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In the Realm of Music ...

Wednesday, Sept 23, 2015. Music is great. But what is its role in our life and in the life of the people of faith? Music opens our ears and can help us to open our heart and our mind for the Lord.

Worship …

Worship plays an important role in the church. Today young and vibrant churches all have their worship bands and their times of worship as in important and integral part of the services. It is important. On the other hand, worship is not a magic tool. It is not something you could use by its own to get into God's presence. Worship alone will be empty and is in danger to be a tool of manipulation only.

Let us read into the 2nd book of Kings, where we hear about music and about the presence of God. It is very interesting and full of insight:

13 Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Why do you want to involve me? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” “No,” the king of Israel answered, “because it was the Lord who called us three kings together to deliver us into the hands of Moab.” 14 Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you. 15 But now bring me a harpist.” While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha 16 and he said, “This is what the Lord says: I will fill this valley with pools of water. 17 For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. (2 King 3, 13-17)

What is important here …

Let us see what is happening here in this little story with large consequences. It resembles similar events in the New Testament, where Jesus himself was involved. The king is coming and wants advice from Elisha, the prophet of the Lord. Elisha is sending him away, but the king does not want to go away. That is very important - he is searching advice from the true God! He is not satisfied with continuing his life, where God is only a side line! He realizes that with Elisha he is at the right address here.

Then, the second step is remarkable. Instead of giving advice directly, Elisha is asking for a musician. He is listening to music first. Only after this time of worship and waiting, of going into the presence of the Lord, there is advice. It is said here that the spirit of the Lord came over him, and then he spoke words which were prophetic, giving direction and advice to the king.

We should not take the role of music lightly. But we should also not overlook what happened here before, should see the faith of the king as well as the faith and calling of Elisha. It all has to come together, and then there are open doors for the Lord to speak and to bless and to pour out water in the desert! (RWEP) ... more texts