Teaching Our Own to Minister Musically—part 6

Teaching Our Own to Minister Musically—part 6

            Verse 5 of I Chronicles 25 states that Heman was the Kings seer in the words (dabar 1697) of God.  The Hebrew word dabar was used in the Old Testament with some latitude.  Its meaning included: words, matters, advise, business, language, promise, and message.  So we may conclude that Heman was a seer of the message of God through music.  We know that a seer was a beholder of visions of God.  Heman, the chief musician, was therefore a spiritual musical messenger.  He came with a distinct message from God for the people.  In II Chronicles 35:15, Jeduthun was mentioned as a seer (2734) and in II Chronicles 29:30, Asaph was said to be a seer.  All three of these Chief Musicians who were the teachers of the young Levite musicians understood that they were to present God’s musical message to the congregation.  They were seers or beholders of the vision of God in music.

The Chief Musicians taught their sons and brethren, the young Levite music students, the importance of being aware of God’s message and presenting this message to the congregation.  The music of the Temple was not merely performance, but performance with an ethical and moral force behind it.  Temple music was prophetic performance.  What is the significance of all this talk about prophetic music performance?  I believe that the importance of this Scripture passage is that Church Music really Matters.  It mattered in ancient Israel and it matters today.  Form and style or genre (a category of artistic and musical composition characterized by a particular style, form or content) matter, but they are not the paramount purpose of church music.  The artistic musical aspect of church music matters, but it is not the zenith (high point) of church music.  The idioms (the language peculiar to a people or community) we use do matter, but they are not what’s most important about church music.  The moods and atmosphere that music sets are important, but they are not what matters most about church music.  What matters MOST is the ethical and moral meaning that underpins all spiritual musical performance in church.  This moral and ethical foundation should create a conservative conscience on the part of the Spirit-filled musician.