Preparing Each Succeeding Generation

Preparing Each Succeeding Generation  

            Without doubt the most impressive part of Levite administration was the Levite teacher-scholar relationship recorded in I Chronicles 25:1-31.  As we can see from this entire chapter, these Levites were separated into three groups under Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.  Under Asaph were four lots, each having eleven scholars under each teacher.  Jeduthun was responsible for six lots each having a teacher responsible for eleven scholars.  Finally Heman had placed under him fourteen lots each consisting of a teacher and eleven students.  So, Asaph's four lots accounted for forty-eight musicians, Jeduthun's six lots accounted for seventy-two musicians, and Heman's fourteen lots accounted for one hundred sixty-eight musicians making a total of 288 teachers and scholars as recorded in I Chronicles 25:7.

            It should be pointed out that the Israelites accepted the responsibility of training their own church musicians.  The Chief Levites and their sons were not only performers and ministers, but they were also teachers and passed their art along to others.  The Bible example is very clear that the church is responsible to educate its own musicians.  The ancient Hebrews would never have even thought of sending their sons to the Philistines, the Egyptians, the Sumerians, or the Akkadians.  They accepted the responsibility to personally prepare each succeeding generation of Israelite musicians.  Under this developed system of music education, music in the Temple reached a very high level of excellence. 

Thought for the Day 

The ancient Levite musicians carefully guarded the music education of their families.  We consider ourselves to be much more developed spiritually and educationally, but we willingly expose our tender plants to the cultivation of music teachers who not love or serve Jesus Christ.  It will be them—not us—that will shape the music philosophy and performance practice of our children.