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Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. Isaiah 8:16.
And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. Isaiah 8:17.
Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. - Isaiah 8:18.
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? - Isaiah 8:19.
I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. My tongue also shall talk (hagah) of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt. - Psalm 71:22-24.
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. - Isaiah 8:20.
And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward. - Isaiah 8:21.
And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.- Isaiah 8:22.
Isaiah 8:20 is a parallel or cross reference to what we read in Revelation 22:18,19. It identifies with "speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent where it is silent".
When one speaks where the Bible is silent they are putting their own words above that of our LORD's. We are to "rightly divide the Word" which in a many ways already has been done for us. The Bible is one book that speaks of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. The Old Covenant featured the Saturday Sabbath, ceremonial laws, dietary restrictions, new moons, instruments in worship and so forth:
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." - Colossians 2:16,17.
When Christ came to earth and established the New covenant as was prophecied throughout the Old Testament, the partial (ceremonial laws and so forth) would be done away, they were as Colossians 2:17 indicates "a shadow of things to come".
The New Covenant offered a new Sabbath for Christian worship and a new mode of worship, namely New Testament worship where the Old Testament stuff would be done away with and the new covenant instituted for God's elect.
No longer would the Old Testament be the Christian's guide for Sabbath day worship according to Colossians 2. The regulative principal of worship for Christians today is set forth by God in the New Testament.
One of the reasons why false worship with mechanical instruments is so very prevelant is because people look to the Old Testament to justify this practice:
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. - Psalm 150.
O.K., but what about these verses?
Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar. - Psalm 51:19.
I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah. - Psalm 66:13-15.
If one has to go to the book of Psalms to justify something being done in a worship service today, then what about the verses in Psalms that speak of burnt offerings of rams, young bulls, incense, etc.? Can one pick and choose what verses they feel are applicable to worship today? No. Not according to Isaiah 8:20.
The "peepers" spoken of in Isaiah 8:19 closely identify with those in the first century whom the inspired Paul declared were "as sounding brass or tinkling cymbal", but do not have LOVE:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. - 1 Corinthians 13:1.
It is the history of wizards, mediums, spiritualists and witches to be able to disguise their voices and wholesale it to the public for an outrageous price under labels such as: "psychic". Today, the "peeps" and "mutters" being used in contemporary christian music use amplifiers, ampitheatres and volume to silence, overcome, impress and overwhelm in feeling the paying audience.
"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words" - Isaiah 58:13.
Again, there is no command, example or implication anywhere in the Bible that permits the use of man made mechanical instruments in the New Covenant Sabbath worship.
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us - Hebrews 9:23,24.
In Hebrews 9:23,24 we learn that the New covenant establishes a pattern similar, but superior to the Old Covenant worship.
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord - Ephesians 5:19.
singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord - Colossians 3:16. singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord - Ephesians 5:19.
Required:
Pattern Authorized:
Note: Psallo does not mean including the use of an instrument. If it did it would be a command and all present would have to adhere to it. In other words, all would have to use an instrument when sining. It would thus be required and not an option.
As we go into all the world with the gospel, we do so by witnessing. Witness in Acts 1 is from the Greek word "martus" and means: "in an historical sense".
We witness by declaring God's word without adding or taking away from it. This is entirely different from the Bible Alone or Bible Only because if we are going to coin such phrases then, we better be quoting scripture alone and not adding a single letter or word of our own commentary, this would be blasphemy, putting our own words on the same level as God's and in no way, shape or form the Bible alone. We are humble witnesses, that's all we are, we are notthe Word, although it richly dwells in us; Christ is the Word:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." - John 1:1,14.
It is apparent that the insinuations that: "I bring the Bible alone but you don't" (churches try this trick too, and of course it was even tried it on Jesus) mentality is geared toward the re-writing of Christian history. In turn we now see newer generations of new WINESKINS percolating and bubbling to add their NEW WINE which too often ignores the fact mechanical instruments were not part of New Testament worship from the beginning, but added through time by apostate churches during their Sabbath "worship".
who hath sorrow?
who hath contentions?
who hath babbling?
who hath wounds without cause?
who hath redness of eyes?
They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again. - Proverbs 23:29-35.
Mark 2:22 is a divine commentary on Proverbs 23:29-35. Proverbs are earthly stories with a heavenly or spiritual meaning. Liquor causes all the things mentioned in Proverbs 23 to an earthly or lesser degree, but the spiritual and far more important teaching of Proverbs 23 is that new wine cannot be mixed with old. The "mixed wine" spoken of in Proverbs 23 is what Jesus called "putting new wine into old wineskins".
And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles. - Mark 2:22.
Hence we learn that everything which is added to the word must be condemned and rejected. It is the will of the Lord that we shall depend wholly on his word, and that our knowledge shall be confined within its limits; and therefore, if we lend our ears to others, we take a liberty which he has forbidden, and offer to him a gross insult. Everything that is introduced by men on their own authority will be nothing else than a corruption of the word; and consequently, if we wish to obey God, we must reject all other instructors. He likewise warns us that, if we abide by the law of the Lord, we shall be protected against superstitions and wicked modes of worship; for, as Paul calls: the word of God is the sword of the Spirit, (Ephesians 6:17,) so by the word, Satan and all his contrivances are put to flight. We ought therefore to flee to him whenever we shall be attacked by enemies, that, being armed with it, we may contend valiantly, and at length put them to flight.
If they shall not speak. I do not relate all the expositions of this passage, for that would be too tedious; and I consider the true exposition to be so well supported that it will easily refute all others. It is usually explained to mean that wicked men trifle with their inventions, and expose their impostures to sale, because there is no light in them; that is, because they have not ordinary understanding. For my own part, I consider this to be a reason for encouraging believers to perseverance; that if wicked men depart from the true doctrine, they will evince nothing else than their own blindness and darkness. We ought to despise their folly, that it may not be an obstruction to us; as Christ also teaches us that we should boldly set aside such persons, so as not to be in any degree affected by their blindness or obstinacy. “They are blind,” says he, “and leaders of the blind. Do you wish of your own accord to perish with them?” (Matthew 15:14.)
The Prophet therefore enjoins us to ascribe to the word such high authority, that we shall venture boldly to despise the whole world, if the word be opposed by them; for if even angels should do this, we might condemn them also by the authority of the word. If an angel from heaven, says Paul, preach anything else, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8, 9.)
How much more boldly, therefore, shall we condemn men who set themselves in opposition to God? The mode of expression is emphatic, If they shall not speak according to this word. - John Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah 8:20.
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness - 1 Timothy 6:3.
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, - 1 Timothy 6:4.
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. - 1 Timothy 6:5.
It is a violation of the Word of God to ignore direct commands, especially when at the same time doing so under the guise of "hermenutics" (private interpretation) of scripture.
Music has always played a role in which one attempts to "triumph over you".
"Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me." - Psalm 41:9-11.
In Psalm 41 the word translated "triumph" is from the Original Hebrew verb "Ruwa" which is also translated as: shout, noise and alarm in the KJV. The word means to shout, raise a sound, cry out, give a blast, to shout a war-cry or alarm of battle, to sound a signal for war or march, to shout in triumph (over enemies), to shout in applause, to shout (with religious impulse).
Music, often classical such as Wagner, was an obsession with many Nazi's, again being used to silence or triumph over the enemy.
"This nifty item is a small poster, or perhaps a proof copy, dated 1910, that at first glance appears to be from Holland - but the text is German, not Dutch. So it is probably German, and may have been advertising a "Dutch Festival" in a fashion similar to American announcements of "Scottish Games" and such.
Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! - Isaiah 5:11.
And harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. - Isaiah 5:12.
Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. - Isaiah 5:13.
Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. - Isaiah 5:14.
And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: - Isaiah 5:15.
But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.- Isaiah 5:16.
Wine drinking combined with musical instruments has long been associated not with holy worship, but rather uncovering thy neighbor's nakedness (both physical & spiritual).
Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! - Habakkuk 2:15.
Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory. - Habakkuk 2:16.
For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. - Habakkuk 2:17
What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? - Habakkuk 2:18.
Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. - Habakkuk 2:19.
But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. - Habakkuk 2:20.
The new Wineskin movements or vineyards of wild grapes (Isaiah 5) will often see those who refuse to accept mechanical instruments in worship as legalists. Some have even declared we are living in a time where there is no difference between individual, formal and informal worship, ....
now that's a "license" to worship whatever way one wants to if I ever heard one.
Visit just about any church site that brings false doctrines and horrific errors: catholic, charismatic, contemporary and so forth. Some have women leadership, some speak in tongues, some worship on Saturday, but do you notice they have in common? What is found in almost every one and what is the biggest emphasis on? Is it safe to say music and drama?
The cry is: "we can always borrow Jesus by portraying him with some talented actor or musician, we can borrow him, have him sing and dance for a little while before he does an instrument landing on stage and we shoot him back into heaven before clapping our hands in one big musical show of contempt." One problem and warning for the pseudo or antichrists however, contempt works in different ways:
Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud." - Psalm 123.
Phonies will always head in the wrong direction or "seek it yet again" (new wine; Prov.23), but the true child of God will see that New Testament believers in the Bible, placed a very little emphasis on music. Perhaps they sang a psalm or spiritual song before and after they assembled. The main emphasis was on preaching Christ crucified first and foremost, then secondly brotherly benevolence, seeing that no fellowservant of Christ was lacking the basic needs to sustain both spiritual and physical life.
Lucifer came as the ultimate liar and although much is a great mystery, he fooled many of the angels in heaven and continues to fool the non-elect today:
"Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth." - Isaiah 23:16,17.
Will you be worshipping this Sunday sabbath with added man made instruments in worship which violate Isaiah 8:20?
The singing to God without instruments cannot be called heresy. If there is no argument against singing with our heartstrings then why add mechanical instruments? I believe they are added without Biblical authority and are thus used by satan to sow discord and false worship. The assembly of the saints under new covenant worship is to serve as a school where mature believers teach new Christians from the Word of God without adding or taking anything away from it. It is a school of Christ, not a music school.
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. - Revelation 18:21.
harpers,
and musicians,
and of pipers,
and trumpeters,
shall be heard no more at all in thee;
and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee;
and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
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