[This is another segment in the Music in the Bible series which begins in Genesis and finishes in Revelation.]
image source: hrchamber.com
However there were not made for the house of the Lord basins of silver, trimmers, sprinkling-bowls, trumpets, any articles of gold or articles of silver, from the money brought into the house of the Lord. (2 Kings 12:13)
Although there were detailed methods of payments outlined for the temple builders under Solomon's reign, the craftsmen who fashioned trumpets (and most likely other musical instruments) were not mentioned in any formal agreement. The workmen who repaired and upgraded the temple got paid freely and honestly from the tithes required by the people. It must have been a time of great wealth and prosperity and nobody felt the need to cheat or swindle in order to receive appropriate compensation for their work. When everybody prospers, there is no need for greed or unions to prevent exploitation of employees. Even Karl Marx would be envious of such conditions.
Now some have argued that Christianity is a kind of communism or socialism exampled by the distribution of good as told in the Book of Acts (Acts 4:35) but that sharing of personal wealth was all done voluntarily out of genuine love for the brethren which is proof of conversion into the kingdom of Christ (1 John 3:14). Marxism is forced distribution of wealth which not everyone is happy with except those who implement policy and those at the very bottom who benefit from it only slightly. God's plan for a Right to Work paradise is way beyond that and has no comparison in the earthly realm. And that's how they'll know we are Christians--by our love.
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