We find details of David gathering together the leaders of Israel and the Levites for temple service. Of some 38,000 Levite males over age thirty, 4,000 were set apart as musicians. David stated that they were to "offer praises to the Lord with the instruments that I have made for praise". We also see in I Chronicles and the Psalms that some were assigned to play specific instruments - harp, lyre, cymbals, lute, tambourine, strings, pipe, and trumpets.
We probably can not make the jump from temple worship to New Testament saying that the worship practices in David's time should be the same now. However, the Psalms sung in David's time were still being sung in New Testament times. And the Psalms were always sung to the accompaniment of instruments. A decision to disconnect between Old and New to the point that it stifles the praise of God is very dangerous. Could it not be said that we have even more reason to praise God in much grander ways because of what has been revealed to us since David? We've seen the glorious, completed work of Christ and the view of worship in the book of Revelation. Would we just ignore so much that is taught about worship in the Old Testament and abandon it? Should the use of instruments simply vanish? There is nothing in the New Testament instructing that instruments were to be silenced. The Psalms are full of commands and calls to use instruments in worship. Psalm 92 states in the first three verses that Sabbath day worship would include instruments. It is possible that the Psalms were used excluding instruments, but very unlikely. And we are commanded to "sing" Psalms with words such as - "praising Him with trumpets and cymbals". How likely is it that we would sing those words and not use instruments?
Extensive direction and guidance in the use of instruments in the worship of God is given in the Old Testament. It was definitely directed by God through His servants, such as David. It was seen to be of great importance that great resources were used in the worship of a great God! mjm
