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It is impossible to miss the intention of this observation. The seeking out of
inventions is placed in direct contrast with being made upright, indicating that the
inventions of man are an exhibition of his fall.
The word translated "inventions" here is derived from the Hebrew chashab, "to think,
purpose, intend". It is used in a good sense when referring to the "purpose" of the Lord
(Jer. 50: 45), or the "cunning" craftsmanship of those who worked on the tabernacle, but it
usually has an evil meaning, as the following passages indicate:
"Saul thought to make David fall" (I Sam. 18: 25).
"His wicked device which he devised against the Jews" (Esther 9: 25).
"They imagined a mischievous device" (Psa. 21: 11).
"Invent to themselves instruments of music" (Amos 6: 5).
"He shall forecast his devices" (Dan. 11: 24).
Someone may perhaps object to the inclusion of the passage from Amos in this list, on
the ground that most musical instruments have been invented by someone, and that the
possession of them can hardly be regarded as evil. There is only one satisfactory way of
answering objections of this kind, and that is to let the Book speak for itself.
The following is the context of the passage concerned:
"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are
named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came
Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go
down to Gath of the Philistines; be they better than these kingdoms? or their border
greater than your border?
Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the
lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;
That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick,
like David;
That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments; but they
are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph" (Amos 6: 1-6).
It will be seen that the evil lay in the "device", not in the mere possession of the
instrument. It was one of the many devices introduced to deaden the senses, to help men
to "put far away the evil day", and not to "grieve for the affliction of Joseph". It is this
feature that stigmatizes so much of so-called "modern progress". It is used as an opiate
to deaden the conscience, as a distraction to drown the groan of creation, as a palliative to
take off the edge of the curse--in other words, it is the way of Cain.
We find further reference to the evil effect of inventions in II Chron. 26::
"And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men" ("inventions, invented
by the inventor", Rotherham) (II Chron. 26: 15).