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Small things matter!

• Who determines what things are small?• Seemingly “Small” matters are given “extreme”

judgment!– Lev. 10:1-3; incense– Acts 5; a claim to have given more– 1 Samuel 15; sparing a king

• Even when making a distinction between “weightier matters” Christ says the whole should be observed.– Matt. 23:23

Authority is Crucial!• Throughout the law emphasis is given on observing

All that the Lord had commanded. – Language of the covenant: “be careful” “obey every

command” “all these regulations”• Deut. 5:32; 8:1; 12:28; 26:16

Language of the Covenant

• Deut. 5:32; So you shall observe to do just as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.

• Deut. 8:1; “All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your forefathers.

• Deut. 12:28; “Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.

• Deut. 26:16; “This day the Lord your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul.

Authority is Crucial!• Throughout the law emphasis is given on observing All

that the Lord had commanded. – Language of the covenant: “be careful” “obey every

command” “all these regulations”• Deut. 5:32; 8:1; 12:28; 26:16

– This is what really brings to light how grevious this sin was of Nadab and Abihu.

• “just as the Lord commanded”• Lev. 8:4, 9, 13, 17, 21, 34, 36; 9:7, 10; 10: 15• The sin of Nadab and Abihu stands in stark contrast as they do what

was not commanded!

– Command is given not to add to or take away: God’s “silence” is restrictive not permissive

• Deut. 4:2; 12:32; 29:29; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19

God’s Silence is Restrictive:

• Deut. 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.

• Deut. 12:32 “Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.

• Deut. 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.

God’s Silence is Restrictive:

• Prov. 30:5-6 5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 6 Do not add to His words tr He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

• Rev 22:18-19: 18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Observing God’s Authority:Instrumental Music

Musical Worship: God said Sing!• Ephesians 5:19; Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns

and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

• Colossians 3:16; 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

• God specifies what we are to do: “sing”• God specifies what we are to sing: “psalms, hymns, spiritual

songs”• God specifies who is supposed to sing: “one another”–

everyone

God said Sing!

• No Commands Given to Play• No examples given of Instrumental music in

NT worship• God’s silence is restrictive

– The command to sing gives permission for what is expedient to carry out the command.

• Song books, overhead/powerpoint

– To add/subtract things that fundamentally change the command is to disobey.

• Adding Instruments, bands, listening to a cd.• Ex. Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11

Objections:• But Instruments were used in the OT:

• Num. 10:1-2, 10; 1 Sam. 10:5; 1 Chron. 15:16, 18; 16:4-5; 28:11-13; Psalm 150:1-6

• Much use demonstrated in 1 Chronicles• Moving the ark (1 Chron. 13:8; 15:16-24, 28)

• A variety of instruments listed• Appointment of men to different instruments• Appointment of men to lead the use of different instruments.

• To praise God continually before the ark (1 Chron. 16:4-6, 42)• Specific men appointed.

• Preparations of the temple/Temple worship (1 Chron. 23:3-6; 25:1-31)• Appointed to Levites• Men who were trained, and skillful appointed

Was this Authorized?• Already seen that this was organized and authorized by David:

• 1 Chron. 25:1; “David selected” these men and “assigned responsibility”

• A hint given early on:• 1 Chron. 25:8; “They cast lots to determine their responsibilities oldest as well as youngest,

teacher as well as student.” • Prov. 16:33; The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD.

• All of David’s organizations were directed by God• 1 Chron 28:19; “All of this I put in writing as the Lord directed me and gave me insight

regarding the details of the blueprints.”• The practice of instrumental music was authorized by God:

– 2 Chron. 29:25-27; Then he [Hezekiah] stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for thus was the commandment of the Lord by his prophets.

– Psalm 81:2-4; Raise a song and strike the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the lute. Blow the trumpet at the time of the New Moon, At the full moon, on our solemn feast day. For this is a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

1 Chron. 13

• Right after mention of singing and using instruments in the transport of the ark we see someone who acts ouside of God’s commands/authorization

• Uzzah (1 Chron. 13:9-10)• A “small” act of Disobedience made in the context

of moving the ark.• Explanation of Uzzah’s situation (1 Chron. 15:11-15)• Directly after is the organization of musicians who

sing and play as the ark is transported.

Observing God’s commands for Music:

• Instrumental Music was Commanded in particular situations in the OT.

• Instrumental Music is no longer authorized and thus, no longer permitted.

• Practicing instrumental music is a symptom of a larger problem: A lack of biblical authority.

• When we worship with our voice, we demonstrate our stance for the Silence of the Scriptures.