In fact, God, speaking through Moses, does include two instruments: the bell and the trumpet. Oddly enough, God does not place them where we might, as central players—literally playing—in worship. Instead, God gives signaling functions to both. The tinkling of the bells signals to God the high priest’s arrival in the holiest place of worship, and his departure.
On its hem [the hem of the high priest’s garment] you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them, a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe. And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he does not die. (Exodus 28:33-35)
The trumpet’s blast serves like a bugle’s call for an army.
And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the LORD your God. (Numbers 10:9-10 cf. Numbers 31:6; Joshua 6:16; 1 Chronicles 15:24; 16:6; 2 Chronicles 5:12; 7:6; 29:27; Ezra 3:10; Ne 12:35,41; Psalm 81:3-5)
Only Aaron and his sons, as priests, are allowed to blow these special trumpets. They serve practical purposes for marching, assembling and marking special occasions. This is similar to the way God uses the ram’s horn to bring down Jericho’s walls (Joshua 6:1-20 cf. Exodus 19:13).
What a surprising discovery: The two instruments—bells and trumpets—serve to warn or to call for special activities and they are reserved exclusively for the priests. In God’s meticulous instructions, there are no other instruments. In the law of Moses, there is no mention of music played by ordinary worshipers, though the people join in the singing taught to them by Miriam, Moses and others (Exodus 15:21; Numbers 21:17; Deuteronomy 31:22).
So what is going on? Our exploration is just beginning. Let’s keep our hearts open to what the Creator of music is trying to tell us.