For the Flutes

June 02, 2021

For the Flutes

Matthew 11:17
“And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.”

In the previous Creation Moment, we saw how many psalms began with an instruction to play the music on stringed instruments. One psalm – number 5 – suggests that the music is “for the flutes”. As with the stringed instruments, this instruction probably covers an entire class of instruments which make their sound by vibrating columns of air.

The air is set vibrating by a number of methods. In modern brass instruments, it is the players’ lips that start the vibration by a method known today as embouchure. This was known in biblical times with the use of instruments such as trumpets, made from rams’ horns. Other instruments produce air vibration by reeds, or by blowing air over a hole. Pitch is affected by changing the length of the air column, and this can be achieved by several means, such as re-rerouting the air through different length pipes (e.g., trumpet valves), by a slider (trombone), by having different length pipes (pan-pipes and organs), or covering and uncovering holes (flutes, saxophones, etc).

Though only one psalm has this instruction, there are many other places in the Bible where wind instruments are mentioned. Such passages include where Samuel meets the prophets (1 Samuel 10:5), worshiping at the mountain of the Lord (Isaiah 30:29), or at the funeral of the little girl that Jesus raised (Matthew 9:23).

It seems that God has ordained many uses for music in our lives – to bring joy and dancing, or sorrow.

Prayer: Thank You again, Lord, for Your wonderful gift of music that You have given. We pray for those who use this music to bring honor and praise to Your Name. Amen.

Author: Paul F. Taylor

Ref: What Does the Bible Say about Music? < https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-music.html >, accessed 1/28/2020.

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