420. Various types of instruments are mentioned in the Word, each one having its own particular meaning, which will in the Lord's Divine mercy be shown when they occur. For the present let just the following in David be quoted,
I will sacrifice in the tent of Jehovah the sacrifices of shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to Jehovah. Psalms 27:6.
Here 'tent' is used to express that which is celestial, and 'shouts of joy', 'singing', and 'making melody' that which is spiritual deriving from it. In the same author,
Sing to Jehovah, O you righteous! His praise befits upright men. Confess Jehovah with the harp, make melody to Him on a ten-stringed lyre. Sing to Him a new song, play skillfully with a loud note, for the word of Jehovah is upright, and all His work is done in truth. Psalms 33:1-4.
This stands for truths of faith, to which these commands have reference.
[2] Spiritual things, which are the truths and goods of faith, were extolled by means of the harp, ten-stringed lyres, singing, and the like, whereas the holy or celestial things of faith were praised by means of wind instruments, such as trumpets and others like them. This explains why so many instruments were used around the Temple, for so often particular instruments were needed to celebrate this occasion or that. As a consequence those instruments came to mean the actual things in praise of which they were used.
[3] In the same author,
I will confess to You on a ten-stringed instrument, Your truth, O my God. I will make melody to You with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will sing when I make melody to You; and my soul which You have redeemed. Psalms 71:22, 13.
This similarly refers to the truths of faith. In the same author,
Reply to Jehovah with confession; make melody to our God with the harp. Psalms 147:7.
Here 'confession' has regard to the celestial things of faith, which is why the name 'Jehovah' is used, while 'making melody with the harp' has regard to the spiritual things of faith, which is why the name 'God' is used. In the same author,
Let them praise the name of Jehovah with dancing; with timbrel and harp let them make melody to Him. Psalms 149:3.
'Timbrel' stands for the good and 'harp' for the truth which they are praising.
[4] In the same author,
Praise God with trumpet-sound; praise Him with a ten-stringed lyre and with a harp, praise Him with timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and organs, praise and Him with sounding cymbals 1
praise Him with high-sounding cymbals. 2
Psalms 150:3-5.
These stand for the goods and truths of faith, which occasion praise. Let no one think that so many instruments are mentioned by name without each one having some particular meaning. In the same author,
Send out Your light and Your truth; let them lead me, let them bring me to Your holy mountain and to Your dwellings. Then I will go in to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will confess You with the harp, O God, my God. Psalms 43:3-4.
This stands for cognitions of good and truth.
[5] In Isaiah,
Take a harp, encompass the city, strike a good note, increase your song, that you may be called to memory. Isaiah 23:16.
This stands for matters of faith and cognitions of faith. The point is plainer still in John,
The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Revelation 5:8.
'Harps' being held is not the meaning, as may be clear to anyone. Instead the truths of faith are meant by 'harps', and the goods of faith by 'golden bowls full of incense'. In David sounds made on instruments are referred to as 'praises and confessions', in Psalms 42:4; Psalms 69:31.
And elsewhere in John,
I heard a voice from heaven, like the sound of many waters. I heard the sound of harpers playing on their harps. They were singing a new song. Revelation 14:2-3.
And elsewhere in the same book,
I saw them standing beside the sea of glass holding harps of God. Revelation 15:2.
It deserves to be mentioned that angels and spirits distinguish sounds on the basis of the differences that exist with good and truth. This applies not only to the sounds made by singing and instruments, but also to those made by voices. They do not entertain any sounds other than those that are accordant, so that there may be an accordance of the sounds, and therefore of the instruments, with the very nature and essence of good and truth.
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