WEEK ONE: Mount Calvary Baptist Church College and Career Sunday School notes, July 11, 2010 by Peter Davis

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1 WEEK ONE: Mount Calvary Baptist Church College and Career Sunday School notes, July 11, 2010 by Peter Davis The Heart of Music: A Devotional Survey in Scripture Peter Davis July, 2010 Music In Scripture: Taking God s Model and Making it Mine So, what s the point? At times, we miss the big picture Due to: Pre-conceived ideas Undue focus on minutiae Trees important? Yes, but the forest is moreso. Goal: Not to promote a particular style of music Goal: To promote Biblical thinking The Heart of Music To be Biblical In hermeneutic In heart In emphasis In worship In unity The Heart of Music Another goal: To appeal to the heart What is the HEART OF MUSIC? What s it all about? What is the Biblical motive for music making? Exodus 14:30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians 15:1 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trust in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him. Psalm 33:3-4 Sing unto Him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. For the word of the LORD is right; and all His works are done in truth. Psalm 98:1 O sing to the LORD a new song, For He has done marvelous things! Psalm 96:2, 4 Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised It s all about God His Word His works His relationship to us (It s not about the music!) Then, why bother?

2 Music does communicate, through Text Sound itself Attached associations Concerning music texts (lyrics), God gives: Direct statements about texts Biblical examples of texts Col. 3:16 (ESV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs Application: Music then is a means of letting the Word dwell in us richly. Eph. 5:18-19 Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs Application: Music then is a means of speaking to ourselves. 1 Cor. 14:15 What then? I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding. Application: Understanding truth is an essential part of worship music. 1 Cor. 14:15 What then? I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding. John 4:23 God is spirit, and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. Application: Worship in truth = objective truth is the stuff of worship. 1 Chron. 25:1 David set apart for the service some who were to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals... Application: Musical texts are a means of prophesying. Deut. 32:44 Then Moses came and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. When Moses had finished he said to them, Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today. Application: We should set our heart on the lyrics of sacred songs. John 17:17 Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth. Application: #1. Scripture truth in a song has power to sanctify. #2. So music = receiving the Word. Amos 5:23-24 Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like wateres, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Application: Message of music = Life of the music-maker, Or It is noise to God. He rejects it. Eze. 33:30-32 Your fellow citizens speak to one another Come now and hear what the message is from the LORD. They sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them.

3 (Eze. 33:32) Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; For they hear your words but they do not practice them. Application: They listened for mere intellectual enjoyment (entertainment) Not for edification and application Direct statements about song texts Biblical examples of song texts 2 Sam. 23:1-2 David, the son of Jesse, declares, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel, The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue. The Psalms are an inspired hymnal Divine examples of good sacred songs Inspired texts, not inspired tunes Excellent literary quality Even in an ancient, agricultural society The inspired Psalms contain songs of Worship and Praise Prayer Contrition Warning Theological instruction Personal heart cry The purpose of the text: To communicate truth to be believed Then, WHY MUSIC? Sound must communicate something Job 38:7, The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy And Laban said to Jacob, Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs? 1 Sam. 16:23 David would take a harp and play with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him. Isa. 16:10 Therefore my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab Job 30:27 My harp is tuned to mourning, and my flute to the sound of wailing.

4 1 Chron. 15:16 Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, to raise sounds of joy. Psa. 98:4, 6 Make a joyful noise to the LORD With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful nosie before the King, the LORD! Music adds to the text an additional EMOTION Psa. 81:2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel (tambourine), The pleasant harp with the psaltery. Music adds to the text an additional ENJOYMENT Ezra 7:27 Blessed be the LORD who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD. Music adds to the text an additional BEAUTY Psa. 30:11-12 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; Psa. 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee Psa. 66:2 Sing forth the honor of His name: Make his praise glorious. Psa. 108:1 O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Music adds to the text an additional GLORY Music adds to the text and additional EMOTION ENJOYMENT BEAUTY GLORY The purpose of the text: To communicate truth to be believed The purpose of the music: To add EMOTION, ENJOYMENT, BEAUTY, AND GLORY. (to the text)

5 WEEK TWO: Mount Calvary Baptist Church College and Career Sunday School notes, July 11, 2010 by Peter Davis Music in Scripture: Finding God s Model and Making it Mine Peter Davis July, 2010 The Heart of Music: A Devotional Survey in Scripture Peter Davis July, 2010 Goal: Not to promote a particular style of music Goal: To promote Biblical thinking To be Biblical In hermeneutic In heart In emphasis In worship In unity It s all about God His Word His works His relationship to us Music does communicate, through Text Sound itself Attached associations The purpose of the text: To communicate truth to be believed The purpose of the music: To add EMOTION, ENJOYMENT, BEAUTY, AND GLORY. (to the text) How can I know from Scripture what God s standard for music is? For public worship? For private worship? For enjoyment? For entertainment? First, are you surrendered to God? Are you submitted to your authorities? John 7:17 If any man wills to do His will, he shall know of the doctrine A syllogism : If God doesn t bless sin And it is a sin to disobey your parents God cannot be blessing you through music your parents forbid. How can I know from Scripture what God s standard for music is?

6 In scripture we do not find: Explanations of music theory terms A listing of 21 st century music forms that are good or bad Moral judgments made about musical style used in narratives In Scripture we do find: Narratives of music/worship scenes (Definable) Worship verbs Lists of ancient instruments Commands about music/worship Description of the Levitical musicians We also find: Descriptions of carnality/spirituality (Gal. 5:19-23) Good/bad food for thought (Phil. 4:8) Instructions about debatable things (1 Cor. 8-10, Rom. 14) Descriptions of music/worship scenes: Musical celebration at the Red Sea Music/dancing before the golden calf Trumpets sounded over sacrifices David playing before Saul The return of the ark to Jerusalem Descriptions of music/worship scenes: The dedication of Solomon s temple Levites Singing in Holy Array in Front of Jehoshaphat s Army in Battle Minstrel playing before Elisha Christ singing the Hallel (Passover) Descriptions of music/worship scenes: Paul/Silas singing in prison Corinthians bringing a psalm Heavenly worship before the Lamb 144,000 Singing on Mount Zion From ancient music history we surmise: Music was apparently only unison melody without countermelody Probably minor-sounding modes, not our common major scale Chant-like rhythms (before time signatures evolved) But what about musical style in the narratives? RED SEA They sang with joy The text exalted God Only instruments were tambourines Women danced, led by a prophetess GOLDEN CALF WORSHIP Their view of God was diminished They rose up to play (revel) There was music and dancing

7 Out of control (v. 25, NASB) Apparently immorality (1 Cor. 10:7) TRUMPETS DURING SACRIFICES Silver trumpets (Num. 10) Less melodic capability than today s The shofar (ram s horn) was more of a signal or alarm than modern melody It solemnized the sacrifice DAVID PLAYING BEFORE SAUL Simple harp music Saul was refreshed and well This is a non-normative situation (distressing spirit from God) Overall context God showing His Spirit had gone from Saul to David RETURN OF ARK Huge national, outdoor event Lyres, harps, castanets, tambourines, cymbals They celebrated with all their might David leaped and danced before God Congregation said Amen! Michal s criticism rebuked DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE Priests/Levites made music as one Sanctification and fine apparel 120 (silver!) trumpets Sang God s goodness and mercy God s glory filled His house MINSTREL BEFORE ELISHA Elisha was upset with the kings Called for a minstrel Minstrel played with his hand (no singing) God s Spirit came on Elisha PSALMS Various types of psalms Clapping of hands Lifting up of hands Processions (Psalm 68) Praise with timbrel and dance enjoined CHRIST AT PASSOVER It was customary to sing the Hallel after Passover (Psalms ) No instruments involved The text would have had immediate application to Christ s life PAUL AND SILAS IN PRISON Had been beaten with rods (half-dead) In stocks in darkness (miserable surroundings) Prayed and sang to God No instruments God sent an earthquake

8 HEAVENLY WORSHIP OF THE LAMB Response to seeing Him Singing and Harps Angels and redeemed humans CONCLUSIONS Worship varied from scene to scene It was different than ours It was often in outdoor national celebrations (military victories) CONCLUSIONS Instruments were vocal, strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion Percussion instruments would be light percussion compared to today There was dancing involved CONCLUSIONS Loud or soft Simple or complicated Festive or solemn Vocal or instrumental Narratives are helpful, but inconclusive We also find: Descriptions of carnality/spirituality (Gal. 5:19-23) Good/bad food for thought (Phil. 4:8) Instructions about debatable things (1 Cor. 8-10, Rom. 14) Gal. 5:13 You were called to freedom, brethren; Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Gal. 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. Gal. 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Gal. 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these Gal. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control God s description of carnality is An indicative list Things He says are evident A non-exhaustive list A sufficient list Philippians 4:8 Whatsoever things are true honorable (dignified) just pure lovely commendable; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think these things. Can any aspects of the flesh be conveyed through music or singing style? Sensuality?

9 Anger? Drunkenness? Carousing (reveling)? Can any aspects of the fruit of the Spirit be conveyed through music? Joy Peace Gentleness? Self-control A syllogism : Music affects emotions Some emotions are good or bad Therefore, music is not neutral The non-neutrality of music is supported By scripture By personal experience By secular philosophers By secular musicologists

10 WEEK THREE: Mount Calvary Baptist Church College and Career Sunday School notes, July 11, 2010 by Peter Davis Music in Scripture: Finding God s Model and Making it Mine (Wk. 2) Peter Davis July, 2010 It s all about God His Word His works His relationship to us The purpose of the text: To communicate truth to be believed The purpose of the music: To add EMOTION, ENJOYMENT, BEAUTY, AND GLORY. (to the text) How can I know from Scripture what my music choices should be? What has God condemned? What has God modeled? What can I as an individual be allowed to do? What is wise for a leader/protector of others to allow? Narratives are helpful, but inconclusive We find also in scripture: Descriptions of carnality/spirituality (Gal. 5:19-23) Good/bad food for thought (Phil. 4:8) Instructions about debatable things (1 Cor. 8-10, Rom. 14) Gal. 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Gal. 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these Gal. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control God s description of carnality is A representative list A list of things He says are evident A non-exhaustive list ( and such like ) A sufficient list Can the flesh be expressed in music? Sensuality? Anger? Drunkenness? Revelings?

11 Can the fruit of the Spirit be expressed in music? Joy? Peace? Gentleness? Self-control (temperance)? (Listening samples) Sensuality, anger, drunkenness, revelling? Honorable, pure, lovely, commendable? A syllogism : Music affects emotions Some emotions are good or bad Therefore, music is not neutral The non-neutrality of music is supported by scripture personal experience secular rock musicians secular philosophers secular musicologists The non-neutrality of music Does NOT mean isolated elements are good or evil culture is not a factor Music s effects are absolute and automatic How can music become carnal? Can carnality be gradual and incremental? Compare to other subjective areas drug use clothing/modesty alcoholic content of beverages physical contact with opposite gender gluttony hair styles Combination of factors Increments of elements Subjective choices Philippians 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent : Philippians 4:8 Whatsoever things are true honorable (dignified) just pure lovely commendable; any virtue any praise, think these things. God calls us to test all things hold fast the good abstain from evil

12 Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Everyone who has been fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40 Concerning increments. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 1 Corinthians 5:6 What s it all about? Jars of Clay Kutless Honorable, pure, commendable? Newsboys Honorable, pure, commendable? Francesca Honorable, pure, commendable? (Et cetera, other pictures of CCM artists with questionable portrayal) Is CCM prohibited in the Bible? Which style of music is closest to the Biblical model? Why?