Psalm 92:3

Psalm 92:3

Lyres and harps

The book of Psalms has 'gems' and this is one of them. Psalteries, tabrets, viols and harps or stringed instruments, are symbols for ordinances, laws or statutes; godly or ungodly. 

The Lyre was an ancient string instrument of ten strings used to accompany the voice. Standing almost three feet tall, the lyre had of two sets of strings (five on each side of the instrument) that could be played in much the same manner as modern cellos/guitars (by plucking with the fingers) or possibly with a bow. The '10 strings' denote the 10 commandments of Moses on 2 tablet stones which is also reflected in the 2 sides of the 'ten stringed instrument'.  So, the stones inside the Holiest Place, inside the Ark of the Covenant, were represented by the instruments that were played in the public courts outside!

It's the same figure of harps and 'stringed instruments' to typify ordinances or laws illustrated in Isaiah 14:11-12 in that the devil goes to the pit with his 'ordinances', the 'psalteries/viols' which he used to deceive people in all the earth. When the ordinances are ungodly, the 'sound' of that 'instrument' is said to be a 'noise'. So, the Psalmists drew a line between the music, the songs and the instruments that are used to praise the Lord and those that just make the devil's noise. I guess it’s still not hard to tell the difference today! 

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