King David's Modern Worship Band

2 Samuel 6:5 (ESV) says, “And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with songs and” the modern worship band. No, no, it doesn’t actually say that. But it could, maybe it should.  It actually goes on to say “lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.”

But wait, those don’t sound like modern band instruments, except maybe tambourines and cymbals. True, but lets just take what’s written and apply it to modern culture.

The lyre was like an ancient guitar. Said to have been invented around 3200 BC it precedes the lute by nearly 1200 years. Guitars weren’t invented until the 16th century in Spain, and they weren’t electrified until almost 100 years ago. So, if King David were around today, would he have an electric guitar? Well, in the sense that God requires us to bring Him our newest and best, maybe so. In church culture though, the electric guitar is still a point of contention among many believers. There’s a sense that it’s a secular instrument unfit for use in church.

The harp is still around today but gave way to the harpsichord in the early 1400s. But, the harpsichord has a problem – it has no expression. It’s essentially a one-volume instrument. So, around 1700 the piano was invented, purely because the Italian inventor wanted to be able to play “harpsichord music” loudly or softly. About 200 years went by before the piano was brought into the church because, until the late 1800s, pianos were considered secular instruments and thus not suitable for church. Gee, where have I heard that before? Then came the 1970s when all hell broke loose and gave way to the electric piano, leading to the digital piano we use today. And why do we use it? Well, we can get a great-sounding digital piano/keyboard for under $5,000 that sounds like a $100,000 concert grand piano. It doesn’t play like one tho, so I’ll accept that donation whenever you want to make it!

Tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. While David doesn’t mention drums specifically here, there are plenty of other scriptural references to their use. They’ve been around probably longer than we have any record of, which begins around 5500 BC. Oddly enough, the drums precede the organ by a few thousand years.

Let’s take a brief hop down the rabbit trail of the organ, and its relation to the church, shall we? Originally invented in the 3rd century BC, it wasn’t until the 6th century AD when the Pope was said to have introduced the organ at the cathedral in Rome. In the 9th and 10th centuries, the Benedictine order of monks began using the organ in worship. It was another 600 years before organs were well-known in the church, and it was not until the 18th century that they became commonplace. Somewhere along the way, likely in the 1800s, there was a Bible translation or two where in Psalm 150 they inserted the word “organ”. Given the fact that the Psalms were written a couple hundred years before the organ was invented, we see just how prominent the organ was in church culture. One might say that the organ may have become an idol for many – especially if they were willing to edit the Holy Bible for its inclusion. One might say that. Not me of course. I would never say that.

And yet, some denominations around the world are totally against the use of any instruments in church. Sad really. I guess playing an instrument in one of their services might be akin to King David dancing almost naked in the streets. God would be glorified, but the people would be offended!

So, did King David have a modern worship band? Yes! Most certainly he did. The Bible, in many references, records in examples, how God’s people worshiped. And while there will always be varying interpretations of the scripture, we know this to be true. God loves the praises of our hearts! Those for whom God has given musical talents are encouraged through scripture to play to the best of their ability and play some more. Play to God! If the world or the church are offended, but you are playing to the Glory of God, ignore both. For it is only God we worship, serve, and are focused on.

Keep Calm, and Play On