Preface: When we discuss the purposes of music, it’s crucial to remember that sacred music typically encompasses two primary aspects: words and music. Each element serves a distinct purpose. The words, or “lyrics,” convey propositional truths about God and express our devotion to Him. However, the music itself—melody, harmony, rhythm—must also have valid purposes beyond the lyrics. If the music lacked a meaningful purpose, God would not have prescribed it for ministry. This leads us to our primary question:

Why does God in Scripture direct us to worship Him not only through words but also through music itself?

1. Music expresses the joy of the Lord (1 Chronicles 15:16, Psalms 95:1-2, Psalms 98:4-6, Psalms 100:1-2, Psalms 71:23, Psalms 89:15).

2. Music expresses the praise of the Lord (2 Chronicles 7:6, Psalms 28:7, Psalms 40:3, Psalms 69:30, Psalms 108:1, Isaiah 42:10).

3. Music expresses the glory and excellence of the Lord (Psalms 66:1-2, Psalms 96:1-9, Psalms 150:1-2, Psalms 30:12, Psalms 108:1, 1 Chronicles 13:8).

4. Music expresses the beauty of the Lord (Psalms 27:4, Exodus 28:2. These verses refer to visual beauty, not musical beauty. They convey that beauty holds value in worship by portraying God as beautiful and thus deserving even more praise.)

5. Music expresses the pleasantness of the Lord (Psalms 81:2, 2 Samuel 23:1, Psalms 27:4, Psalms 147:1).

6. Music expresses the peace of the Lord (1 Samuel 16:23, 2 Kings 3:15).

7. Music expresses compassion (Isaiah 16:10-11).

8. Music expresses sorrow and mourning (Job 30:31, 2 Chronicles 35:25, Matthew 11:17).