Sunday: Singing the Songs of the Lord
Read Nehemiah 12:27-29. Notice some of the key words that reveal what their worship and praise was like. How would you describe it?
The Israelite nation had commissioned a specific class of the Levites to be singers and musicians for the temple services. God directed the practice and gave instructions for the service, as the temple worship was to be beautiful and professionally performed.
Songs of the Lord
King David had organized this practice into a more elaborate and magnificent system than had previously been done. Therefore, the descendants of Asaph, whom David had appointed as the leader of worship in the temple, were still designated as “the singers in charge of the service of the house of God” (Neh. 11:22, NKJV).
Look up 1 Chronicles 25:6-8. What does this teach us about how central and important music was to their worship and their singing “the songs of the Lord”?
The singers were Levites and, therefore, officially assigned to the temple. Thus, providing music for the temple services was their paid job. During the time of King David, a full-fledged music academy was organized, which he supervised. It had teachers and students, young and old, who worked in shifts in the temple, providing music. Some were instrumentalists, others singers, yet others took care of the instruments and the garments used for the services. What was the purpose of such a professional organization? It served to develop talent and the vision of excellence in worship. Excellence must always be a goal in worship. Praises must come from the heart and be expressed in the best way so that people will be spiritually uplifted. One can assume that those musicians and singers who served in the temple were carefully selected to lead the worship service.
| What are ways that you have experienced the joy of worship through music? In what ways is this important to you? |
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I have two regrets about music.
Firstly, I am not a musician. I have a voice like a crow and although I learned to play the clarinet, it lies in the cupboard unused mainly because I have poor hearing. My wife, on the other hand, is an accomplished pianist with a A.Mus.A. in piano performance and has recently taken up the ukelele with a vengeance and plays regularly with the U3A "Strumming with Strings" group. I have to enjoy my music vicariously.
My second great regret is that the church fights and argues about music to the extent that people leave the church because they believe that the church is not playing the right kind of music. That is rather sad and even more so because deep down a fair bit of the argument is based on musical taste and background rather than any real basis of right and wrong.
Perhaps there is a need for us to go back to music school to learn how to listen to music so that we hear the hearts of people beating in time with the Lord. When music comes from a relationship with Jesus then its message sounds loud and clear above the cacophony of the genre and we no longer should be arguing whether sackbuts or psalters are the appropriate Christian instruments.
That is a musical experience worth preparing for.
I come to church to worship not to criticise others or anything, guess it depends where your heart is, with the Lord or otherwise
Asaph (and family) (12 psalms): 50; 73—83
https://www.gotquestions.org/Psalms-authors.html
We will explore Psalms 73
V1 - God is good
to Israel, and those who are pure in heart '
I see in this verse God's goodness is not given only to the Israelites but to all who would worship him with the purity of heart.
V2 - Asaph is transitioning from God to his personnel reality
I have almost slipped. I have nearly lost my foothold tells us that Asaph had not completely turned his back against God.
He is still reasoning with God.
V3 - He answers the reason for his doubt
He saw the prosperity of the wicked.
He was appalled.
Regularly we see this even today.
I myself have cried out like Asaph what have I gained in this world following faithfully?
Many have left the faith because the grass is greener on the other side.
V17 till I entered the sanctuary and understood the final destiny of the unbeliever
Now I understand all that I envied is like a day dream compare to the life to come.
V23-25
I have nothing in this world to hold me captive.
My desire is to be beside you Lord
Unless our desire changes to become heavenward bound we like the rest of the wicked shall remain on this earth.
Meditate on His word. know and understand there is an end to this mad rush of accumulation.
When my father passed away the little he had held so close to his heart became junk because it had lost value to us.
Where is your treasure today?
What is your worth in heavenly kingdom?
What would you consider to be a successful Christian life?
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus - Hymn
And the things of earth will strangely grow dim.
Spirit of the Living God fall afresh on me. Circumcise my heart for your service.
This time of the year the entire world is aware that it’s Christmas. During this time we use the church hymnal to sing the seasonal hymns/ Christmas songs. Even those hymns some church members oppose say we/ the churches are too worldly. Many in the churches are being led by Satanic influences and don’t even know. Satan will do everything to keep men’s heart from the birth of Christ.
The churches are so much divided about music, instruments and choice of songs that many left. We stand, sway, shake, clap our hands at crusades, then we get people to baptize, when they enter the church, then it is a no no to do that on Sabbath.
We need an entire quarter lesson on music probably people will change their thinking
How much does our culture affect our appreciation of music?
Growing up we were told that our church music should be different to that of 'the world'? Is this true?
I have heard it said that we can use secular music so long as the words praise the LORD?
What about instruments? In our texts this week we see cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, as well as trumpets - are these the only ones we should use?
Do you remember when the organ was frowned upon for use in the church?
What about Miriam leading the women in singing with the timbrel and dancing? Is this alright so long as it is not inside the church?
So many questions and debates about music! What is the most important factor? I believe we must remember that the point is to worship and praise the LORD, to lift our hearts, thoughts to Him and to bow down our bodies in adoration.
I just wish we could get people to sing during the worship service at my church (sigh). It's so very strange that they all seem to come down with a bad case of laryngitis just as the song portion of the service starts!
When I was baptized in 1969,the church was somewhat divided over Robert Brimsmead's then notions regarding sinlessness. I vividly remember a mother's complaint that her son, a musician, had no place in the church as his music wasn't acceptable. I loved music and dancing, but had just come to know Christ as my personal savior and the Bible as the word of God and Ellen White as a prophetess of God. I,for good reason had generally hated Christianity. Now I went to a Sabbath-keeping church with a female prophetess. In all these things God miraculously led. I threw away my Beattle and Simon & Garfunkel,... albums and no longer went dancing. I didn't understand clearly why these things were so bad, but I was willing to learn.
After decades I learned that I had thrown out the baby with the bathwater. I have a untenable thought: what if we treated our preaching ministers as we do our music ministers, where they could find "regular" employment to support themselves and they could donate their ministry time. And if they wanted full time ministry compensation, they could find a suitable Sunday church that would be willing to employ them.
This is a very interesting topic in the seven day Adventist church.
Please help me out here.Where do we draw the line about what kind of music should be played in church?
Also can a non atventist (but a Christian) help out with the music on sabbath in a church where there is no pianist?
God Bless you while answering my question.
That is a very difficult question to answer. And in different cultures the line would be drawn in very different places. It may sound a bit cliche but the music that draws the church members closer to Christ is the music you should choose. In any situation there may be a need for members to compromise with one another to strike a harmonious balance. If your church can have that conversation amicably, you are on a winner.
Regarding the use of non-Adventist musicians. Some people have been won to Christ that way.