“David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals” (1 Chronicles 25:1 ESV).
When David became king, he set apart musicians and singers for the worship of the Lord. As an accomplished player of the lyre and a writer of psalms, David’s love of music was apparent. He elevated music to a regular feature of worship. Prior to this we have little record of music’s place in Jewish worship. We know that Moses set apart priests from the tribe of Levi to serve in the temple worship and that he wrote and performed at least three worship songs (Ex. 15, Deut. 32, and Psa. 90).
But David was the first to “set apart” musicians from the Levites to join their brothers in worship. God gifted them, so that they “prophesied” with musical instruments and singing. This is the highest purpose of both spoken and musical language, that it would prophesy or proclaim the Word of God. And so, believing humanity joined the angels and the stars (Job 38:7) in the heavenly chorus of praise to God.
Worship takes many forms, but singing and playing instruments to the Lord is certainly one of the most beautiful and emotionally moving. So let us also join in singing and making music to the Lord as we worship Him. As David said in our reading from Psalms today: “I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me” (Psa. 13:6).
PRAYER: Dear Father, we worship You this day. We begin our worship, reading and meditating on Your Word. We worship in our prayers to You. We worship in setting apart this day to follow You. And we joyfully offer a sacrifice of praise in song to You this day. May it be pleasing to You, O Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.