Tuesday: Two Large Thanksgiving Choirs
Read Nehemiah 12:31-42. Why was music such an important part of this celebration?
Part of the worship service in Nehemiah’s time was creating two thanksgiving choirs that walked around Jerusalem singing, accompanied by instruments. They started in the same place and then split off, each going in a different direction around the walls of the city. One group was led by Ezra, who was at the front, and the other group had Nehemiah at the back. 
The two choirs met up once again at the Valley Gate and from there proceeded into the temple. Priests who blew the trumpets complemented each procession. Once the choirs entered the temple, they stood facing each other. It was an excellently organized procession and worship service.
To answer why music is such an important part of the celebration and worship service, we have to look at its meaning in the context of the temple. Music in the temple was not a concert that people came to enjoy, like going to listen to Beethoven’s 4th symphony being performed at a concert hall. Rather, as the musicians sang and played the instruments, the people bowed in prayer. It was part of their worship.
The central act of the temple and worship concerned sacrifices, itself a rather unpleasant action. After all, what were they doing but slicing the throats of innocent animals? The playing of such beautiful music, in many ways, besides just lifting the people’s thoughts heavenward, helped make the whole worship experience more pleasant.
Look up instances in the Bible where music was an important aspect of worship. Reflect especially on Exodus 15:1; 2 Chronicles 20:21-22; and Revelation 15:2-4.
Both on earth and in heaven, music is part of the worship experience. Notice that in the above verses, the singing is all about what the Lord has done for His people, including giving them victory “over the beast” (after all, how else would they have gotten that victory?). It’s praise to God for His acts of salvation.
| Name some of the things that God has done for you that are good reasons to sing praises to Him? |
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Sounds like the Hebrews developed the original "flash mob" music. Most of our discussion of worship music is about what happens within the church, but there is a case for thinking about worship music in public spaces as well. I know that our local Adventist schools have performed in shopping centres at times and have been greatly appreciated. And the Advent Brass Band always provides the music for our local celebration of ANZAC day - our national day of remembrance for the fallen from the wars. Such musical witnessing creates a lot of good will in the community.
Let me tell you a little story about what is happening in our local community. I have mentioned before that Carmel is involved in the local U3A community group Strumming with Strings. They are a group of mainly retired folk who play ukuleles and sing. U3A is a secular movement and offers a number of activities for retired people. The Strumming with Strings group is made up of largely unchurched folk but because there is a large Adventist population locally there are a number of Adventists in the group as well. We are also involved in Club CHIP, a follow up program for CHIP and we meet once a month for a meal and talk. As we were coming to the end of the year we wanted to do something special to finish the year off. Carmel thought it would be a great idea to get the Strummers to come and perform at the Club CHIP end of year program. It says something about the high regard that the members of the Strummers have for Carmel in that she managed to persuade the group of over 20 to come to our Club CHIP night. They were invited to stay for the meal and were told that the food would be largely plant-based. They came and performed a mixture of secular and sacred numbers and were really engaging in their performance. Furthermore they stayed for the meal and were simply blown away that vegetarian food tasted so good. The Chippers and Strummers mixed together well. Most of them stayed on for the talk by Dr Trevor Hurlow who gave a very interesting presentation on plant protein and in the question time afterwards the Strummers were keen to know more about healthy lifestyle living.
Carmel went to the Strummers practice the next day and their members were still ecstatic about their experience at the Club CHIP program. This coming week they are performing at the local Uniting Church as part of their service.
I tell this story because while it is not strictly about worship music, it illustrates the power of music in bringing people together and providing opportunities for Church members to witness to others in a very powerful way. Perhaps it is time to think a bit more about community involvement and what better way than to use music as a means of bringing people together.
I totally agree with you Maurice, music is a powerful tool for witnessing. I cannot sing like the professionals but I can sure make a joyful noise. How we have evaluate how we use music in our church service. There is a trend that is happening in our churches now, where we hardly using the songs from our hym books any more. We tend to be getting carried away with entertainment rather than worshipping God. This is even happening in our camp meetings. And it is sending mix messages to the world.Music use as it should be use in service is a powerful witness for the gospel. The children of Isreal did nothing but march and sing and the walls came tumbling down.
I used to have the same problem with modern music too Augustine, but then I started to get to know the musicians a bit better and work with them. I found the musicians really cared about the effectiveness of the message they were singing. It taught me to drop some of the baggage I was carrying about types of music and listen to the message. I am not much good at singing but I can understand what they are singing and most of the time the message I here is inspirational.
Psalms 100 is all about singing and praising God.
Most of the time the debate about music is not about worship.
“Music and silence—how I detest them both! How thankful we should be that ever since Our Father entered Hell—though longer ago than humans, reckoning in light years, could express—no square inch of infernal space and no moment of infernal time has been surrendered to either of those abominable forces, but all has been occupied by Noise—Noise, the grand dynamism, the audible expression of all that is exultant, ruthless, and virile—Noise which alone defends us from silly qualms, despairing scruples, and impossible desires. We will make the whole universe a noise in the end. We have already made great strides in this direction as regards the Earth. The melodies and silences of Heaven will be shouted down in the end. But I admit we are not yet loud enough, or anything like it.”
https://cslewisthoughts.tumblr.com/post/186209529553/music-and-silencehow-i-detest-them-both-how
What is the purpose of music in worship service?
Does the music gratify the human emotions and pleasure or does it uplift God?
These questions must be answered by each individual person.
Maurice Ashton on November 30, 2019 at 9:57 am said:
"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."
https://ssnet.org/blog/sunday-singing-songs-of-lord/#comment-108838
Music is an integral part of worship.
Every creation of God intended to uplift humanity is always marred by satan to glorify self.
Well, this is an important lesson, we must think alot about the music in the house's God from music still the prayer. We must do like in roman 12:1,2
I read the whole of 2Chron 20 how the LORD defeated the enemy when the singers began praising the LORD! And I began to understand the purpose of the group singing. It is a way for a group of people all at the same time to praise the LORD in harmony. It promotes unity of spirit, all agree on the tune. The volume of a group is higher and reaches further so more will hear the message. The message is clearer - compare it to each one shouting something different!
Let us all together sing a song of joy with feeling and praise the LORD!
Read Exodus 15 and Revelation 15 and think of them as you go about your day!
Music is such a good way to praise God. I miss singing more! As a student, I attended choirs and this was an unforgettable experience! Music is a great talent given by God for us to lift up our worship!
Holy Ghost inspire my mind and thoughts.Now let me see only you high and lifted up and your train filling the temple.
The last question for today study stated:Name some of the things that God has done for you that are good reasons to sing praises to Him?
Throughout the bible before every group singing or individual singing there were experiences of life or death. The people were facing their adversaries who intended to take their lives. God,I say, my God, my fighting Warrior saved their lives in great and mighty ways. As a result of gratitude, because they can't pay God with money or sacrifices they gave their hearts, mind, body and spirit into singing. I have a book entitled:Heart-warming hymns stories.The hymns we sing in church were about others personal experiences, what took place and how they overcame. Then they were inspire to write the songs. PS those people weren't SDA, but Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist etc. When I go to church on sabbath I do not go to be filled, I go already filled to pour out to God my praise to be filled again for the week. The devil is busy and will concur all, I say all who allow themselves to be concur. HE MASTERMIND CONFUSION.
Song by Tasha Cobbs-He knows my name, O how he walks with me.
C. Austin Miles- And he walks with me, and he talks with me.
Christianity is an experience, one of knowing the Lord for ourselves, on where no hell or high water can separate us from the love of God.
Many sing and tears flow down their eyes. We do not know why, many shout and say Amen and Hallelujah, Praise the Lord, we don't know why. But God alone knows. Some of our churches you cannot say these words, it is offensive to others, but if we do not do it on earth, how will be sing it in heaven? Do we do own own soul searching to see if it is our attitude to other that caused other to leave the church?
Holy, Righteous, Loving one in Israel, let your people see you as you are. Remove the scales from our eyes.
Ques for today: Name some of the things that God has done for you that are good reasons to sing praises to Him?
To name some will be to dishonor my God, I need to write a book about experiences about my family,my relatives, my spouse, and myself. But because the blog is limited to space and time I will mention few. Moving from country to countries was not easy,but the Lord was there for us. Many times I remembered I will be up and down to the hospital with my children during the day and night, sometimes twice per night and still had to go to work the following day. Baby sitters problems needed a book to mention.
Moving from another country you are always seen as an outsider. Being an outsider you are subjected to ridicules of all sorts. It had gotten so bad, looking back, I was in depression, I did not want to go to work. I was in a dark place, then I felt suicidal. Thank God he was there for me. Then the thought came to me that he will never bring me here to suffer. Some years ago demons appeared to be loosed in our home. I had several encountered, the tried pulling me off my bed from my toes, laying on me, lifting the bed from the head to throw me off. Several other encountered with them in my home. I came to the conclusion that no demon is going to run me out of the home the Lord placed me in, the will have to kill me if the are more powerful than my mighty fighting Warrior.
One night my husband became demon possessed.(mind you, I am not speaking of a poor third world country,but one of the rich developed country of the world). When I called my husband name, the devil spoke through him. I knew the devil was trying to challenge me. But as I said, I serve a Mighty fighting Warrior. he fights for his people.
My people Isa 43:2 says the Lord will allow some of us to pass through different trials, but we need not to be afraid. He will be with his people. Dont let songs, singing, music be our downfall. Larger things are affecting people in the church and they are crying out for help. Are you hearing their cry throughout the music, song or voice?