The Lord Will

Bible Verses About Instruments of Music

Scripture celebrates the use of musical instruments to worship God. Psalm 150 issues a vibrant call: "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." Music is a precious gift for expressing joy, gratitude, and reverence before the Lord. Throughout the Bible, instruments accompany the worship of God's people: David played the harp to soothe Saul's troubled spirit, the Levites were appointed to sound the cymbals, lutes, and harps in the house of the Lord, and the temple resounded with songs accompanied by instruments. This instrumental praise is not mere performance; it is the expression of a heart wholly given to God. Colossians 3:16 invites us to sing "with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Thus instrument and voice unite to lift the heart of the worshiper and the assembly toward God. These verses encourage the believer to praise God with all that he possesses, offering songs and instruments as a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Psalm 150:6 concludes: "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." Whether played in the great congregation or in private devotion, every instrument can be lifted as an offering of worship to the One who gives the gift of song.

Key verse snapshot

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Bible Verses about Instruments of Music

6 Scripture passages on this theme

Romans 6:13

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

1 Chronicles 28:14

He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:

Habakkuk 3:19

The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

1 Samuel 8:12

And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

2 Samuel 24:22

And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.

Numbers 4:32

And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about musical instruments?
Psalm 150 calls us to praise God "with the sound of the trumpet... with the psaltery and harp... with the timbrel and dance... upon the loud cymbals." Instrumental music accompanied the worship of God's people as an expression of joy and reverence before the Lord.
How should we use music to worship God?
By offering songs and instruments "singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16), sincerely and reverently. Music is a gift for expressing worship, gratitude, and joy, directing the heart and the assembly toward God rather than toward ourselves.
Are instruments necessary for praise?
Instruments are not indispensable, for God looks first at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7); yet Scripture abundantly celebrates them as a joyful means of worship. What matters most is that praise springs from a sincere heart wholly given to God, whether by the voice alone or accompanied by resounding instruments.

Apply These Verses to Your Life

Scripture comes alive when we meditate on it and apply it daily. Read these verses in full context, pray for understanding, and ask God how they speak to your situation with instruments of music.

Author:
The Lord Will Editorial Team
Reviewed by:
Ugo Candido
Last updated:
Category:
Scripture Guidance