Singing Faith Series

Title: Singing Faith

Theme: The Character of the Song Service

1 Chronicles 25:1, 6-7 says, “David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals.” Let us now go to verses 6-7 “All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the LORD, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the supervision of the king. Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD…” Pray!

Introduction: In 2 Chronicles 29 we read of a king by the name of Hezekiah. The Bible says that he “…trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.” (2 Kings 18:5) His first official act was to cleanse the Lord’s temple of its pollutions. (The Expositors Bible Commentary) After the purification process, the Bible says, “He stationed the Levites in the temple of the Lord with cymbals, harps and lyres in the way prescribed by David and Gad the king’s seer and Nathan the prophet; this was commanded by the Lord through his prophets.” (2 Chronicles 29:25) Hezekiah was putting together a gathering of the city officials, they were having a public worship service in the temple and Hezekiah was following the directions given by God through King David in order to have a service that was pleasing to the Lord.

King David, the man after God’s heart, (Acts 13:22) had a powerful desire in his heart to build the temple of God. (2 Samuel 7:2) However, he was not permitted to undertake the construction of God’s house. (2 Samuel 7:5-7; 1 Chronicles 22:8) Although he was not involved in the actual building of the temple of God, he did prepare for it in plans and material. (1 Chronicles 22:1-19; 28:1-29:9) He was also God’s agent in setting in order the method of temple service. We read all about that in 1 Chronicles chapters 23-26. All this was the leading of God, through David to set in order corporate worship.

In 1 Chronicles 25 we see that music is to be considered and approached as being ministry in the house of God. Therefore, the preparation of the song service should be approached and received with the same approach and reception as the proclaiming of God’s Word. Music is ministry to the Lord and to the Body of Christ and it must be blanketed in prayer and guided by the truths of God’s Word. The worship leaders need to be at the altar on Sunday mornings just as much as the preacher of God’s Word, beseeching in Jesus Name the presence of the Holy Spirit.

There are churches in America and around the world that are humble enough to be in serious prayer before their services and they are enjoying all that God has for them. They express Biblical character in the song service as well as in the preaching of God’s Word.

Proposition: I would propose to you that that when the Body of Christ takes seriously the preparations of the song service, she will then be able to cast off traditionalism, legalism, denominationalism and faddism that is choking the life out of the song service. I have had the privilege of setting in services that know the joy and the freedom that comes with singing unto the Lord in spirit and truth.

Psalm 98 holds Biblical truths that deserve our attention, meditation, obedience and endurance if we want to grasp the wisdom of God regarding the song service, thus destroying the conjecture of man. Some truths are, “Sing to the Lord a new song… ‘Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with harp, with harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn-shout for joy before the Lord, the King.’” (Psalms 98:1,4-6)

Interrogative Sentence: Just what are some Biblical truths that express the character that is pleasing to God and is beneficial to the Body of Christ through the song service?

Transitional Sentence: God does not work through buildings, plans or fads; He works through the Children of God who are sold out to His will and purposes. It is His will that we praise Him in song and proclaim His truths with music. (1 Chronicles 25:1) The character of the “Song Service” is to reflect singing that praises God in such a way that it prepares the spiritual heart for the presence of God.

There are many instruments found in Scripture used by man for prophesying or rather singing about the truths and works of God. And there are wonderful instruments man can use to prophesy today. “Prophesying” (naba) here means to speak by inspiration. (The Complete Word Study Dictionary, Old Testament) Prophecy is not always the sense of new revelations, but in 1 Chronicles 25 “prophesying” is used for praise through singing the psalms of David or the psalms of other holy men of God and proclaiming revelations that have already been revealed. (The Expositors Bible Commentary: John Wesley Notes; The Pulpit Commentary; Matthew Henry) God has men today who are just as sold out to Him as anyone in the times of writing of 1 Chronicles 25. The Holy Spirit is anointing them as well to enable us to sing.