Today's Reading: 1 Chronicles 6 & Psalm 78:1-24

Ministering With Song

Everybody has a place within the family of God! Some are called to serve as shepherds of God’s flock. Some are called to be prophets, evangelists, or teachers. Others have gifts of healing and miracles. Still others are called with gifts of service and helps. In today’s reading, we read of those who are called to minister with song. Verse 32 tells us that this group from the tribe of Levi “ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting until Solomon built the house of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they performed their service according to their order.”

Music is an amazing gift from God. And those who play and sing unto the Lord are His blessing upon the Church. Music is a “universal language.” It cuts across race, doctrinal differences, politics, and every other thing that divides people. God can us those who minister with song to bring unity, peace, joy, and rejoicing to His people.

Music was there at the beginning of humanity. The first musician is mentioned in Genesis 4:21 –  “His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all those who play the lyre and pipe.” And music will be there at the end, as we read in Revelation 14:3 – “The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps,  and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders.”

King David could be described as the father of music ministry. It all started with the young David and his harp, ministering before Saul who was oppressed by a demon. Later on, David deemed music to be such an important part of our worship, that he set up this full time choir to minister in song at the house of the Lord. And we have been singing to the Lord together ever since!

Today, while debates and contentions regarding the type, method, and approach we take in music ministry rage on, it is certain that the ministry of song is a vital part of our spiritual journey.  We sing as a form of worship. The ministry of music has been established by God as a means of drawing us into His presence. We sing. He sings. The angels sing. What an amazing thing music is! As we minister to God in song, He ministers to our spirt with His peace, joy, and love.

If you have been gifted by God with musical talent (e.g. playing an instrument or singing) then let God use your talent to bless His people. Find a way to become part of the music ministry at your church. God has blessed you so you can be a blessing to others. He has called you to minister with song. For the rest of us, whether you have an excellent voice with perfect pitch doesn’t matter. What matters is that you make a “joyful noise unto the Lord” (Psalm 100:1).