True Worship

I read this from one of Harry Ironside’s commentaries and I typed it up because it really blessed me and I hope it will others as well. (Excerpts from Daniel pg 30-31)


“The special place given to the great orchestra is very noticeable, as much so as in large worldly religious gatherings at the present time. It excites the emotions and, thus working upon the feelings, gives people a sense of devotion and religiousness, which after all may be very unreal. In the Old Testament dispensation, musical instruments were used in the ornate temple services, but there is certainly no warrant for it in the New Testament. People may call it worship to sit and listen to a trained, and possibly unconverted, choir and orchestra rendering sweet and touching strains. But the music simply acts upon the sensuous part of out nature and has nothing to do with true adoration of the Father and the Son, which must be in spirit and in truth to be acceptable to God. Those who plead for its use, because of the place it had in Old Testament times, should remember that that was a typical dispensation. The instruments then used typified the melody now made in the hearts of God’s redeemed ones. We sometimes sing, and very truly –

O Lord, we know it matters not
How sweet the song may be
No heart but of the Spirit taught
Makes melody to Thee.

A minster once remarked to me that many esthetic persons attended his church to worship God in music, so he sought to have the best performers and the finest music it was possible to obtain, as otherwise the people would not attend. What a delusion it all is! And yet people actually look upon that as really worshiping God, whether they have ever been converted or not! In reality they are only gratifying there own taste for melody and harmony – a taste God given, I grant you, and proper enough in its place, but not to be confounded with true worship. A heart filled with Christ gives forth the sweetest music that ever reaches the ear of God the Father. He says, “Whoso offerth praise glorifieth me” (Ps. 50:23) Let us remember, then, that in the New Testament dispensation it is “singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19) to which the Christian is exhorted. That is where the music is to be – a heart full of praises to the God of all grace. May we know more of it.
I remember on one occasion taking a friend of mine – unquestionably an earnest Christian – into a little hall where perhaps a half a hundred believers were gathered together one Lord’s Day morning for worship. He had been accustomed to a service very much like that which I have referred to above. On that particular morning it seemed to me the Lord’s presence in our midst was especially manifest. One after another took part in praise and thanksgiving as the Holy Spirit seemed to lead. Together we broke the bread and partook of the cup that speaks so loudly to the Christian heart of Him who gave Himself for us. At times there was hardly a dry eye in the room as we remembered Him who in infinite grace had redeemed us to God. Returning home, I inquired of my friend if he had enjoyed the meeting. He replied, “Oh, very well. There were many things about it that appealed to me very much. But I did miss the music. “ “Why” I replied, “did you not hear the music?” I answered. “Each heart that was occupied with Christ was like a stringed instrument touched by His own blessed hand, and He, the chief singer on the stringed instruments, was there in our midst, leading out our hearts in worship and praise to the Father.” But, alas, my friend did not seem to be able to enter into this! How is it with you, my hearer? Have you yet learned what it is to “worship…in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24)