In the establishing of divine worship in Israel, Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun were appointed to "prophesy with lyres, harps and cymbals." Together with their families "who were trained in singing to the LORD," they constituted the leadership of a new and inspired music program answerable directly to King David - himself not unknown to the realm of inspired music and song (I Chron. 25:1-17).
The term "prophesy" is significant here in that it bespoke more than mere performance or performance skill (the latter a quality also of interest to David, Psa. 33:3). Emphasis was rather on a spiritual dynamic wherein God received praise and those in attendance were edified. To such end, interestingly, David also established the singing of praise to God on a twenty-four hour basis (I Chron. 9:33; Psa. 134:1).
The power of inspired music is found throughout Scripture. David had himself been instrumental in bringing relief to Saul through the ministry of anointed music (I Sam. 16:23). Again, at a time of national crisis, Scripture records the request of the prophet Elisha for a minstrel. "And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon [Elisha]" to a resolving of the situation (II Kings 3:15).
Or, who can forget the divine response to Paul and Silas' singing of praise in the Philippian jail (Acts 16:16-30)? It is little to be wondered that Paul not only encouraged others to worship the Lord in song (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), but acknowledged his own continued exercise in anointed singing (I Cor. 14:15).
Who of us has not been especially touched at one time or another through the ministry of music? We reall various such experiences, including one occasion in which we were especially moved during a time of test by hearing the trio known as "Smith, White and Fairchild" on the car radio singing "Fight On, Weary Soldier."
Finally, throughout the Revelation, the presence of God in heaven is repeatedly attended by both instrumental music and singing. Indeed, Scripture contains well over three hundred references to musically related praise and worship.
"I will praise the name of God with a song" (Psa. 69:30).
Burl Ratzsch
