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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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1 Chronicles 15:16
“David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers, to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.”
I’ve included this verse for a very specific reason.
Today, more and more we are finding in the Church that music can be a hindrance or a blessing. During all my Christian life, most of the major conflicts within churches seem to have revolved around music. So often the organist, choirmaster or music director controlled the church. Whatever they said happened and everyone else had to follow.
More of a concern to me, however, was that so often these people were neither ‘full-time’ staff, nor part of the church leadership team. They were folk who worked most of their lives outside in the secular workplace, were expected to choose songs or music as they were able and everyone then just expected ‘worship’ to ‘happen’ on Sundays.
I challenge the Church leadership as much as I do them. Surely, so important a role as leading people into worship should flow naturally with the rest of the service and indeed with the message and thus the music/worship leader should be a full-time member of the Church leadership. Where this isn’t the case - it shows.
I realise many reading this will come from smaller churches where to have a full-time music person in leadership is not economically feasible. May I then respectfully suggest that the ‘worship leader’ should consider it a divine ‘calling’ and find time to meet with the Church leader (Minister/Pastor) well before the services so that they are working in harmony, in both senses of the word, so no discord sounds? None should be allowed to do their ‘own thing’. David chose specific people from the Levites - so should we.
We also need to guard against the problem facing us today, where there are so many different types of music. If we aren’t careful, we equate God with our subjective view of music, and find we can worship only in that style. God is worthy of praise and worship - period. It is not the style but the truth and the heart’s response that is important. We should be able to worship God any way, any time and in any place.
David wanted it done properly. Probably, because he was not only a worshipper but a talented musician too.
He had recently tried moving the Ark (Chapter 13) with disastrous results. It caused him to go back to basics and realise there was a specific way in which to move the Ark. It had to be carried by the priests. Not oxen.
At last the Ark had arrived and he wanted to celebrate and to do it so well that God would be honoured. Verses 19 - 22 quote the musicians’ names and what they did and also that “Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skilful at it.”
So they ‘went to work’ and David got carried away and danced before the Lord. That unfortunately incurred the wrath and displeasure of his wife, Michal, King Saul’s daughter. However, we read later that God was pleased with David’s exuberance and Michal remained barren all her life.
Oh, for the day when we can worship as we would love to.
In the meantime, try not to be over-critical.
Strive for excellence.
Do it to the very best of your individual and corporate ability and let it totally absorb you - soul, mind, spirit and body.
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