18 April | EVERYONE
"Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals." 1 Chronicles 25:1
David was called "the sweet psalmist of Israel" (2 Samuel 23:1). He was not only a warrior king, victorious in many battles, but He was also a sensitive man who expressed his emotions in at least seventy-three psalms and hymns of praise.
Before he was king, he had been a shepherd. In those days, shepherds lived mostly in the countryside, accompanying their sheep to protect them from dangers and wild beasts. So, surely by spending whole nights in the open, David had had occasion to admire the greatness of God in nature, and his heart was spontaneously called to worship. And he worshipped. He did it with music because the melody is crystal clear, like water that gushes out in the springs of the heart. And music “is one of the most effective means of impressing the heart with spiritual truth" (Ellen G. White, Education, p. 168).
Because the king's heart was filled with musical sounds when establishing the tabernacle in Jerusalem, David and the commanders of his army chose musicians to praise God, "prophesying" with instruments, such as "harps, psalteries, and cymbals."
From this incident the question arises: How do you prophesy with harps? On the surface, this is an odd expression. However, prophesying is not simply announcing events that will come in the future, but basically expressing oneself in God's name or even addressing Him.
The ministry of music is biblical because worship is the center of the Christian experience. Angels worshipped God before the creation of the world (Job 38:4, 7). Adam and Eve worshipped the Creator. Human beings worship God during their pilgrimage in this world and in eternity, and the redeemed will worship God for eternal ages (Revelation 19:6-7).
However, even though we can sing and worship God with harps, psalteries, or any other musical instrument, none of them is more powerful than the heart of the worshipper.
Take Action
Is your heart an instrument of praise to the Creator? Do your actions and relationships with others manifest it? Do they "prophesy" of the loving God who guides your life?