When I began leading music for our church, I was given the title ‘Chief Musician’.
At first, I didn’t like it. It seemed a little too hipster, a little too…austere.
Leaving my hesitation behind, I accepted the title. The role was more about serving the body than the label.
After some time, the Lord directed me to study the role of Chief Musician in Scripture. I knew I had seen it in the Psalms (in my King James Only days), but I only had a vague understanding about what the Bible actually say about the role of a Chief Musician. Having a grasp on the history of music in Christian worship is a great aid to our ministries.
Biblical Usage of ‘Chief Musician’
Performing a seach in Logos Bible Software results in about 65 Psalm titles. The results show translations of the Hebrew נצח (Netzach) as ‘Choirmaster’ (ESV), ‘Choir Director’ (NASB; CSB) while some of the more dynamic translations use ‘Music Director’. Primarily the KJV and NKJV are two of the few that translate the Hebrew into the English ‘Chief Musician’.
The way this word is used in other passages imply that it’s a role that is set to oversee and work in the house of the Lord. (1 Chron. 2:18, 23:4, 34:12-13; Ezra 3:8-9)
So – Let’s start with the assumption that a Chief Musician was likely appointed to oversee the music in the house of the Lord.
Commencement of the Chief Musician Ministry
Music was certainly employed in the worship of God prior to the establishment of the Chief Musician. However, the first time music takes a formal role in the worship of God’s people is during the time of David’s reign over Israel.
In 1 Chronicles 15-16, we find that Israel is experiencing a time of great revival and blessing. David had recently been anointed King over all Israel, God granting victories over enemies, Israel’s headquarters is established in Jerusalem, where the ark of the covenant is being transported. The worship of God gains some structure in these chapters. Levites are appointed to ministries and music is one of the primary minitries that are established.
David is making provision for the ark to come to Jerusalem (after a failed first attempt due to the attempt to streamline the process with pagan practices). The cart is ditched and the “Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD” (1 Chron. 15:15). Although Israel was judged when first attempting to bring the ark to Jerusalem, they did not leave accompaniment of instruments and praise. The law explicitly commanded the manner in which the ark is transported (carried on shoulders) but there is nothing commanding or prohibiting the accompaniment of instruments and singing.
A Levite named Chenaniah, “leader of the Levites in music”, becomes the first appointed Chief Musician tasked with leading the musicians accompanying the ark procession. He is said to “direct the music, for he understood it” (1 Chron. 15:22). Just a few verses later in 16:4, David appoints Asaph as the “chief” after the ark has arrived at its destination. We aren’t given an explanation if they are both serving as the chief or if Chenaniah was replaced by Asaph, but, we can already see a need for flexibility with change in the music ministry!
Characteristics of the Chief Musician Ministry
With the priestly musicians selected to accompany the arrival of the ark and their instruments in hand, we’ll now take a look at the role that these musicians played in Israel’s worship.
“David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.”
1 Chronicles 15:16
The descriptors in this verse give us some insight into what the musicians were doing.
They played loudly.
This was likely for the benefit of all those in attendance having the ability to hear the instruments. Especially as there were people “shouting” along with the music (1 Chron. 15:28). Prior to technological advancements offering us methods of amplification, musicians had only to rely on the sound that came directly from the way they played and the acoustics of their environment. Does the fact that it’s recorded that the musicians played loudly mean our worship music should be so loud that we offer earplugs to members? I’d argue – absolutley not. Music is a ministry that edifies the listener and should not distract them from its purpose: exalting the LORD.
The played musical instruments.
This point has been contested for use in new covenant worship (especially among those who subscribe to a robust perspective of the regulative principle). Denominations like the Church of Christ hold to a rigid practice of “sola scriptura” posit that because musical instruments are not mentioned in Paul’s letters to the churches, the church has no “authority” to utilize instrumental accompaniment. There are many things that could be said to refute this ‘anti-instrument’ creed, (and will be addressed in-depth in another ‘verse’) but sticking to expositing the verse before us shows us that David takes the liberty to utilize God’s provision of skilled musicians for serving the purpose of worshipping the LORD. He has no command to do so and no command not to do so – so we must conclude that there is an amount of liberty taken by David. To emphasize the point again: Israel accompanied the ark brought in on the cart with instruments, they were judged by God, repented and fixed their error by removing the cart, but kept the musical instruments.
Musical instruments are not required for worship. There are many churches that gather together to sing praises and effectively worship God without accompaniment every Sunday. But, if God has blessed your congregation with skilled musicians who are able to faithfully assist the body with instrumentation, steward those gifts by employing your musicians to accompany the singing of God’s people.
They were to raise the sound of joy.
Bringing the ark to Jerusalem was a great time of rejoicing. I imagine the excitement that was in the air as they saw the great work the Lord was doing in Israel. It’s no secret that music affects our emotions. The emotion appointed for the occasion was the sound of joy. This is not always the appropriate musical message, but it was appointed for bringing the ark to Jerusalem. Musicians are required to have discernment regarding the emotion they are conveying. There’s a reason “To God be the Glory” is set to such a joyous melody: “Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice!”. There’s a reason why “Come Ye Souls by Sin Afflicted” (Indelible Grace) is set in a minor key. The instrumentation conveys a message. (1 Cor. 14:8)
Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.
1 Chronicles 16:4
The foundation of music ministry is ascribed with this purpose: to invoke, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.
Notice the center of its purpose – the LORD. We are not included as any part of the object of worship. If man is to be mentioned in the worship of God, it must be centered on the Lord’s dealings with us.
Invoke brings us the understanding that they did not presume God’s presence. It was a call to cry for the presence of God. Though there is nowhere that God is not present in an omnipresent sense, His presence manifested in any degree of glory is not guaranteed. We recently incorporated a ‘prayer of invokation’ in our church’s liturgy as to remind us not to presume the Lord’s blessing and presence.
To thank the Lord preserves the hearts of God’s people in understanding that all we have comes from the gracious hand of God. Hymns of thanks require the acknowledgement that God is Provider of all our needs – life and breath, joy and pain, good and evil – and all these for our good. Gratitude is the enemy of pride. When God’s people gather together, they would be foolish not to sing hymns of gratitude for the glorious gift of Jesus Christ.
Praise is closely related to the thanks that the singers were to offer God. I’m not going to draw a major distinction, but praise would seem to imply more of a acknowledgement and declaration of who God is, honoring him with speech (Heb. 13:15).
In order to maintain order and effectiveness in what it the music ministry was established to do, a leader was appointed over it. Chenaniah directed the musical priests for the transportation of the ark. David provided a Psalm he had written to be sung by the priests and it was led by Asaph (1 Chron. 16:7-36). What a song to start with! May this first Psalm of the Chief Musician ministry be a source of inspiration for the substance of our Lord’s day song selection.
Continuation of the Chief Musician Ministry
Once the ark was brought to it’s home in Jerusalem the music ministry was to continue.
So David left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister regularly before the ark as each day required
1 Chronicles 16:37
The call of Levites was to be set aside from Israel, serving in the priestly office on behalf of the entire nation. This was not event-based responsibility. Ministering before the ark was a call to daily worship. While Israel did have yearly holy days and special times of revival, Asaph and the musicians were left to minister as each day required. Worship does not only happen when God’s people are gathered together, but daily – when noone is present but ‘the ark of the covenant’. This verse calls us to worship God daily, but especially when we gather together with the saints.
Chapters 23-24 of 1 Chronicles shows us the assignments David made for the priestly offices. In the next chapter, the offices of the mucians are appointed to Asaph and his brothers. We see a continuation of these priestly musicans in other portions of scripture.
When Solomon dedicates the newly built temple, the Levitical music ministry is part of the worship (2 Chron. 7:6). In the account of Solomon’s triumphs, his appointment of the priests to their assigned ministries is listed (2 Chron. 8:14). When Hezekiah restores the temple worship to an apostate Israel, he stationed the musicians “according to the commandment of David” (2 Chron. 29:25-26). When Nehemiah finishes leading the rebuilt wall surrounding Jerusalem, after 70 years of Babylonian captivity, temple worship is restored and the Levites restored to the music ministry (Neh. 12:27-47). Nehemiah accounts these appointments to the “command of David and his son Solomon” (12:45 cf. v. 24). A contemporary with Nehemiah, Ezra tells us that 118 brothers of Asaph are restored to their ministry. Ezra 3:10 informs us that this was “according to the directions of David king of Israel.” The singers and musicians are mentioned throughout Ezra’s narration (Ezra 2:41, 65, 70, 3:10, 6:15-18, 7:7 10:24). Along with the musicians, leaders were installed to oversee the ministry.
NEW COVENANT MUSIC MINISTRY
Do we see temple worship and priestly offices continued in the new covenant?
Well, no and yes.
There is no longer an earthly temple with earthly priests offering earthly sacrifices to a heavenly God. Hebrews is given to us as an exposition of the old covenant. The author goes to great lengths to reveal that Christ fulfilled the old covenant by enstating the new. In Hebrews 8:1-6, it is written that the tent of Moses (later more permanently established as a temple) along with the priests served as a “copy and shadow of heavenly things” (v.5). Christ is our great High Priest, appointing to himself “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession”. Every believer is a priest unto God with bold access to the holy of holies. Every believer is called to worship God in spirit and truth. Every believer is commanded to sing and delcare His praises.
We are to read the old in light of the new. Are we to keep the commandments of David? Not in letter, but in spirit. Applying the spiritual principles of the Levitcal music ministry will lead us to understand what a heavenly perspective of musical worship under the new covenant is.
Conclusion
I’ve found much peace knowing that the role I serve my local assembly has been established in the worship of God for thousands of years. Under the command of David, chief musicians are appointed to oversee the music that is offered to God. It is an office that comes with great responsibility for those who seek to honor Him. May our worship and service be a furtherance of His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.