~ The Spiritual Gift of Music ~
Opening Comment ~ “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:16-18).
Category ~ We are still in the broad classification of grace gifts which I think of as the medical community. I think of the gift of music used for God as Spiritual Psychologists.
Since it is audible this gift is classified under the Speaking Gifts.
Definition ~ The duties of music ministers roughly correspond to those of the Old Testament Levites. Consider this, while Preachers admonish people about what is important; Teachers educate them as to what is important; and Musicians merely do what is important without explaining it. Some tend to label Christian music as entertainment rather than worship. In doing this, they denigrate God's intention for music ministry.
Scripture ~ “Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: praise Him with the psaltery and harp. Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs” (Psalm 150:3-4).
Interesting Facts ~ Scripture mentions music far more than preaching as an element of worship. Even Paul’s statement in Romans that faith comes by hearing the Word of God pertained primarily to the musical presentation of Scripture in ancient Jewish worship. To this day the Scriptures are chanted in the synagogue, and the music leader is called a “cantor.”
Biblical Examples ~ (1) The memorializing of events such as we find in Exodus 15:1-18, 21 which commemorates Israel's victory over Egypt. The chorus in verse 21 is a thematic summary of the event. A choir of women performed, singing and dancing with timbrels as they were led by that spry old lady Miriam. From that chorus comes our modern praise song: ‘I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously, the horse and rider thrown into the sea...’ It certainly demonstrates the timelessness of music as a form of worship.
(2) Music as a teacher: Temple songs were used to impress certain facts upon the memory. Through the centuries music has continued as a teaching device.
Quotes ~ “Schubert's String Quartet in A Minor is the only proof I need for the existence of God.” —H.L. Mencken
“God’s call for the music minister {in the broad sense} of the church is to inspire His people to holy worship until the day we all gather in the heavenly throne room and sing His praises forever.” —Moishe Rosen
Testimony ~ In the spring of 1960 a young freshmen student at the University of Washington heard “Amazing Grace” on a Christian radio station. Being a top math student the last verse began to haunt him as undeniably true -- if there really is an eternity. “When we've been there ten thousand years, with no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun.” He knew that if the Bible was true then 10,000 years of torture in hell would not have shortened his punishment. This song was a key item which the Holy Spirit of God used in my conversion. That student was me! Music had a significant part in my conversion.
Closing Comments ~ “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:12-16).
“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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