While Christians are on earth waiting for the Lord to come, there is a place for music in the things of nature, providing it is done in the right way. It seems appropriate to me to use wholesome music in such things as weddings, funerals, home sings or sings at recreational activities for children and young people, or for casual listening. The instructions given in the Old Testament about the use of honey are helpful in determining how we use music. The use of honey was for them what music and other enjoyable things of nature are to us. Honey in the Word of God is a picture of “natural sweetness,” and for this reason it was forbidden in the sacrifices. “No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the Lord, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the Lord made by fire” (Lev. 2:1111No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the Lord, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the Lord made by fire. (Leviticus 2:11)). Honey was never to be presented with sacrifices to God. This principle teaches us that music has no place in worship to the Lord. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:2424God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)). Music may be sweet to us, but God does not accept it.
However, the eating of honey was encouraged for natural uses, providing it was not in excess. “My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste. . . . Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. . . . It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory” (Prov. 24:13; 25:16,2713My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: (Proverbs 24:13)
16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. (Proverbs 25:16)
27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. (Proverbs 25:27)). Music falls in this category for those of us who are Christians. God has provided for our natural, human needs, and such things as marriage and music are included in this. But as with honey, taking too much of it causes it to lose its value, and it becomes excessive and harmful. Let us take care not to allow more than is good for our earthly needs. Soon we will leave these bodies and no longer need these things.
Jonathan Tasted a Little Honey
The story of how Jonathan the son of Saul won a victory against the Philistine is an example of the proper use of honey. He, with his armor-bearer, acted in faith in the Lord and won a victory over the garrison of the Philistines, which provoked a tumult in the camp of the Philistines. It was a great victory for Israel. When Jonathan was faint from lack of food in the battle, he “put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened” (1 Sam. 14:27). He took a little honey and was able to continue fighting the enemy. He was not occupied with looking for it—the Lord who had helped him gain the victory provided what he needed along the way. Receiving the honey in this way would prompt him to take only what was sufficient to enlighten his eyes, not so much as to fill his belly. Treating music this way will keep us from going to excess.
In the sequel to the story, we read that the people fell on the spoils and ate meat with blood. They ate hurriedly, because they were so hungry. King Saul had unwisely forbidden all food, which provoked them to sin. Neither legality in these things on the one hand nor carelessness on the other hand will make us more righteous. May the Lord help us to maintain the right proportion of music in our lives.
D. C. Buchanan