Lyre

The lyre used in Israelite worship

In joyful religious celebrations

2 Samuel 6:2–5 parallel 1 Chronicles 13:6–8 See also 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 15:25–28; Nehemiah 12:27

And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name— the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart, bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.

In temple worship

2 Chronicles 5:12 See also 1 Kings 10:12 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:11; 1 Chronicles 15:16, 1 Chronicles 15:20, 1 Chronicles 16:5–6, 1 Chronicles 25:1, 1 Chronicles 25:6; 2 Chronicles 29:25

all the Levitical singers — Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives — stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps, and lyres, accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets.

In praising God

Psalm 71:22 See also Psalm 33:1–3, Psalm 57:7–8, Psalm 81:1–2, Psalm 92:1–4, Psalm 108:1–2, Psalm 144:9, Psalm 150:3

So I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

The lyre used in pagan worship

Daniel 3:7 See also Daniel 3:5, Daniel 3:10, Daniel 3:15

Therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, the people of every nation and language would fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

The lyre in secular use

Isaiah 5:12

At their feasts are the lyre and harp, tambourines and flutes and wine. They disregard the actions of the LORD and fail to see the work of His hands.