Why the Music of the Temple Was Successful part 5A

Why the Music of the Temple Was Successful part 5A

THE MUSICIANS MINISTERED 5A

            Fifth, these chief musicians were not merely called for the business of music making in the Temple: they were ministering musicians.  I Chronicles 6:31-32 states, "And these are they whom David set over the service (yad 3027) of song (shiyr 7892) in the house of the LORD, after the ark had rest.  And they ministered (sharath 8334) before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. . .” these Levite musicians were ministering with their hands.  (See Music of the Bible in the section on cheironomy in Chapter VIII.)

            Notice that the word sharath means to serve or to attend in the spirit of a menial person or with the humility of the person of least estate who would come into the Temple to worship.  The emphasis of ministry here is not on perfection of performance, or aesthetic awareness, or kinesthetic coordination, or the pleasure of performance, but rather on musical service that was performed in a spirit of humbleness.  These chief musicians served God and they served the people.  The scripture never makes mention of a haughty, heady, self-seeking Levite musician.

            There are five other times in the Old Testament when the Levites were said to minister.  Each of these verses contains the word sharath (8334).  The references are I Chronicles 16:4, 16:37; II Chronicles 8:14, 23:6, and 31:2.  For some of these ministering musicians, the Scripture gives specificity as to where, when, which instrument, and to how the ministry should take place.