When Jesus was transfigured, Moses, representing the Law, and
Elijah, representing the prophets, were also present. The voice of God
proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him.”
(Matt. 17:5) Today we are no longer governed by the Law or the prophets, but
exclusively by God’s Son.
Christ’s teachings were different from the Law in that His
doctrine worked on the heart, not just the externals. For instance, He
taught in Matthew 6:27-28: “You have heard that it was said to those of old,
‘You shall not commit adultery,’ “But I say to you that whoever
looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his
heart."
Christ required that our worship be from the heart too, not just
an outward ritual. He taught, “God is Spirit, and those
who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
We learn in the Law of Christ that we should "pray
with the spirit and pray with the understanding; sing with the spirit and sing
with the understanding”. (I Cor.14:15)
It is interesting, then, to compare the way God commanded the
Israelites to sing under the Old Law and the way Christians are commanded to
sing today, under Christ’s Law:
Old
Law:
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the
upright is beautiful. Praise the LORD with the harp; Make
melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
(Ps. 33:1-2)
Christ
Law:
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord
is,… speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
and making melody
in your heart to the Lord. (Eph. 5:17,19)
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. (Col. 3:16)
One can search the New Testament from cover to cover and not find
one instruction from God to sing with a mechanical or man made instrument in
worship to Him. It is interesting that in the Old Testament He should
specify that they make melody
with an instrument of ten strings. It is not just
coincidence or an oversight that in the New Testament where the emphasis is on
the heart that the instrument specified with which to make melody to God would be the heart.
For
the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth.
(Ps.33:4)
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Col.3:17)
ISBS Ladies Daily Devotional
11/24/04
............Article 113............
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