Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

27 April 2024

Reading From I Chronicles 6

“These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there. They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.” –I Chronicles 6:31-32

     King David was a talented musician and he worshipped the Lord with music he wrote as he was inspired by God.  Much of this inspiration came as he was tending his family’s flocks in the countryside.  I can envision him there as a boy out in nature praying and singing to the One who provided for him and protected him.  Expressing his love for Yahweh as he went about his daily tasks is a wonderful example for all children of the Most High God.  His praises form much of the third largest book of the Old Testament, the Psalms. This background gave David special insight when he assembled the worship team for the tabernacle. 

     It is interesting to me that these musicians “performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.”  This shows that there were plans and guidelines made for worship.  It wasn’t a free for all and they were guided by someone who was a fountain of Spirit-inspired song.  There is tremendous power in speaking and singing praises to God from the heart, but it also isn’t wrong to have a set list, guiding principles for choosing songs, having worship practices or a congregation singing in unison.  Structure is good and freeform is good. There is a time and place for all forms of worship, but all must be guided by the holy precepts of Scripture enlightened by the Holy Spirit.

“Lord, thank You for the inspiration that You have given to thousands of worshippers over the millennia who have composed such beautiful songs and poems in honor of Your glorious Name!  I pray that You would guide Your people as we worship You out of love and joy and are guided by Your Word in doing so.  Fill us up to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit.  May we be faithful to give You all the adoration, praise, honor and glory in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.”

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. –I Corinthians 14:26-33, 39-40

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. –Ephesians 5:18-20