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Title: 10 Requirements for Musicians and Singers
Date: 17-Aug-2007

There are 4 "S" that summarizes the requirements for all musicians:-

  1. Sanctification
  2. Submission
  3. Sensitivity
  4. Skill
  5. [Download this article]

Below are 10 specific requirements for those involved in worship:-

  1. Musicians were chosen and appointed for service (1 Chron 15: 16-29, 2 Chron 29:25-29)
    1 Chron 15: 16 "Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps and cymbals by raising the voice in resounding joy"

    2 Chron 29:25, 26 "He stationed Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with stringed instruments and with harps according to the command of David …………the Levites stood with the instruments of David and the priests with the trumpets"

    Musicians and singers were chosen from the tribe of Levi. Music was regarded as a priestly ministry which was reserved for the Levites.

  2. Musicians were seperated for the ministry
    1 Chron 25:1 "Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, string instruments and cymbals."

    1 Chron 9:33 "These are the singers, heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites, who lodged in the chambers, and were free from other duties; for they were employed in that work day and night"

    Separated - means "to set apart".

    Key worship personnel needs to free themselves to spend more time in worship and their musical instruments

  3. Musicians were organized into an orderly structure
    1 Chron 23:5,6 "..and 4000 praised the Lord with musical instruments "which I made", said David "for giving praise" and David divided them into divisions among the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari"

    1 Chron 25:6-7 " All these were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps for service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the authority of the king. So the number of them with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the Lord, all who were skillful was two hundred and eighty eight"

    David appointed 4000 musicians. The musicians were divided into 24 courses under the 24 sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. The 24 sons were over 288 who were instructed and skillful in the song of the Lord.

  4. Musicians were clothed in a white linen ephod
    1 Chron 15:27 "David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod"

    Neh 12:30 "Then, the priests and Levites purified themselves and purified the people, the gates and the wall"

    Clothing with white linen - putting on the righteousness of Chirst.

    Levites purified themselves - refers to a daily cleansing.

    The life of ministry is inseparable from a life of righteousness.

  5. Musicians were required to enter into an oath of holiness (Neh 10:28-39)
    Neh 10: 29 " They joined with their brethren, their nobles and entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law, which were given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God and His ordinance and His statutes"

    The oath committed them to obey all the laws of Moses. Failure to obey the oath would bring a curse.

  6. Musicians were skillful
    1 Chron 15:22 " Chenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was instructor in charge of the music because he was skillful"

    1 Chron 25:7 " So the number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the Lord, all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty eight"

  7. Musicians were faithful
    Neh 10:39 " …….we will not neglect the house of the Lord"

    1 Chron 16:37 " So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister before the ark regularly, as every day's work required"

    2 Chron 7:6 " And the priests attended to their services: the Levites also with instruments of the music of the Lord"

    We cannot play only when "we feel like it"

    We must regard our ministry as our "every day's work"

    Chenaniah - Established by Jehovah

    Jeduthun - a consistent choir of praise

    Asaph -he that gathers and removes reproach

    Heman - one who is faithful

    God wants musicians who are consistent, faithful, established in his ways and who gathers people into the house of God to worship Him.

  8. Musicians were teachable and came under authority
    1 Chron 25:8 "And they cast lots for their duty, the small and the great, the teacher with the student"

  9. Musicians assisted in practical duties of the house
    1 Chron 9:26-33 documents the practical duties for Levites. They include opening the gates, charge over the treasuries, serving vessels, looking after furnishings, fine flour, wine, oil, incense and spices. Musicians are not an elite group.

  10. Musicians played their music in unity.
    2 Chron 5:13 " Indeed it came to pass when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music and praised the Lord saying "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever", that the house, the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud"

    The musicians and singers played and sang with one voice.

 

 



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