MAY 7

In chapter 25 we are given the number and offices of the
singers and musicians. As we have seen earlier, Asaph, Jeduthun, and
Heman were the master leaders in song and music. Israel’s worship in
song and music was very spiritual and often prophetic. It was always
Scriptural, permeated with the Words of God. In Christian worship we
are to have exactly the same spiritual fiber in our musical
ministry. Colossians 3:16 tells us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in
you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord.”

I firmly believe good music has a definite part in the
Gospel ministry today. I very strongly believe the preaching of
God’s Word is the most important part. However, a good music program
should do two things: It should communicate God’s Word in message
and song; and it should prepare the hearts of those who are
listening for the spoken Word which is to follow. Many times God
uses a singer to break the hearts of the people and prepare them for
the message before the preacher stands before them to preach. We
often hear of people who have received Christ as Lord and Saviour
through the musical program of the church. Many are saved through
good Gospel music. More than that, the hearts of God’s people are
greatly blessed when the music is sung in the power of the Spirit.
It is just another way of presenting the Gospel. Every local church
needs a dynamic and spiritual musical program. Nothing can be more
detrimental to a church than dead, cold music. It is advantageous to
every church service to have an involved congregation in its music
program. Congregational singing, with power and spirit, also
prepares the hearts of those in the congregation. I am a firm
believer that God uses music in His work second only to preaching.