A Devotional Thought From 1 Chronicles

Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps with psalteries and with cymbals;…    
1 Chronicles 25:1

It is interesting that, of some of the music ministers in the temple, there was the expectation that they would prophesy the truth of God through their music. I don’t know how that worked in the temple, whether they prophesied or preached already revealed truth of God through their music, or whether God sometimes revealed new truth through Psalms later incorporated in the Scripture, but it seems clear that the Lord did minister to the hearts of the king and people through the music they heard, and, perhaps, sang themselves in their worship.

Certainly the gospel hymn writers of the past and our day, though not inspired in the same way that the temple singers were, bring us the truth of God in the great hymns and wonderful praise songs that bless the church. For example look at Bishop Phillips Brooks’ great stanza in his beloved Christmas carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”

How silently, how silently The wondrous Gift is giv’n!

So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of His heav’n.

No ear may hear His coming, But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still, The dear Christ enters in.

One of the glorious things about the Christmas season, at least in America, is that you don’t only hear the gospel message in song in our church services, but if you keep your ear attuned to the background music in grocery stores, department stores, and even restaurants you may hear the gospel proclaimed in those public places because of the music of God’s people. How many people have there been, and how many more will be, impacted to let the dear Christ enter in because of the Christmas prophesies of the carols and songs that fill the air at Christmas?

Especially in the Christmas season sing the gospel: at church, in your home, in the stores, while walking the streets. Be a singing telegram from God.