Daniel 3, One musician did not play!
The people did not hear the sound of the dulcimer
Daniel 2:49 – 3:15
(2:49) Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
(3:1) Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
(2) Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
(3) Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
(4) Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
(5) That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
(6) And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
(7) Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, [dulcimer IS MISSING, not heard!] and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
(8) Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
(9) They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
(10) Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
(11) And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
(12) There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
(13) Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
(14) Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
(15) Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? (Daniel 2:49 – 3:15)
In verses 5, 10 and 15, when the herald cites
the list of all the musical instruments he had in his court, there are 6
instruments listed, with “and all kinds of musicks”. But in verse 7, in
the list of instruments that all the people really
heard there are ONLY 5 instruments
listed with “all kinds of musicks”. In this verse, the 6th instrument,
the “dulcimer”, is missing, not heard. The player of “dulcimer” was very
probably Daniel, who “sat at the gate of the king”
(Daniel 2:49, the verse just preceding Daniel chapter 3). He refused to play,
just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship
the golden image set up by King Nebuchadnezzar,
so no one heard the sound of the dulcimer.
The Hebrew word for “dulcimer” is:
H5481
סִיפֹנְיָא סוּמְפֹּנְיָה
sûmpôneyâh sı̂yphôneyâ'
soom-po-neh-yaw', see-fo-neh-yaw'
(Chaldee); Of Greek origin [H4858]; a bagpipe (with a double pipe): - dulcimer.
Total KJV occurrences: 3
This word only appears here in Daniel 3 three
times, and nowhere else in the whole Bible. This
sı̂yphôneyâ'
word is the origin of our modern word “Symphony”,
which is also of Greek origin.
Daniel 3 events are past, but can also, like other old testament prophecies, be a shadow of things to come, an end time prophecy being fulfilled in our days. Like the dulcimer (symphony) did not play for the worship of the golden image in Daniel’s time, now, the old good musicians that play like in a classical symphonic orchestra, are no more seen in these places called “churches”. For the good musicians who played true sacred music with a beautiful choir have been removed and silenced, to make place for what they now call a “band” of people that scratch electric guitars and beat on drums, with “singers” that yell or cry into microphones. The church thereby is become another Babylon, the Babylon spoken of in the Book of Revelation, that “is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird” (Rev 18:2).
At Daniel 3 time, the dulcimer was not heard. Now the “symphonic” orchestra musicians don’t play in our Babylonian “churches”. At both times good musicians have no parts worshipping gold. In Daniel's time, people worshipped a golden image; now in the "church", people still worship gold (money). Sensual pop music and abominable rock music is used to please those addicted to that kind of vile entertainment, instead of obeying the command “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind...” (Luke 10:27) in order to increase church attendance and revenue. “For the love of money is the root of all evil...” (1Timothy 6:10).
The Babylon is still here, the gold is still here, and both the dulcimer and good musicians are gone...