Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.

• Psalm 33:3

Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre.

• Psalm 81:2

“Take up a harp, walk through the city, you forgotten prostitute; play the harp well, sing many a song, so that you will be remembered.”

• Isaiah 23:16

And you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival; your hearts will rejoice as when people playing pipes go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel.

• Isaiah 30:29

When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.

• Matthew 9:23-24

Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?

• 1 Corinthians 14:7

This quiz is about the word “play”, specifically about playing instruments.  Okay, question 2 applies to someone playing a role that he was not officially assigned.

All the questions are from the Old Testament and are in biblical order.

The Questions:

	Question	Bible References	Answers
1	The first mention of the word “play” in the NIV was of a man whose family played stringed instruments.  His brother lived in tents and raised livestock.  His half brother made various tools from bronze and iron.  All these men descended from someone who had been cursed, and most of their offspring died in the flood.  Who was the man who did something bad and was punished by a curse?
2	Who was accused of “playing the judge”?  He was a foreigner who had come to Sodom, but now he begged his neighbors to not do a detestable thing.
3	Who was the man who was told by Samuel that he would go to Gibeah and there meet prophets playing a variety of instruments and prophesying, and he too would be changed by the spirit, prophesying along with them?
4	Just as the spirit came upon the answer to question 3, the spirit left him, replaced by an evil spirit.  He needed someone who played the lyre well who could sooth his troubled heart.  Who was chosen?
5	Adonijah set himself up as king, although David was still alive.  Whose mother and the prophet Nathan worked to have the true king anointed?  This was followed by people playing the pipes and rejoicing so that the ground shook.
6	King Joram of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to what prophet to seek a prophecy regarding their intended attack on Moab, whose king was rebelling?  The prophet hesitated, asking for a harpist to play, and during the music, the prophet received his message from the Lord?
7	What event led David to assign specific people to sound the cymbals, play the lyre according to alamoth, and play the harps according to shimineth?  To clarify: lyre for the high notes, and harps for the lower tones.
8	Soon after the event in question 7, King David assigned whom among the Levites as chief of the musicians so that music would become part of the praising and worshipping of God at that location?
9	Similar to question 7, what event had Solomon ask for priests blowing trumpets and Levites playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, led by the answer to question 8?
10	The Lord told what prophet that his words were like singing love songs and playing an instrument well?  The people hear the words, but they do not put them into practice.  This is not long before this prophet saw a valley of dry bones.

I researched the word “play” yesterday, for the Babs and Harold Conversation.  Babs was playing peekaboo with Harold, and Harold wondered if she had fallen off her rocker.

But in thinking about playing musical instruments, my younger son came to mind.  He was always doing things to bring music into his life.  And, thus far, he has made a career in music.

Bible References:

	Question	Bible References	Answers
1	The first mention of the word “play” in the NIV was of a man whose family played stringed instruments.  His brother lived in tents and raised livestock.  His half brother made various tools from bronze and iron.  All these men descended from someone who had been cursed, and most of their offspring died in the flood.  Who was the man who did something bad and was punished by a curse?	Genesis 4:17-22
2	Who was accused of “playing the judge”?  He was a foreigner who had come to Sodom, but now he begged his neighbors to not do a detestable thing.	Genesis 19:6-9
3	Who was the man who was told by Samuel that he would go to Gibeah and there meet prophets playing a variety of instruments and prophesying, and he too would be changed by the spirit, prophesying along with them?	1 Samuel 10:1-5
4	Just as the spirit came upon the answer to question 3, the spirit left him, replaced by an evil spirit.  He needed someone who played the lyre well who could sooth his troubled heart.  Who was chosen?	Genesis 16:14-19
5	Adonijah set himself up as king, although David was still alive.  Whose mother and the prophet Nathan worked to have the true king anointed?  This was followed by people playing the pipes and rejoicing so that the ground shook.	1 Kings 1:31-40
6	King Joram of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to what prophet to seek a prophecy regarding their intended attack on Moab, whose king was rebelling?  The prophet hesitated, asking for a harpist to play, and during the music, the prophet received his message from the Lord?	2 Kings 3:15
7	What event led David to assign specific people to sound the cymbals, play the lyre according to alamoth, and play the harps according to shimineth?  To clarify: lyre for the high notes, and harps for the lower tones.	1 Chronicles 15:19-21
8	Soon after the event in question 7, King David assigned whom among the Levites as chief of the musicians so that music would become part of the praising and worshipping of God at that location?	1 Chronicles 16:4-6, 37
9	Similar to question 7, what event had Solomon ask for priests blowing trumpets and Levites playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, led by the answer to question 8?	2 Chronicles 5:12
10	The Lord told what prophet that his words were like singing love songs and playing an instrument well?  The people hear the words, but they do not put them into practice.  This is not long before this prophet saw a valley of dry bones.	Book by that name, chapter 33, verse 32.

If you look for the word “play” in the NIV, you get about 30 references to playing musical instruments.

But sometimes the priests “blow” trumpets or “sound” cymbals.

In question 7, two Hebrew words are used: Alamoth and Shimineth.  The meaning of Alamoth is virgin, but in relating to music, it is a soprano voice.  Shimineth means something along the lines of middle.  Thus, the lyres are to be used for the high notes and the harps are to be used for the middle notes, like alto or tenor.  Maybe they blew the horns for the lower bass notes.

In question 8, we see King David establishing music as part of worship.  It would be quite strange to have an entire worship service these days without music at some point in the service.

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The Answers:

	Question	Bible References	Answers
1	The first mention of the word “play” in the NIV was of a man whose family played stringed instruments.  His brother lived in tents and raised livestock.  His half brother made various tools from bronze and iron.  All these men descended from someone who had been cursed, and most of their offspring died in the flood.  Who was the man who did something bad and was punished by a curse?	Genesis 4:17-22	Cain, who killed his brother Abel
2	Who was accused of “playing the judge”?  He was a foreigner who had come to Sodom, but now he begged his neighbors to not do a detestable thing.	Genesis 19:6-9	Lot
3	Who was the man who was told by Samuel that he would go to Gibeah and there meet prophets playing a variety of instruments and prophesying, and he too would be changed by the spirit, prophesying along with them?	1 Samuel 10:1-5	Saul
4	Just as the spirit came upon the answer to question 3, the spirit left him, replaced by an evil spirit.  He needed someone who played the lyre well who could sooth his troubled heart.  Who was chosen?	Genesis 16:14-19	David, son of Jesse, who had already been anointed by Samuel to be the next king.
5	Adonijah set himself up as king, although David was still alive.  Whose mother and the prophet Nathan worked to have the true king anointed?  This was followed by people playing the pipes and rejoicing so that the ground shook.	1 Kings 1:31-40	Solomon
6	King Joram of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went to what prophet to seek a prophecy regarding their intended attack on Moab, whose king was rebelling?  The prophet hesitated, asking for a harpist to play, and during the music, the prophet received his message from the Lord?	2 Kings 3:15	Elisha, who would have not given Joram the time of day if it were not that Jehoshaphat was present.
7	What event led David to assign specific people to sound the cymbals, play the lyre according to alamoth, and play the harps according to shimineth?  To clarify: lyre for the high notes, and harps for the lower tones.	1 Chronicles 15:19-21	When David brought the Ark to Jerusalem
8	Soon after the event in question 7, King David assigned whom among the Levites as chief of the musicians so that music would become part of the praising and worshipping of God at that location?	1 Chronicles 16:4-6, 37	Asaph
9	Similar to question 7, what event had Solomon ask for priests blowing trumpets and Levites playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, led by the answer to question 8?	2 Chronicles 5:12	Bringing the Ark into the Temple
10	The Lord told what prophet that his words were like singing love songs and playing an instrument well?  The people hear the words, but they do not put them into practice.  This is not long before this prophet saw a valley of dry bones.	Book by that name, chapter 33, verse 32.	Ezekiel.  And the Lord went on to say that he will be seen as a prophet after his prophecies come true.

Whether you did well on this quiz or, ummm, not so well, for the first video, here is Megan Tibbits singing Goodness of God.

Here are Jay and Steph using a lyre harp to play Nearer my God to Thee.  The lyrics are in the lower right corner, very faint, if you want to sing along.  Or maybe you already know the words.

Here are the Calming Harp Ministry with an interpretation of the Hebrew chord progressions for Psalm 23.  This does not offer the lyrics, but it is lovely.  To me, it sounds how Psalm 23 feels

Here is Hailey Smith playing This is My Father’s House – Fairest Lord Jesus.

When you have sung the song forty fifty, sixty, seventy years, do you need the lyrics?  You might not know all the words, but you remember how the song made you feel.

If you like these Saturday morning Bible quizzes, but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Saturday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.