What does the Bible say about music?

Music is used to praise God

Enter any church, regardless of denomination, and you will find some kind of music there.

Whether led by a choir, a band, a single musician, or singer, religious melodies are used as a way to praise God. Therefore, they’re frequently included in the act of worship.

Ephesians 5:19 emphasizes that songs are a method that can be used to praise the Lord. It reads: “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

Music is a way to glorify God

Everything we do, according to 1 Corinthians 10:31, is done to glorify God. This includes the music we listen to and perform. “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Musical instruments

There are more references to instruments used to praise God, namely the harp, used by King David of Israel, who was renowned for his skills.

“Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals,” (2 Samuel 6:5).

King David

Another reference to King David and music can be found in 1 Chronicles 15:16. It reads: “Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy.”

The purpose of songs

The Lord puts songs in our mouths for a reason. Psalm 40:3 reads: “He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.”

Inspirational

The word of Christ can inspire songs of worship, according to Colossians 3:16. The Bible verse reads: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Celebrating victories

Music has been used for millennia to celebrate victories, including the triumph of God. Moses is known to have sang a victory song, according to Exodus 15:1.

Music can enlighten others

The Bible tells us that music can edify others. The idea is put forward in 1 Corinthians 14:26, which reads: “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”

Music can affect us positively

Music can be beneficial when we go through difficult times and generate a positive effect. Acts 16:25 gives us an example: “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

Expressing happiness

James 5:13 reads: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”

Nebuchadnezzar II

King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon, for instance, is said to have used music to convince people to worship his image instead of God.

Cast into burning furnace

The passage continues: “But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

Draw us away from God

Some music can draw us away from God. Isaiah 5:12 tells us that: “The harp and the strings, the tambourine and flute, and wine are in their feasts; but they do not regard the work of the Lord, nor consider the operation of His hands.”