The Importance of Music
1 Chronicles 25:1-8, "Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jedu'thun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was: 2 of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethani'ah, and Asare'lah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king. 3 Of Jedu'thun: the sons of Jedu'thun; Gedali'ah, and Zeri, and Jeshai'ah, Hashabi'ah, and Mattithi'ah, six, under the hands of their father Jedu'thun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD. 4 Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukki'ah, Mattani'ah, Uz'zi-el, She'bu-el, and Jer'imoth, Hanani'ah, Hana'ni, Eli'athah, Giddal'ti, and Romam'ti–e'zer, Joshbeka'shah, Mallo'thi, Hothir, and Maha'zi-oth: 5 all these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All the service of these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jedu'thun, and Heman. 7 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. 8 And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar."
I was struck today with the importance of music in our worship. If you will notice there was a large number appointed over the music ministry (288 in number). They were cunning and able in their delivery of music. Music is a tool that is utilized in two primary ways: first, it is utilized in our worship of the LORD, and then, it is utilized for personal edification. The music we choose to listen to in our church services and on a personal level, at home, in our car etc., has a direct bearing upon our worship of God and our personal walk.
Notice the passage says they prophesied with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals (vs. 1). Verse three informs us that Jedu'thun and his sons prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the LORD. The word prophesy in these verses means to speak under God's influence for the LORD. These men were influenced by God and were instructed in the songs of the LORD (vs. 7). They prophesied through their music. They gave thanks to the LORD and praised the LORD through their music. Music speaks powerfully to the human heart and therefore must be Christ honoring and not flesh centered.
Our music is either influenced by God in praise of Him or it is flesh oriented and appeals to the hip rather than the heart. We need music in our churches and in our personal lives that will exalt the LORD and edify the saint. May we make good choices in our music.
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1. How would you evaluate your personal music choices?
2. Does your music appeal to your flesh or does it speak to your heart?
3. How would you classify the music in your church worship services?