Strike Up the Band

June 20

(Psalm 68:24-27 NIV) “Your procession has come into view, O God, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary. {25} In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines. {26} Praise God in the great congregation; praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel. {27} There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah's princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.”

(Joshua 6:13-16 NIV) “The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. {14} So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. {15} On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. {16} The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!”

(2 Chronicles 5:12-14 NIV) “All the Levites who were musicians--Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives--stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. {13} The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: "He is good; his love endures forever." Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, {14} and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.”

Musicians and the music they make have always played a part in worship of the Lord. In man’s procession toward God, musicians are often “out in front” leading the way. God uses music like armies use artillery. It softens up the beaches of resistance to worship in our stubborn and rebellious hearts. It breaks down the walls we have constructed to keep God out. Music can become idolatrous if we begin to worship it, or the musicians who produce it. If it is used to promote a spirit other than one which brings us to genuine worship, it can easily become an abomination. But when offered to God for His glory, it serves its given purpose and leads us into the presence of the Lord. It helps us gain victory over the enemies of genuine praise to God. Join the procession into the sanctuary. Sing and make music, Christian! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day