Why the Music of the Temple Was Successful part 3

Why the Music of the Temple Was Successful part 3  

THE MUSICIANS WERE FULL-TIME WORKERS.

            Third, these Levite musicians were full time workers.  I Chronicles 9:33 states, "And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in their chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night."  The chief Levite musicians were recorded by the chronicler as working day and night.  I Chronicles 16:37 states that the priests and Levites ministered continually (tamid 8548).  The word tamid meant that they ministered on a daily basis.

            The ministry of the Levite musicians was evidently a ministry requiring long hours or work since I Chronicles 16:37 states, "So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren to minister before the ark continually (tamid 8548), as every day work required."  A companion scripture II Chronicles 8:14 states, "And he [Solomon] appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges (mishmereth 4931), to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty (dabar 1697) of every day required. . ."  As mishmereth and dabar indicate, the Levites were responsible for the safeguard of the concern or ministry of music making in the Temple.  This responsibility included working as much every day as was needed to fulfill the needs of Levites' daily ministry. 

            The lesson to the church musician today is clear.  If you want to be a chief musician, you will have to be willing to work day and night.  It is no marvel that the music of the Temple was so successful since these musicians were willing to work until the task was accomplished.