Although the Three Forms of Unity do not address the subject of musical instruments and musicians in particu­lar, Articles 7 and 25 of the Belgic Confession and Lord's Day 35, Q/A 96 of the Heidelberg Catechism do provide some clear direction.

The Whole Manner of Worship which God Requires⤒🔗

The sufficiency of Holy Scripture, including its teaching on the worship of God, is the subject of Belgic Confession Article 7, with which the church confesses:

We believe that Holy Scripture fully contains the will of God and that all that man must believe in order to be saved is sufficiently taught therein. The whole manner of worship which God requires of us is written in it at length. It is therefore unlawful for anyone, even for an apostle, to teach otherwise than we are now taught in Holy Scripture: yes, even if it be an angel from heaven, as the apostle Paul says (Galatians 1:8). Since it is forbidden to add or to take away anything from the Word of God (Deuteronomy 12:32), it is evident that the doctrine thereof is most perfect and complete in all respects.

Our confession declares here not merely that Scripture says something about worship, but that "the whole man­ner of worship which God requires of us is written in it at length." The church of the New Covenant is simply not permitted to ignore the length to which the Holy Spirit goes in teaching about Old Covenant worship, particu­larly of the Mosaic and Davidic eras which are described in expansive scriptural detail. On the topic of musical instruments and musicians, furthermore, the Christian church is duty-bound to heed the in-depth writings of Holy Scripture concerning the Davidic liturgical period.

The Fulfillment of the Law in Christ←⤒🔗

Belgic Confession Article 25, which addresses the re­lationship between the Old and New Covenants, also of­fers some guidance that is vital to the Christian church's perspective on musical instruments and musicians in worship. This article states that,

We believe that the ceremonies and symbols of the law have ceased with the coming of Christ, and that all shadows have been fulfilled, so that the use of them ought to be abolished among Christians. Yet their truth and substance remain for us in Jesus Christ, in whom they have been fulfilled. In the meantime we still use the testimonies taken from the law and the prophets, both to confirm us in the doc­trine of the gospel and to order our life in all honesty, according to God's will and to his glory.

The New Testament offers no indication whatsoever that musical instruments are among the shadows of the law that ought to be abolished, as is clearly the case with the sac­rifices and other associated ceremonies of the law. On the contrary, as was observed in the previous article, musical instruments and musicians in the Revelation to John make the song of the Lamb ring forth from the multitude of wor­shippers around God's throne like never before.

As Commanded in His Word←⤒🔗

The Heidelberg Catechism also addresses the manner of worship in its formulation concerning the second com­mandment of God's law, where it says that the faithful may not "worship him in any other manner than he has commanded in his Word" (LD 35, Q/A 96). The positive thrust of this teaching, then, is that we are to worship God only as he has so prescribed in his Word, namely, in the Old and New Testaments.

Musical Instruments and Musicians in Worship: Preliminary Musings and Applications←⤒🔗

Drilling Down into God's Revelation←↰⤒🔗

Some have claimed that "the Bible says virtually noth­ing about church music."¹One might argue, however, not only on the basis of our survey of Holy Scripture, but also on the basis of what follows from a closer study of it, that it says a lot about church music. At the very least, "what it does say is of great assistance to us in determin­ing the decisions we have to make in church music."²

Before drilling down into God's revelation in the Bible concerning instrumental song in future articles, we do well to contemplate the significance and practical implications of what we have discovered so far, and its relevance for the church's worship today.

Music as Human Cultural Enterprise←↰⤒🔗

When we gather before God in worship, we come as humans who are part of a long musical tradition. Music is one of the most integral, instinctive elements of the hu­man cultural enterprise (Genesis 4:20-22), and thus, of who we are as human beings. From the establishment and development of instrumental song in worship over the course of Israel's early history, it is evident that our Creator-God expects us, as human creatures, to worship him with in­strumental song. Making music to God is instinctive to his creatures; making music with instruments is both instinctive to, and distinctive of, his human creatures. This makes our subject all the more pressing.

Instrumental Music an Ordinance of God←↰⤒🔗

Making music with instruments in worship was not something that was merely dreamed up by humans, even though it seemed natural to them as a way of express­ing praise and gratitude (Exodus 15:20-21). Rather, God himself commanded it (Numbers 10:1-10; 2 Chronicles 29:25). Through King David, he even established an elaborate ministry of music and song among the Levites (1 Chronicles 16:4-6). In seeking, then, what is the best way to use musical instruments to praise the LORD, we do well to open up God's revelation and look for clues.

Musical Instruments and Singing←↰⤒🔗

While the playing of instruments was not always for the purpose of accompanying or leading singing, it seems that in most cases it was. Thus, the musical ministry of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, was called "the ministry of prophesying" (1 Chronicles 25:1; cf. 1 Samuel 10:5). Furthermore, the Levite musicians could not just make music of any kind; they were "put in charge of the ser­vice of song" (1 Chronicles 6:31, emphasis added). Even more significantly, the musical instruments of the Levites were called instruments for or of sacred song (1 Chronicles 15:16; 16:42; Nehemiah 12:36, etc.). Evidently, there was a close con­nection between music and word – between playing on instruments and singing – in Scripture. This was to be reflected by the musicians in how they played their instru­ments, namely, to carry and enhance holy song.

This connection between the music of instruments and the words that were sung has obvious implications for the place and role of musicians and their instruments in the Lord's service of worship. Musicians must make music on their instruments to enhance the words that are sung, not to detract from those words, nor to draw attention to themselves or their instruments. Church musicians are to remember that they play instruments for song. Voices and instruments should blend together into one sound, rather than competing to be heard (2 Chronicles 5:13).

The LORD'S Musical Instruments←↰⤒🔗

Even the instruments which King David made were called "the LORD'S musical instruments ... made for praising the LORD" (2 Chronicles 7:6). The kings did not cheap out on the instruments, but imported the highest quality materials to manufacture them, along with the other building materials for the temple, costly as that was (1 Kings 10:11-12). Like the temple itself, the musical instruments were to display the glory of Yahweh, who made his dwelling there!

Church musicians, then, must remember that their musical instruments cease to be theirs, in a sense, in worship. They belong to the LORD God who is worshipped. Furthermore, quality instruments are worth every dollar that is invested in them. Although this principle does not give license to purchase musical instruments irrespon­sibly, it does require musicians to search for the high­est quality instruments that they can afford. Churches, furthermore, should see to it that church musicians are not forced to purchase the cheapest, lowest quality in­struments available.

Instrumental Song and Spiritual Vitality←↰⤒🔗

Instrumental song, since it was a reflection of the spiritual vitality of Israel and the favour of her God (Nehemiah 13:10; Psalm 137; Jeremiah 7:34; Ezekiel 26:13; Amos 5:23), and also of their spiritual prowess (2 Chronicles 20:21; Psalm 144), re­mains an indicator of the spiritual health of the church.

The favour of Christ our Lord upon us and our spirit­ual vigour and valour can be measured, to some degree, by the attention, vigour, time, and money that we devote to the church's musical ministry (2 Chronicles 23:18; 35:15; Nehemiah 13:10-12; Jeremiah 33:10-11; Amos 9:11-12). A careful reading of the Psalms confirms this (Psalm 33; 92; 98; 144; 150, etc.; cf. Ephesians 5:18-20).

Christ, the Song-Leader←↰⤒🔗

If one should question, as one might, whether such practical implications and imperatives for the present-day church can be drawn from the Old Testament, it can hard­ly escape the attentive Bible-reader's notice that the New Testament doesn't seem to let up on instrumental song.

Jesus sings God's praises using psalms (Hebrews 2:12; Psalm 22:22; cf. Romans 15:7-13; Luke 24:44), with no indication that he means less by song than his Old Covenant broth­ers and sisters experienced and enjoyed.

Paul's command to make music "with your heart fully engaged" includes both singing and instrumenta­tion (Ephesians 5:19-20).

John's vision from the Lord Jesus in Revelation is thundering and ringing with instrumental music and song all around (Revelation 1:10; 4:1; 5:8; 8-11; 14:2).

The Holy Spirit tells all Christians, furthermore, to cock their ears for the sound of the trumpet call of God!

So tune your instruments under the baton of the Mas­ter-Musician. Warm up your voices with his songs. De­velop and master new musical skills by the power of his Spirit. Let the music for the King, still thunder and ring!