Today’s reading is Psalm 98.
Let’s talk about the big, pink elephant in the room. Depending on how you came across this blog, you may or may not be aware it is sponsored by a congregation which refuses to sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with trumpets, or with shofar. We will sing and make joyful noises with the best of them, but we do not make the melody on mechanical instruments. We have no band, no piano, no organ. However, we are now in our second season of reading the Psalms which repeatedly encourage doing exactly that–making melody on some kind of musical instrument.
You may be asking why we would act exactly opposite of what these psalms say? Allow me to explain.
The psalms were written in the context of tabernacle and temple worship. Just as the Israelites worshiped God by offering sacrifices at the tabernacle, then the temple, they worshiped God by making melody on “musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals” and more at the tabernacle and the temple (see 1 Chronicles 15:16, et al). You may be aware, not only do we not worship God by making melody on musical instruments, we don’t worship God with sacrifices. More than that, we don’t worship God at the tabernacle or temple. Except…actually we do.
Paul wrote, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22, ESV). Do you see it? We actually do worship God at the the tabernacle or temple. However, we do not worship at a structure in Jerusalem. In fact, our temple is not a building at all. Our temple is the collection of the people. Christ’s church (the assembly of His people) is the temple of God and the dwelling place of the Spirit. Just as Christ is the New Covenant fulfillment of all the sacrifices in the Law, Christ’s church is the New Covenant fulfillment of the tabernacle and the temple from the Law.
But keep reading in Ephesians until you get to 5:18-20: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (ESV). As Christ’s church we are God’s temple, the dwelling place of the Spirit. Therefore, we are to be filled with the Spirit which is acted out not by drunken parties, but by assemblies of praise and song. But notice, “making melody to the Lord with your heart.” I do not cite this verse as a rule or a technicality. I ask you to see the story of worshiping God played out as the physical pointers of the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled in fullness and truth in the New Covenant of Jesus Christ. In the very same way we the people of God fulfill the temple of God, Jesus fulfills the sacrifices, our hearts fulfill the instruments found in that temple worship.
If Psalm 98:5-6 prove anything, it proves God knows how to command the playing of instruments to worship Him. He knew how to command a temple to be built. He knew how to command sacrifices to be offered. In the covenant God has made with us through Jesus Christ, He also knew how to ask for the temple, the sacrifice, and the worship He wants. And He does. Christ’s church is the temple. Jesus is the sacrifice. Further, our singing also fulfills sacrifice (see Hebrews 13:15). Finally, our hearts fulfill the instrumentation.
Thus, when we read about doing things at the temple or the altar in the Psalms, we don’t start traveling to Jerusalem or constructing a temple. Rather, we come to Christ’s church. When we read about sacrifices in the Psalms, we don’t start herding cattle or flocks. We turn to Jesus and we give ourselves to Him. When we read about making melody on lyre, trumpets, and horns, we don’t bring in the pianos, we tune our hearts to sing His praise.
That’s how we sing. We’d love to invite you to join us.
Tomorrow’s reading is Psalm 98.
PODCAST!!!
PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Psalm 98 prompt or improve your hope in God?
Read the Bible 