Monday, November 27, 2017

ANCIENT MINISTERS OF MUSIC


ANCIENT MINISTERS OF MUSIC

            Sometimes we think of the concept of a minister of music as being a modern invention.  However, if one aspect of Levite Music Administration could be pointed out as most important it would be the office of the "chief musician."  In the Bible the minister of music is called by several names.

            The Book of Psalms refers to the chief musician fifty-four times.  The words chief and musician are translated from the Hebrew word natsach (5329) and mean to be eminent, to glitter from a distance and to be superintendent.  These musicians were chosen to supervise the business of music making in the Temple.  Other names for these musicians were:  chief singer (natsach 5329) in Habakkuk 3:19; overseer (paqiyd 6496) in Nehemiah 12:42; principal (rosh 7218) in Nehemiah 11:17, meaning to be first, in rank or to be captain; chief (sar 8269) of the Levites in I Chronicles 15:22, meaning a head person or a master musician; and chief (rosh 7218) of the fathers of the Levites in I Chronicles 9:33.  All of these names carry the meaning of a person in charge that is a leader and has skill and one who is a responsible person.

Thought for the Day

It is a foreign concept to many sincere Christians that God wants His chief musicians to stand out as leaders so much so that they would be very charismatic or “glitter from afar”.  The fact that a Christian musician  has submitted his or her life to the authority of God does not mean that this music leader should stoop his or her shoulders and act the part of a lowly bashful introvert.

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