From: July 17, 2024
“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.
From: July 17, 2023
‘For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”’ (Romans 4:3 NLT).
Paul explained that Abraham was not considered righteous by his circumcision nor his good works, but by his faith. Paul quoted Moses, who wrote of Abraham, “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness” (Gen. 15:6). So, faith has always been the only way to please God. As the book of Hebrews states, “It is impossible to please God without faith” (Heb. 11:6).
Yet faith needs an object, something in which to believe. What did Abraham believe? He believed God’s promise concerning his son, Isaac, and was willing to obey God’s command to offer his one and only son as a sacrifice, saying, “God will provide a lamb” (Gen. 22:8). And God did, rescuing Isaac from death.
Now, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world has already come to us. He is Jesus, the object of our faith, the One and Only Son of God. He is the One in whom we believe, so that God counts us as righteous because of our faith in Jesus.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that by Your grace through faith in Jesus we have been made righteous. Thank You for the Lamb of God, Jesus, which takes away our sins. Strengthen us now by Your Spirit that we might live for You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 17, 2022
IS YOUR RECORD CLEARED?
Paul quoted David’s psalm, Psalms 32:1-2, to support his explanation that being made right with God is not by works, but by faith alone. When we place our faith in Christ and receive forgiveness and salvation, His blood not only covers our sin, it washes it away. Our “record” is “cleared.”
The Lord did not clear our sins by merely erasing them. This would not satisfy His justice. No. He cleared our record by charging our sin to Jesus, so that God’s wrath and justice was poured out on Christ. As the apostle Paul wrote, “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross” (Col. 2:14).
Now there is no condemnation for us who believe (Rom. 8:1). What joy! Our record is cleared of sin!
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for clearing our record of sin through the redemption paid for by Jesus Christ. Thank You for setting us free not only from sin’s penalty, but also giving us Your Holy Spirit to set us free to live in a way that pleases You. Strengthen us this day to walk in the Spirit and the joy of our salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: July 17, 2016
When the warrior poet 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, his 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 forth-tell (“prophesy”) 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.
From: July 17, 2015
David didn’t think it unmanly to sing to God. This warrior/poet/king was a worshiper. The shepherd king who slew a giant is also the author of most of the psalms. His harp playing and singing were so Spirit-filled that they calmed king Saul’s disturbed soul. David was once accused of being undignified in his worship. To which he replied, “I will become even more undignified than this!” Real men of God are worshipers. They sing!
From: July 17, 2014
Paul quoted David’s psalm (Psa. 32:1-2) to support his explanation about how being made right with God is not by works, but by faith alone. When we place our faith in Christ and receive forgiveness and salvation, His blood not only covers our sin, it washes it away. Our “record” is “cleared.” The Lord did not clear them by merely erasing them. This would not satisfy His justice. No. He cleared our record by charging our sin to Jesus’ record, so that God’s wrath and justice was poured out on Christ. There is now no condemnation left for us who believe (Rom. 8:1). What joy! Our record is cleared of sin!