Being Skillful

When we consider the model of scripture for worship ministry, we must look at the whole scripture for the profile. The leaning today for many is to look primarily at the New Testament. That is not a bad approach, after all we are supposed to be "New Testament Churches". However, because to a greater degree in the Western world, we function as local church bodies with a "house of worship" in which to gather for corporate worship, it is completely valid to consider Old Testament tabernacle & Temple structure for worship. While doing this, we should remember that WE believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit, not the building.

With this in mind, we look back to the Temple in the days of King Solomon. As the Temple was first built and prepared, musicians were set apart as part of the tribe of Levi (priests). I Chronicles 23-25 records this. In Ch. 25, we learn of the families of musicians. Verses 6 - 7 read, "They were all under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman (the fathers) were under the order of the king. The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the LORD, all who were skillful, was 288.(ESV)” Our goal does not have to be literally 288 choir members (that wouldn’t be bad). I don't care what the setting may be, it is a powerful experience to hear a choir of 288 people. But can you imagine a choir of 288 SKILLFUL singers, all singing to worship and glorify the LORD God Almighty! God set up worship in the temple in such a way that a great number of people would gather and use their skill to bring ultimate praise and glory to Him.

Another aspect of this passage sheds light on our preparation for worship. Did you notice that all the musicians were from the tribe of priests, the Levites? That fact alone has some serious considerations for us as lead worshipers. Do we consider our own preparation for worship as seriously as the priests of the Old Testament? Are we clean before the Lord when we enter corporately to offer up our sacrifice of praise? Are we cleansed by the washing of water through the Word? Are we fully prepared through prayer to stand before God, as our Audience of One, to worship Him? Or are we just bringing a song to be seen by others? Are we worshiping Jesus or are we just worshiping worship or music? May we examine ourselves as priests before offering our sacrifice in worship.

In case our instrumentalists think they might be off the hook, let's consider a related scripture. The book of Psalms is the greatest book ever written on worship. We should be challenged to study and know it well as lead worshipers. Psalm 33:1-3 reads, "Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy." (NASB) So we see that everyone who plays an instrument is also challenged to play skillfully (and with joy). This is the model for playing an instrument in worship as well. What does skillful playing mean? What does skillful singing mean? It means that we do our very best, in the Lord's strength and power of the Holy Spirit, to know our instrument (guitar, piano, drums, trumpet, flute, voice, etc). It means that we know musically what is happening in the specific pieces we are presenting before the Lord, so we can give our best to Him. It means that we have our minds sharpened and alert to play and sing every note accurately and with the right spirit. We should be constantly seeking to develop and hone our craft, in whatever instrument. Our goal should be to improve and grow as a singer or instrumentalist every year.

God would have our goal be that every singer and player be skillful to bring Him glory (not for ourselves to be recognized; not to brag on our skill). May we each be challenged to develop our skill musically & spiritually, with humility, to lead in worship as a powerful tool in His hands.