Musicians in Perpetuity

Musicians in Perpetuity

1Chronicles 25:6 states, “All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.”  Have you ever wondered why the level of music worship developed to such an advanced level during the time of the first and second Temples?  When I was a Bible College divisional chair some of the largest churches in Cincinnati would call me because they did not have accompanists enough to meet their ministry needs.  They had money, facilities, and equipment but they did not have musicians in perpetuity.  They had planned and prepared for future music ministries, but they had not accepted the responsibility to train their own Church musicians.

1Chronicles 25:7 explains that the Levite musicians who were in  charge of the music of the  ancient Jewish Temple trained musicians in perpetuity when it states, “So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.”  Many churches and Christian elementary and secondary schools do not even include music education in their church education program or in their school academic curriculum.  They seem to not consider music education to be a priority.  Therefore, it is of little wonder that they do not have enough qualified musicians to meet the needs of their music ministry needs. Also they fail to realize that failure to educate students musically will result in a shortage of adult musicians that understand sacred musicing.  As I have said many +times , Christians cannot expect secular music educators to make sacred music a music education priority.