Vocal and instrumental music were integral to worship in the Old Testament (Psalm 150:1–6; Ezra 2:65; 1 Chronicles 15:16–24; 2 Chronicles 5:13; 2 Chronicles 23:13; Isaiah 5:12; Daniel 3:5–15). Now the Lord will neither look or listen to his people’s worship (see Deuteronomy 31:17–18; Deuteronomy 32:20). Singing good and beautiful words without an obedient heart and a willingness to confess sins and be changed is rank hypocrisy. The Lord hates this kind of false worship. True worship results in transformative action and does not stop with songs of praise.1
23 Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen.