They do this by studying, teaching and practicing “the Law of the LORD” (Ezra 7:10). They take “an oath to walk in God’s Law that was given by Moses the servant of God” (Nehemiah 10:28-29). This dutiful attitude extends to the renewal of the temple. Its service and music are not restored in just any way that happens to be popular. There is nothing arbitrary about true restoration. Nehemiah and the Jews restore “according to the commands of David and his son Solomon” (Nehemiah 12:45 cf. Ezra 3:10). In this capacity, David is much more than a king. He is “the man of God”—an Old Testament term for God’s inspired prophet (Deuteronomy 33:1; 1 Samuel 2:27; 9:6; 1 Kings 13:3-5).
[Appointed Levites] stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God…. At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. (Nehemiah 12:24, 27)
The worship instructions come from David as an inspired prophet (Acts 2:30 cf. 2 Samuel 23:2; Matthew 22:43). Thus, the instruments he introduces are matters of divine order rather than personal preference. As we shall soon see, the same truth applies to the Spirit-inspired purpose of the music. The mystery is in more than the sound of music. The mystery is in the meaning of that music.