The Means of Worship: Musical Instruments and Human Voices (vv. 3-6). When it is used correctly, by God’s grace and for God’s glory, the human voice is the most perfect musical instrument in the world, but we find no prohibitions in Scripture against using man-made instruments in the worship of God. Instruments will be used in heaven (Rev. 5:8; 8:6-12), and there will also be singing (Rev. 5:9-14; 15:1-4). The psalmist seems to be describing an orchestra that has stringed instruments, percussion instruments, and wind instruments. The trumpet was the shofar or ram’s horn that the priests and Levites used (47:5; 98:6) along with the harp and lyre (1 Chron. 25:1). The timbrel was probably what we know today as a tambourine. It was usually played by the women to accompany their sacred dances (Ex. 15:20-21). There were two kinds of cymbals, smaller ones that gave a clear sound and larger ones that gave a loud sound. But the final verse sums it up. Whether you can play an instrument or not, no matter where you live or what your ethnic origin, male or female, young or old–“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” After all, that breath comes from the Lord (Acts 17:25), and if things that do not have breath can praise the Lord (148:8-9), surely we can, too!

Praise the Lord!