instruments.
Although musical instruments were never used in the New Testament church to worship God, they are often used in churches today. Organs, pianos, and guitars are used in church to create a worshipful atmosphere. Musical instruments have become very common in churches.
Many Christians today equate good music with the moving of the Holy Spirit. When they hear good “worship” music they believe the Holy Spirit is working. When they do not hear such music they do not feel the same working of the Holy Spirit.
In many Eastern churches, incense is more common than musical instruments. Incense has been used in these churches for centuries to aid people in their prayers and in creating a “spiritual” atmosphere. When people smell the incense, it puts them in a religious mood. They equate the smell of incense with the presence of God.
In Western churches, musical instruments are more commonly used to set the mood rather than incense.
As Christians, we do not need the external stimulation of musical instruments or incense to aid us in worship. We have the Holy Spirit in our hearts who will stimulate an appropriate emotional response to God. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and then we can worship God “in Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
Whether it’s musical instruments, incense, candles, or vestments, we don’t need to import these Old Testament worship forms into the church. These are shadows of Christ, and now that he has come, they are no longer needed. We are instructed to put these things away. We need the pure moving of the Holy Spirit on our hearts. The true Holy Spirit is the only one who can inspire true and acceptable worship today.
Trumpets Represent Spiritual Calls
In addition to representing the human soul, trumpets in particular symbolize something else. In the Old Testament, trumpets were used to call God’s people together, warn them of danger, prepare them for worship, and unleash God’s power.
Trumpets represent God speaking to his people.
O my soul, my soul! I am pained in my very heart! My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
Jeremiah 4:19
A trumpet symbolizes a call or alarm in the spiritual realm. Here in Jeremiah, God was warning his people of impending judgment. Jeremiah heard this word from God, and to him it was like a trumpet calling out a warning. Others could not hear this sound, but Jeremiah heard it because he was in tune with God.
A trumpet can also represent a prophetic word.
Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the LORD, Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law.
Hosea 8:1
Hosea was told to blow a trumpet in the spirit realm. He was told to release a prophetic word. Blowing a trumpet is symbolic of prophesying and speaking the word of God.
God’s people should respond to these prophetic trumpets and act accordingly. They don’t need literal trumpets. They need to understand spiritual trumpets – how to declare and respond to prophetic words.
John heard such a spiritual trumpet when he received the Revelation.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet
Revelation 1:10
John heard the word of God coming from heaven like a trumpet.
Trumpets, like other musical instruments in the Bible, represent spiritual realities. We don’t need to blow trumpets today in church, but we do need to speak out and hear words from God’s throne.
Conclusion
Musical instruments represent the soul. When a musical instrument is played well, beautiful songs come forth. When it is played badly, discordant sounds come forth. When the Holy Spirit and other positive influences move on the human soul, beautiful thoughts and emotions come forth that glorify God. When evil spirits or other negative factors influence the human soul, bad emotions come forth that do not glorify God.
Today, we don’t need musical instruments in worship. We have the Holy Spirit moving directly within our hearts to inspire a proper emotional response to the Lord Jesus.
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24
Bethel Cornerstone 