What Does Our Music Teach?

1 Chronicles 25:1-8

David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was:

   Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah, sons of Asaph,

       under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.

   Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah,

       and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun,

       who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the Lord.

   Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel and Jerimoth,

       Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi,

       Hothir, Mahazioth. All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer, according to

       the promise of God to exalt him, for God had given Heman fourteen sons and

       three daughters. They were all under the direction of their father in the music in the

       house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God.

Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order of the king. The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all who were skillful, was 288. And they cast lots for their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil alike.

The above section of holy writ can be easily skimmed for the facts concerning how the musicians were divided into groups for the temple service and missing an important element in their duties. Notice that these three groups were not simply three praise bands singing with the idea of creating a worshipful atmosphere or feeling in the temple. No, these musicians had a higher calling: they were prophets.

The duty of a prophet was (and is) to utter whatever the Lord wanted said. It dealt with the current state of affairs, looked forward to something future, or sometimes both in the same proclamation. How does that fit here? King David rightly understood that a primary use of music is teaching. The temple musicians were given the task of properly teaching God's word through song, probably through use of psalms and also other songs available but not canonized. Whatever the source, we can assume that every song had correct doctrine. By learning songs with incorrect doctrine, the people of Israel would have a skewed understanding of God and the scriptures and how to properly approach either in daily life. The doctrine was as important, if not more so, than the experience of worship.

This is no different in the New Testament. Paul understands the importance of music and desires that Christians should

[Address] one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart (Ephesians 5:19)

and

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

Contemporary Christian praise and worship music takes a different view. Many adjectives are used to describe artists, albums, and songs. In print one can read the words "Spirit-driven," "vertical," "fresh," "new," "personal," "soul-searching," "worshipful," and other such descriptors. Admittedly, the bulk of these are written to market the product and to pique interest in the consumer, but take another look at those words. If these words are an honest appraisal of the content, the only goal of this music is to make people feel good. I have nothing against the aesthetics of music. When listening to or singing out a song, I enjoy how a songwriter and composer meld their crafts into a single work of art that touches the emotions. My complaint here is that music purportedly designed to praise and worship has as its goal the glory of the experience rather than the glory of God.

May I suggest that churches make an honest appraisal of what they are teaching through their music and place a priority on sound doctrine.