Singing Servants

Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from the sons of Asaph, who were the singers for the service of the house of God. (Nehemiah 11:22)

Security and songs were necessary parts of this worship experience. Often we think we are safe when we come worship together. And when we come to worship as a ho-hum humdrum experience, we probably are. The enemy is not too worried about a lethargic worship experience. But one that is vital and committed to pursue God is a threat to his disorder. So one of the ways that we attack the enemy stronghold is to become strong in our worship of God. We need to be as vigilant as the people of Nehemiah's day. Look out for opposition and have in place a first line of defense. Have someone watch the gates. Spiritually and physically. Some of these people were chosen to live in Jerusalem. They, in effect, were offered for service. The sons of Asaph were known as singers of psalms. The song is a driving point in worship, even in our day. More conflict will come over music in our churches, even to the point of division. It should not be so. In Nehemiah's day these things were regulated and put in order. There’s an old saying I’ve heard that when the devil fell from Heaven, he fell into the choir loft! Sadly, this seems to have legitimacy in some of our church experience, doesn’t it? More segregated services today seem to cater over music styles. Contemporary, traditional, and blended seem to be the catch phrases. Kind of like a smorgasbord of what we would like…wonder what kind of music the Lord likes? Freedom in worship music is often hard to find. And in America, the length of the song seems to be a guiding principle. It must fit the order of worship. But the Lord will not be boxed into our design. Am I too caught up in this mindset of management to be real when I worship? Do we sing long enough to hear God praised? Or do we sing so long as to be vainly repetitious? Don’t get so caught up with meaningless controversy that we miss the meaning of worship. The One we worship determines the method of worship. Selah…meditate on that for a while…True godly worship truly pleases God. So who are we really trying to please? Who are we serving when we are singing?