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Abraham, David, and You
Question: If we say that God never changes (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8), Chen why did He change when it comes to instruments of music in worship? If it was acceptable for David to compose and play Psalm 150, why can we not use instruments in our Christian worship?
Truth always has a context. It was truth that Israel was God’s chosen people. It was truth that their circumcision represented their unique role as God’s people. It was truth that the sacrifices under that system made atonement for sins. It was truth that the trumpets and lyres of David’s court were used in praise.
Remember, the things of the old covenant had their place and served their purpose, but they were part of a very different context. It was a covenant made specifically with Israel (Deut. 5:3) that became obsolete (Heb. 8:13). Any attempt at foisting elements of that covenant onto Christians today is tantamount to Judaizing. If you want one part of that law, you’re under obligation to the whole thing (Gal. 5:2-3).
One might push back on this point: “But how can God say something is good and acceptable worship in one covenant, but all of a sudden say it’s bad in another covenant? If God is pleased with David’s worship in Psalm 150 or 2 Samuel 6:5, then why wouldn’t He be pleased with the same thing now?” But would you make the same argument for circumcision? Galatians 5:6 clearly states that circumcision does not matter anymore to God. But it sure did matter to God in the Old Testament! What about the food laws? It was absolutely essential under the Old Law to keep these regulations strictly. It was a sign of their holiness. It was important! But in one fell swoop Jesus declared all foods clean in Mark 7:19. I am not required to defend why God’s will dictates one thing or another under different covenants. But I must acknowledge it, and Hebrews 9:11-25 provides a detailed explanation of the way the Old Covenant (consisting of copies and shadows) is now replaced by the New Covenant in Christ.
As for the accusation that this somehow contradicts God being immutable, we need to recognize that it is His character that never changes. How He commands people to honor Him has changed over the millenia, from patriarchs offering sacrfices on hand-made altars, to a nation of Israelites gathering around a tabernacle, to Jews and Gentiles being called into union with His Son. What God wanted, in FORM, from Abraham or David was very different from today. But what He wanted in SUBSTANCE, i.e., faith, has always been the same, regardless of the covenantal context (Romans 4:16).
