" Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should --prophesy-- with -harps, with -psalteries, and with -cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which ---prophesied according to the order of the king.
Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who ---prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:
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.
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.
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."
- 1 Chronicles 25:1-7
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in --psalms and ---hymns and --spiritual songs, singing with ---grace in your hearts to the Lord."
- Col 3:16
--------------------------------
We turn this week to a topic that is second only to doctrinal issues, when it comes to dividing the Body of Christ. Worship music!!
The worship leader/music pastor/choir director/band leader has a difficult task in contemporary worship. S/He must work with the pastor to pick a set of songs that complement the weeks message, be in a key that the congregation & worship team can easily sing, mix fast and slow choruses, and appeal to the style/genre preferences of a diverse congregation (age, ethnicity, musical background, etc.). Some denominations have even codified their hymns into a hymnal (or psaltery) and the worship leader must select from there.
Once the selection is done, there are rehearsals and then "performances" at the weekly/mid-weekly services, which require a dedicated team of individuals to show up and use their gifts and talents to glorify God through singing, playing an instrument, & managing sound/video/lights.
In todays church settings (for the most part) these are volunteers (who may be compensated for their services), or they are paid staff that hold certain positions. Coordinating rehearsals, getting people to show up on time (and know their parts), and managing the egos of individual performers who may think they are "gifted" above their peers.
After all this work, what does the congregation say?
"I don't like the new songs/ I don't like the old songs/ I don't approve of ANY singing, we shouldn't have drums/distorted guitars in church, the music is too loud, you can't hear the congregation singing anymore (all you hear is the amplified worship team), we have sold our musical souls to attract the new generation.... ? ... YMMV...
Let us see if we get any guidelines for corporate worship from the Word.....
Our text for this week talks about the institution of formal, round-the-clock worship in Jerusalem. There are some interesting things to pick up ... please note :
1. The musicians were CHOSEN -- they did NOT volunteer. That is consistent with the calling of all of God's servants. They are chosen and called, not of their own volition, but brought to a position of service by the will of God, and His anointed, to glorify Him and not themselves !!!
2. Genetics was involved -- The musicians were the SONS of specific skilled musicians, Asaph, Jeduthun, Heman.
In Europe and in Asia, similar hereditary systems evolved, culminating in the formation of Guilds in Europe, the Caste System in India, and similar structures everywhere in the world.
Keeping the skills and talent in the family leverages genetics, & environment by the musician growing up, learning and being exposed to music 24/7 in the family). This is natural, but there is a deeper linkage here, with God and His designs, & His Grace, and Mercy to generations upon generations of those that love Him.
3. The work was divided, BY LOT (RANDOMIZED), and everyone (big to small, experienced teacher to newbie scholar) got a chance to serve !!
What a contrast from the little empires we see people building for themselves even in church environments!!
288 musicians were separated into groups of 12 (!!) again, by family. If we continue reading from our text we see...
" And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the ----small as the -----great, the -----teacher as the -----scholar.
"Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph:
the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:
The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:
The four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve." - 1 Chr 25:9-31
We have reproduced the full list so that you can see that even the subgroups of twelve, were all made up of FAMILY MEMBERS of the patriarch named !!!! and all hailing from the tribe of Levi. (and the names of the people that the Spirit recorded for us and all posterity).
In fact, earlier in the book, the sons of Aaron (Ileazar and Ithamar ) inherited his service, with their sons (16 for Ileazar, 8 for Ithamar) , making up 24 divisions as well, which took up service by lot too. (1 Chr 24:1 - 31)
There is something interesting to ponder here.
What glorifies God more? ... perfect and professional execution of a song, or a heartfelt rendition by a not-so-skilled congregation member? Think about it...
In some large organizations today, the worship service has become the showpiece/advertising outreach of that communion, being streamed live, recorded, replayed --- there is no room for a less than "perfect" performance.
Which is fine, if your motive is to draw people to your church based on the quality of your musicians/singers & the overall worship "experience" (we hate that word).
That is NOT THE POINT OF CORPORATE WORSHIP!!!
The point is articulated --------perfectly----------- by the Apostle Paul in our second text...
"Let the -----word of Christ----------- dwell in you richly in all wisdom--------; teaching and admonishing one another in --psalms and ---hymns and --spiritual songs, singing with ---grace in your hearts to the Lord."
The point of Corporate Worship is to bring the Word of God into the Hearts of Believers, and pour it forth back to God in praise and supplication!!!
The point of David's getting the singers together was to make sure that "prophesying" (speaking forth God's word) in SONG ------- was being accomplished!!
This was not BACKGROUND or AMBIENT music that would accompany the real work of sacrifice and atonement being accomplished in the Temple.
And so, the most important point when it comes to Worship Music....
4. LOOK AT THE WORDS
Are they from the Bible? Are they consistent with what the Bible teaches? Do they educate, inform, encourage, exhort, convict?
.... or are they just rehashed love songs where God has replaced a girl in the song, and it is catchy, foot tapping or soulful, trying to bring about an emotional response that is unconnected to anything the Bible has to say?
The greatest songs written by the Lord's people, were not written with an eye to the music charts or popularity. They were outpourings of the Human Spirit in response to the relationship we have with our Creator.
"Abide with Me" was written by a person who lost everything. "Amazing Grace" was written when there weren't even charts to talk about!!
There is a reason these songs have endured when the bubble-gum that passes for worship music today in some denominations are forgotten almost as soon as they are heard. They are TRUE!! They speak the TRUTH and that is the HALLMARK of the WORD OF GOD!!!
The truth is that life is difficult. It is a learning to walk experience, and learning to walk is never easy. There are slips, falls, frustrations, plateaus, setbacks/backlsilding, boat anchors tied to our feet... what will lift our spirits as we walk through this vale of tears?
"How (as the captives lamented), shall we sing the Lords Song in a strange land?"
We will not sugar coat anything.... sometimes the music doesn't come easily. Sometimes inspiration doesn't flow. Sometimes our spirits are SO down, even contemplating singing, or making music is painful.
These are the times when we MUST be reminded... THE LORD IS FAITHFUL, HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER!
Sing it to yourself, multiple times a day, and the demons that whisper condemnation into your ear will melt and disappear!
5. Its about the PEOPLE (Christ's Bride)
Worship music is for the PEOPLE. For them to be educated, encouraged, exalted... to have something they can sing when they are down or depressed, to bring into focus.
It should be performed as an act of service, humbly, giving all glory to God --- for with such worship offerings, He is well pleased.
A performance from the heart will do more good to people's hearts than all the slick and polished presentations (nothing against excellence, but let us remember the goal of it...).
We close with our initial point....
Music is as much a sacred and priestly calling as is the ministry of the Word, because it IS a WORD Ministry!!!
In the Old Testament, ministers for BOTH, were drawn from the SAME FAMILY (the house of Levi/Aaaron) the priestly tribe. In todays world, the universal priesthood of all believers is well acknowledged, so there should be NO distinction between clergy and laity even when choosing members to serve in that capacity.
Anyone can serve, but they must be willing to learn ( the scholar & the teacher are explicitly mentioned) from their teachers, and perform their work with diligence, as to the LORD, and not for the praise of Men.
God will know if you are giving your all, or skating (leveraging just enough of your talent to be in the team), or trying to build YOUR BRAND and IMAGE, as opposed to glorifying Him.
For Pastors and Worship leaders. You should be free to pick any type of song you want, just please check...
1. It is true to the Word of God
2. It is helpful to the Congregation
3. Please try to ensure that your congregation can sing along.
4. Please try to sing at least one song where it is the CHURCH singing, and not just the musicians.... that united voice emerging from a building makes the denizens of hell quake in their shoes!!
As for the rest (Hip hop, funk, classical, gregorian chant etc.) .... add to taste... and try to serve up a buffet that caters to all sensibilities, (maybe not all in one service), but across them, for the love of those in the congregation that might be moved to march to a different beat/melody.
We thank God for all the wonderful songs and hymns penned through the ages via the agency of the Spirit, through men and women who wrote and sang as they were moved.
We are privileged to be one with them in spirit by singing their songs and words, their IDEAS, that reflect back the truth, glory and majesty of the ONE that gave us all of this!
Hallelujah!