Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Those who distrust ordered worship, should take a long look at this Bible principle of musicing which was very ordered.

Why the Music of the Temple Was Successful part 5B

Why the Music of the Temple Was Successful part 5B

THE MUSICIANS MINISTERED 5B

            For some of the Levites special instructions were given as to the content of their musical ministry.  I Chronicles 16:4 states, "And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister (8334) before the ark of the LORD, and to record (zamar 2142), and to thank (yadah 3034) and praise (halal 1984) the LORD (3068) God (430) of Israel."  This verse contains a wealth of musical and spiritual meaning that is worth considering.  Here is an amplified version that I trust will shed some light on the truths in this verse:

"And he (David) assigned or distributed without fail at the forefront of the ark of the self-existent eternal God, Levites to serve in the spirit of a menial worshiper; and to mention, remember, think on and make (others) to remember Jehovah; to literally hold out the hands, and to revere, confess, and praise Jehovah; to make clear (sound), to shine and make a show, boast and celebrate the eternal, self-existent, supreme exceeding God."

            The three words record, thank, and praise are worth further discussion at this point.  Earlier in Chapter III, we mentioned in our discussion of new song in the Bible, that songs of praise unto God were a vital part of worship in the Bible.  The central theme of the Book of Psalms is also praise.  So it is no wonder that David assigned some Levites to be over the musical praise of the Temple.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Performance is about ME but ministry is about HIM.

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.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

Chief musician ask yourself, “Can God trust me to stay on the job because I consider my music ministry to be a sacred trust?”

 

Why the Music of the Temple Was Successful part 4

Why the Music of the Temple Was Successful part 4   

THE MUSICIANS WERE CALLED.

            Fourth, not only were the chief musicians prepared musically and spiritually and were full-time workers, but these musicians were set apart for service or were "called" in that they considered their ministry a sacred trust.  I Chronicles 25:1 tells us that they were separated (badal 914) for service (abowdah 5656).  They were distinguished by being selected to minister.  Remember that this same verse states that they were called to prophesy with music.  Also, we previously learned that the Levites were appointed or "set" by David, Gad, Nathan, and by the commandment of Jehovah.  We also found in I Chronicles 15:16 and in other scriptures that the Levites were often appointed to a specific ministry i.e. to teach, to sing, to sing and play, to direct, or to oversee.

            These Levite musicians were given a sacred trust.  I Chronicles 16:37 tells us, "So he left (azab 5800) there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD.  Asaph and his brethren to minister. . ."  The word azab connotes total trust on the part of the ones who were called to minister, and it also displays a total trust on the part of the one(s) who appointed the ministering Levites.  David was able to leave them because they were no just merely working day and night but were ministering unto God.  Churches today should accept no less of a minister of music.  This ministering servant must be called of God and also, like the Levite musicians of the Old Testament, consider musical ministry a sacred trust.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day  

There is not only no substitute for musical skill, but there is also no substitute for hard work if one wishes to have a successful music ministry.

 

Why the Music of the Temple Was Successful part 3

Why the Music of the Temple Was Successful part 3  

THE MUSICIANS WERE FULL-TIME WORKERS.

            Third, these Levite musicians were full time workers.  I Chronicles 9:33 states, "And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in their chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night."  The chief Levite musicians were recorded by the chronicler as working day and night.  I Chronicles 16:37 states that the priests and Levites ministered continually (tamid 8548).  The word tamid meant that they ministered on a daily basis.

            The ministry of the Levite musicians was evidently a ministry requiring long hours or work since I Chronicles 16:37 states, "So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren to minister before the ark continually (tamid 8548), as every day work required."  A companion scripture II Chronicles 8:14 states, "And he [Solomon] appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges (mishmereth 4931), to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty (dabar 1697) of every day required. . ."  As mishmereth and dabar indicate, the Levites were responsible for the safeguard of the concern or ministry of music making in the Temple.  This responsibility included working as much every day as was needed to fulfill the needs of Levites' daily ministry. 

            The lesson to the church musician today is clear.  If you want to be a chief musician, you will have to be willing to work day and night.  It is no marvel that the music of the Temple was so successful since these musicians were willing to work until the task was accomplished.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

When it comes to musicing unto God it is one thing to know about God but it is entirely another thing to know god as one’s personal Savior.

 

Why the Music of the Temple Was Successful part 2

Why the Music of the Temple Was Successful  part 2

THE MUSICIANS WERE PREPARED SPIRITUALLY.

            Second, the music of the Temple was successful because the Levite musicians were prepared spiritually.  I Chronicles 25:1 explains to us that the Levite musicians were separated or set apart to prophesy with music.  As we learned in Chapter IV, the word naba (5012) used of these musicians was the same word used of the prophets of the Old Testament who were great spiritual men.  Likewise, the Levite musicians were spiritual because they were cleansed ceremonially or morally as is stated in I Chronicles 15:12a.  "And said unto them, Ye are the fathers of the Levites:  sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren. . ."  Verse fourteen states, "So the priests and the Levites sanctified (6942) themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel."  The Hebrew word used here for sanctify and sanctified is quadash (6942), and according to Strong means to be clean ceremonially or morally or to sanctify one-self wholly. 

             In other words, these men were called to holy living.  The writer will not push this hypothesis any further exegetically, but it will suffice to say that in our dispensation the minister of music must be sanctified through and through.  However, II Chronicles 23:6a states that these Levite musicians were holy men, "But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy (qodesh 6944). . ."