Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 2/9/2007

Question
Is Rock music but about christ like "One Way" is okay? other baptists church said that any music that uses drums are ANTI...!  

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

Yes, I believe that ANY music that glorifies God is good.  It is just stupid, narrow minded, and wrong to think that the enemy has a right to an instrument and God's people don't.  I beleive that every instrument ever created is being played in heaven in worship and adoration to God.

Let's look at the history of instruments in the Bible.

The history of Hebrew music goes back to the first person who beat a stick on a rock, and it extends to the temple orchestra and the “joyous sound” called for in Psalm 150. That first musician heard rhythm as he beat his primitive instrument. As people began to realize they could make music, they created more complex instruments.
For example, David is credited with inventing a number of instruments, although we do not know precisely what they were (cf. Amos 6:5). David called upon a chorus of 4,000 to offer praises to the Lord “with the instruments which I made to praise” (there was bound to be a drum among the 4000)(1 Chr. 23:5; cf. 2 Chr. 7:6; Neh. 12:6). David also composed songs, such as his lament over the death of Saul and Jonathan.
Though God directed Israel’s social and religious development, the nation absorbed ideas from surrounding cultures. Israel was at a geographical crossroads and was exposed to ideas and customs from other parts of the world (Gen. 37:25), including musical style.
Many men of Israel married foreign wives whose customs gradually crept into Hebrew lifestyle. According to the collection of postbiblical Jewish writings called the Midrash, King Solomon married an Egyptian woman whose dowry included 1,000 musical instruments (again a 1000 instruments there had to be at least 1 drum). If this is true, no doubt she brought musicians with her to play those instruments in the traditional Egyptian way.
The purpose the music served and the way in which listeners responded to it also influenced the development of Hebrew music. In times of war, it was often necessary to sound an alarm or send some other kind of urgent signal. Thus the Hebrews developed the shophar, an instrument like a trumpet with loud, piercing tones (Ex. 32:17–18; Judg. 7:18–20). Merrymaking and frivolity called for the light, happy tones produced by the pipe or flute (Gen. 31:27; Judg. 11:34–35; Matt. 9:23–24; Luke 15:23–25).
Music was also a part of the religious life of Israel. The Israelites’ formal worship observed various rituals prescribed by God. Music served as an accompaniment to these rituals.
Temple music consisted of singers and an orchestra. The singers and musicians could come only from the males of certain families. Likewise, the types of instruments were restricted. Instruments that were associated with women, with raucous merrymaking or with pagan worship were banned from the temple orchestra.
The Old Testament lists several kinds of instruments in the temple orchestra (cf. 1 Chr. 15:28; 16:42; 25:1). These instruments include the big harp (nevel), the lyre (kinnor), the ram’s horn (shophar), the trumpet (chatsotserah), the timbrel (toph), and cymbals (metsiltayim). After the Israelites returned from the Exile and rebuilt the temple, the orchestra was reestablished (cf. Neh. 12:27). The pipe or flute (halil) was probably now included, and vocal music became more prominent.
Beyond formal worship within the temple, music was a part of other religious activities. Instruments not allowed in the temple were played at other religious functions, such as feast days. Often the feast began with a musical proclamation; then music, singing, and even dancing were part of the celebration. Women singers and musicians were allowed to participate (Ezra 2:65; Neh. 7:67; 2 Chr. 35:25).
The Old Testament seldom mentions the forms of music, the origins of instruments, and so on. The way to play or make instruments was passed on by oral tradition rather than written record. Most of that oral tradition has been lost, leaving us with only the brief information in the Bible.
Very few ancient musical instruments exist intact, so we must guess at how they looked and sounded. By comparing Scripture references with the artifacts of other cultures, historians and archaeologists have helped fill in many of the gaps in our knowledge of music in Bible times.
This study is a continuing process, as newer translations of the Bible demonstrate. If we compare passages about music from the King James Version with more recent translations, some differences can be noted. The following lists of instruments give the name in the KJV for each instrument mentioned, along with the findings of more recent interpretation.

Musical instruments fall into three basic classes, according to the way the sound is produced: (1) stringed instruments, which use vibrating strings to produce the sound; (2) percussion instruments (drum like), in which the sound is produced by a vibrating membrane or metal shell; and (3) wind instruments, which produce sound by passing air over a vibrating reed.

A. Percussion Instruments. The people of Israel used a variety of percussion instruments to sound out the rhythm of their music. Rhythm was the vital element of their poetry and songs.

1. Bells. One kind of bell had a name (metsilloth) that came from the Hebrew word meaning “to jingle” or “to rattle.” This type of bell is mentioned only once in the Bible (Zech. 14:20), where we are told that the Israelites attached these bells to the bridle or breast strap of horses.
Another kind of bell was a tiny, pure gold bell (paamonim). It was fastened to the hem of the high priest’s robe and alternated with ornamental pomegranates (Ex. 28:33–34). These bells produced a sound only when they touched one another, for they did not have clappers. This jingling sound signified that the high priest was coming before God; others who dared to enter the Holy of Holies would be slain (v. 35).

2. Castanets. See “Cymbals” and “Rattler-Sistrum.”

3. Cymbals. Cymbals (metziltayim or tziltzal) were made of copper and were the only percussion instrument in the temple orchestra. They were used when the people were celebrating and praising God. They joined with trumpets and singers to express joy and thanks to the Lord (1 Chr. 15:16; 16:5). Asaph, David’s chief musician (1 Chr. 16:5), was a cymbal player. When the people returned from captivity, Asaph’s descen-dants were called to join singers and trumpets in praise to the Lord (Ezra 3:10).
In passages such as 1 Chronicles 16:5, some versions translate the Hebrew as castanets. It is now generally believed that this is inaccurate and should be cymbals.

4. Rattler-Sistrum. This is the correct translation for 2 Samuel 6:5. (The RSV uses castanets, while the KJV uses cornet.) The sistrum was a small U-shaped frame with a handle attached at the bottom of the curve. Pieces of metal or other small objects were strung on small bars stretched from one side of the sistrum to the other.
The use of the sistrum goes back to ancient Egypt and has counterparts in other ancient cultures. It was merely a noisemaker, played by women on both joyous and sad occasions.

5. Tabret. See “Timbrel.”

6. Timbrel. Modern musicians would classify this instrument as a “membranophone” because the sound is produced by a vibrating membrane. It is correctly translated as either timbrel or tambourine. (KJV uses the term tabret.) It was carried and beaten by the hand. In very early times it may have been made with two membranes, with pieces of bronze inserted in the rim.

7. Gong. The “brass” mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:1 was actually a metal gong. It was used for weddings and other joyous occasions.

B. Stringed Instruments. Archaeologists have found fragments of harps and other stringed instruments from Egypt and neighboring countries of the Near East. Scripture describes several stringed instruments that were used in Israel.

1. Dulcimer. This term appears in the Bible only in Daniel 3:5, 7, 10, and 15. It is not a precise translation. See “Harp.”

2. Harp. The harp (KJV also uses psaltery, viol, or dulcimer) was a favorite instrument of the aristocratic class and was lavishly made (1 Kin. 10:12; 2 Chr. 9:11). It was used in the temple orchestra and was appointed to “raise sounds of joy” (1 Chr. 15:16).
3. Lute. This three-stringed triangular instrument may have been one of the “instruments of music” mentioned in 1 Samuel 18:6. It was usually played by women and was excluded from the temple orchestra.

4. Lyre. Two Hebrew terms are translated as lyre. (The KJV uses harp.) One is mentioned in only one book of the Bible (Dan. 3:5, 7, 10, 15). This particular lyre (nevel) was frequently used for secular music, such as the merrymaking at Nebuchadnezzar’s banquet. It was played by plucking the strings with the fingers.
A smaller lyre (kinnor) was considered to be the most sophisticated instrument. Its shape and number of strings varied, but all types of lyres produced a most pleasing sound. The lyre was used in secular settings (Is. 23:16), but was welcomed in sacred use too. It was the instrument David used to soothe King Saul. Generally, this “little lyre” was played by stroking the strings with a plectrum, much as a guitar can be played with a pick. However, David seemed to prefer to use his hand instead (1 Sam. 16:16, 23; 18:10; 19:9). Skilled craftsmen made lyres of silver or ivory and decorated them with lavish ornamentation.

5. Psaltery. See “Harp.”

6. Sackbut. See “Trigon.”
7. Trigon. The book of Daniel frequently refers to the trigon (Dan. 3:5, 7, 10, 15). The KJV incorrectly calls it the sackbut; the sackbut was not devised until several centuries after biblical times.
We do not know the exact shape and size of the trigon. The instrument appears to have been borrowed from the Babylonians and thus was not common among the instruments of Israel.

8. Viol. See “Harp.”

C. Wind Instruments. Despite their limited knowledge of metal-working, the Israelites fashioned a variety of horns and other wind instruments.

1. Clarinet. The primitive clarinet was a popular instrument in Bible times. It is mentioned in Isaiah 5:12; 30:29; and Jeremiah 48:36. It is incorrectly translated as pipe (KJV) or flute (RSV) in these verses. New Testament references include Matthew 9:23; 11:17; Luke 7:32; and 1 Corinthians 14:7. The clarinet probably was not used in the temple but it was a popular instrument for banquets, weddings, or funerals.

2. Cornet. See “Trumpet,”  “Shophar,” and “Rattler-Sistrum.”

3. Flute. The flute (mashrokitha) was actually a big pipe. (The KJV uses pipe.) Because it was a big pipe and had a mouthpiece, it produced a sharp, penetrating sound, somewhat like an oboe. The flute was popular for secular and religious use but it was not mentioned as an instrument of the first temple orchestra. It was sometimes allowed in the second temple. Because of its penetrating sound it was used in processions (Is. 30:29).

4. Organ. See “Pipe.”
5. Pipe. Pipe usually refers to a wind instrument that was used to express wild joy or ecstatic lament. It is generally believed to have been a secular instrument, although Psalm 150:4 mentions its use in the temple for a religious celebration.
The King James Version uses the terms organ and flute instead of pipe.

6. Shophar. The shophar is best understood as a “ram’s horn,” as in Josh. 6:4, 6, 8, 13. The KJV often uses trumpet, cornet, and horn to render this Hebrew word (cf. 1 Chr. 15:28; 2 Chr. 15:14; Hos. 5:8). It was designed to make noise, not music, so it could not play melodies. It was used to give signals and announce special occasions, such as the transfer of the ark (2 Sam. 6). It was also used to frighten away evil spirits and gods of the enemy (Zech. 9:14–15).

7. Trumpet. The trumpet was similar to the shophar but was used by the priests. Trumpets were often used in pairs (Num. 10:1–10). Originally two were ordered for the temple; but the number could be increased to 120, depending upon the purpose (2 Chr. 5:12).
Trumpets were made of bones, shell or metals—bronze, copper, silver, gold—all of which produced a high, shrill sound. It is generally believed that these trumpets, like the shophar, could not produce sounds in various pitches, so as to make music (melody). However, they could blow legato and staccato notes and trills. Thus, they could convey complicated signals to announce assembly, battle, and ambush.
Gideon used trumpets to terrorize the enemy (Judg. 7:19–20). John heard the sound of a trumpet before he received his vision of the apocalypse (Rev. 1:10). In fact, trumpets are among the prominent symbols of the Judgment (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16; Rev. 8:2).
Gideon used trumpets to terrorize the enemy (Judg. 7:19–20). John heard the sound of a trumpet before he received his vision of the apocalypse (Rev. 1:10). In fact, trumpets are among the prominent symbols of the Judgment (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16; Rev. 8:2).


Futher information:  several years ago archelogists found a relief from Carchemish in Syria which protrayed worship in the Jewish temple.  This basalt relief depicts 4 musicans, one blowing a curved horn (shofar), one carrying a large drum, and two people beating the drum with thier open hands.  The person holding the drum also appears to be wearing a neckstrap to help support the drum.

I hope this answers your question.

Information obtained from the Illustrated Manners and Customs of the Bible