What Role Does Music Play in Worship — Meaning Explained

Music fills Scripture from beginning to end. After the Red Sea crossing, Moses and Israel sang (Exodus 15). David — 'the sweet psalmist of Israel' (2 Samuel 23:1) — wrote scores of psalms and organized temple worship with musicians (1 Chronicles 25). The Psalms command musical worship: 'Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp' (Psalm 150:3). 'O come, let us sing unto the LORD' (Psalm 95:1). Music has spiritual power — David's harp soothed Saul's tormented spirit (1 Samuel 16:23). Jehoshaphat sent singers before the army, and God defeated the enemy (2 Chronicles 20:21-22). Paul and Silas sang hymns in prison, and an earthquake opened the doors (Acts 16:25-26). Paul commanded, 'Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord' (Ephesians 5:19). Colossians 3:16 links singing with teaching: 'Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns.' Heaven itself is filled with music (Revelation 5:9, 14:3, 15:3).