"Since Eph 5.19 and Col 3.16 command us to sing ‘psalms’, and since the heading of the Psalms such as Ps 76 says, ‘For the choir director: on stringed instruments’, then it must be OK to play stringed instruments in worship".

The first record of instruments being used in the public assembly of worship occurs when David brought the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem to set up the permanent house for God:

"Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals." (2 Sam 6:5)

In the parallel account in 1 Chron 15.16-22 we read that David appointed the Levites to play these instruments, setting up a "permanent" institution under the Old Testament:

"Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah, and with them their relatives of the second rank, Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. So the singers, Heman, Asaph and Ethan were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze; and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah, with harps tuned to alamoth; and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel and Azaziah, to lead with lyres tuned to the sheminith. Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful."

Despite the fact that musical instruments go back as far as man’s earliest beginnings (Gen 4.21; 31.27; Job 21.12), except for the trumpets blown by the priests (see above), there is no record of instruments being used by God’s people in their public assemblies for worship before the time of David, though we often read of them singing. There is one instance of the prophets playing instruments as they traveled down from the "high place" (which may have been a place of idolatrous worship; 1 Sam 10.5). We also see Miriam playing a tambourine as she and the women danced and sang in joyous triumph after the crossing of the Red Sea. The case of Miriam, however, will hardly suffice for authority for musical instruments in the public worship, for several reasons:

Now, back to David adding the instruments. It might appear that David simply chose on his own to institute the use of instruments. This is not the case, however. According to 2 Chron 29.25, he was commanded to do so by God:

"He then stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with harps and with lyres, according to the command of David and of Gad the king's seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was from the LORD through His prophets."

David, who prayed, "keep my from presumptuous sins", would never be so presumptuous as to institute into the worship that which God has not commanded or authorized. No doubt he had learned his lesson when he brought the ark into the city on a cart, violating God’s commands. And no doubt he well aware of Nadab and Abihu’s "offering of strange fire, which the Lord had not commanded" (Lev 10.1-3).

David--remember, by God’s command through the prophets--invented the instruments to be used in worship:

"The priests stood at their posts, and the Levites also, with the instruments of music to the LORD, which King David had made for giving praise to the LORD -- for His lovingkindness is everlasting -- whenever he gave praise by their means, while the priests on the other side blew trumpets; and all Israel was standing." (2 Chron 7:6)

"...and 4,000 were gatekeepers, and 4,000 were praising the LORD with the instruments which David made for giving praise." (1 Chron 23:5)

"The Levites stood with the musical instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets" (2 Chron 29:26)

Further, as seen in these passages above (1 Chron 15.16-17) and several more below, David appointed Asaph, Heman, and Ethan and their relatives – all Levites -- as the players of the instruments (often called "singers"), each over a specific group of people or a choir. It was these men and their relatives who played the instruments:

"Moreover, David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals; and the number of those who performed their service was" (1 Chron 25:1)

"Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from the sons of Asaph, who were the singers for the service of the house of God." (Neh 11. 22)

Notice, by the way, that this instrumental service was "for the service of the house of God." There is no evidence it was ever used in anything but the tabernacle or temple service. The Jews did not use instruments in their synagogue assemblies. But it was only the Levites (priesthood) and specifically only those of the family of Asaph, Ethan (Jeduthan) and Heman were allowed to participate in the choirs and use the instruments:

These Levitical musicians were under strict regulations:

"Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from the sons of Asaph, who were the singers for the service of the house of God. For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a firm regulation for the song leaders day by day." (Neh 11:22-23)

For example, the musicians were actually designated by name

"With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His lovingkindness is everlasting." (1 Chron 16.41)

Each Levitical musician used a specific instrument under the direction of one of the three song leaders:

"So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushaiah, and with them their relatives of the second rank, Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. So the singers, Heman, Asaph and Ethan were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze; and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah and Benaiah, with harps tuned to alamoth; and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel and Azaziah, to lead with lyres tuned to the sheminith. Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful."(1 Chron 15:17-22)

They even had specific stations assigned while playing:

In David’s time, Asaph and his choir were assigned to the ark in Jerusalem (1 Chron 16.37) while Heman and Ethan with their choirs were assigned to the tabernacle in Gibeon (1 Chron 16.39-41). All were under the direction of the King:

Those who did the actual singing and playing were these Levitical choirs, while the people worshipped in other ways or, at the very most, by singing:

"While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished." (2 Chron 29:28)

"besides their male and female servants who numbered 7,337; and they had 200 singing men and women." (Ez 2:65)

"Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD according to the directions of King David of Israel. They sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, "For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever." And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid." (Ez 3:10-11)

Perhaps this worship by the people did consist of singing along, but it clearly did not consist of playing instruments (cf. Neh 12.31f).

The purpose of the choirs and the instrumental music was to praise God in the service of the temple:

"Now these are those whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the ark rested there…" (1 Chron 6:31)

This was possibly done only on special occasions, since the only recorded incidences of their use was during such occasions as:

            a) When the ark was brought into Jersusalem – 1 Chron 15.16f
            b) Dedication of the temple – 2 Chron 5.12
            c) Restoration of the temple – 2 Chron 29.25; Ez 3.10
            d) Restoration of the Passover – 2 Chron 35.15-16
            e) Rebuilding of the wall – Neh 12.27f

Instrumental music in the Old Testament was not something used by the general people, nor even for general worship, but was used only by specific people (sons of Asaph, Heman and Ethan), under specific directions and regulations, and only in the temple service. This helps us understand the headings of such Psalm as Psalm 76. These were for the Levitical choir directors. Thus, neither these headings nor the mention of musical instruments in the Psalms themselves (e.g. Psa 150) can be used to argue for instrumental music in the New Testament worship. Unless you are a Levite descended from Asaph, Heman or Ethan, one has no authority for using instruments in worship.

Also, many of the headings of the Psalms are an enigma, understood by no one today. For example, the heading to Psalm 88 says "according to Mahalath Leannoth…". No one knows what the meaning of these words are. Thus, if one wished to use the headings to the Psalms as authority for instrumental music, it would seem reasonable that one should at least understand what they mean.

More importantly, the loss of the meanings of these headings indicates that they are no longer important. Of course, it should be obvious that since the Levitical priesthood has been done away with (Heb 7.11-14; 8.1-4), with it went their instruments.

Instrumental music was a command in the Old Testament and part of the Levitical ceremonial worship in the temple. Though it was unauthorized under the Mosical Law until the time of David, it nonetheless became–at God’s commands through the prophets–an integral part of the temple worship. According to Hebrews 8.13 through 9.5 this temple service has been done away:

                "When He said, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. 'But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. Now even the first covenant    had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary....Now when these things have been so prepared, the priest ware continually entering the out tabernacle performing the divine worship"

Under the New Testament, we are simply told to "sing and make melody in the heart to God" (Eph 5.19). When one considers that the very word used for "make melody" in Eph 5.19 is the Greek psallo, which is related to the word "Psalm" and in its original, earlier meaning meant to "pluck a string" (such as on an instrument), it becomes quite clear that God specified the instrument which we are to "pluck", i.e. the heart. In light of the conspicuous presence of the musical instruments in the Old Testament worship (though only from David’s time forward), and the complete silence of instrumental music in the New Testament worship, this silence becomes a "thundering statement".

This silence lasted for over 1000 years in Christianity before Roman Catholicism brought the instruments in. The silence once again thundered to the Reformationists until around the early- to mid-nineteenth century. The most potent argument that anyone has ever given or could give in support of instrumental music in New Testament worship is simply "I don’t think God would mind". However, no man knows the mind of God unless he reveals it (1 Cor 2.11). Let us not be presumptuous by claiming we know what God thinks of worshipping him by instruments. How can we possibly know what God thinks unless he tells us? If God wanted us to use lifeless, mechanical instruments in our worship (i.e. Levitical-style worship), wouldn’t he have told us to do so as he did with David? Though instruments were around from as early as Gen 4, why did it take a direct command from God before God’s covenant people would use them in the collective worship assemblies of the O.T.? If Moses would not include them without a command of God, should we? This is not being legalistic, but rather it is a matter of humbly and wholly submitting our lives to God and letting him rule through His revealed will. Let us follow only that which is revealed by God in his written word:

            "The secret things belong to the Lord but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law" (Dt 29.29)