The Prophetic Song - LaMar Boschman

5/27/2018 The Prophetic Song - LaMar Boschman

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THEPROPHETICSONG


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THEPROPHETICSONG

by

LaMar Boschman


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The Prophetic Song

Copyright 1986LaMar Boschman

All rights reserved. This boo is protected !nder the copyright

la"s o# the $nited %tates o# America. This boo may not becopied or reprinted #or commercial gain or pro#it. The !se o#short &!otations or occasional page copying #or personal orgro!p st!dy is permitted and enco!raged. 'ermission "ill begranted !pon re&!est. $nless other"ise identi#ied( %cript!re&!otations are #rom The )ing *ames +ersion o# the Bible.

Revival Press,orship and 'raise -ivisiono#

Destiny Image Publishers

P. O. Box 310

Shippensburg P! 1"#$"

%B/ 0928613132

4or ,orld"ide -istrib!tion'rinted in the $. %. A.

4i#th 'rinting5 1993%ith 'rinting5 1993


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Dedication

To Menno and 7velyn Boschman( my parents "ho raised meto no" and obey the Lord *es!s Christt"o very specialpeople "hom love and respect.


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Acknowledgments

greatly appreciate the sill#!l contrib!tion Cheryl Tipponhas made to this boo. ,itho!t her taste#!l epertise this boo"o!ld not have been hal# o# "hat it is. Than yo! Cheryl( yo!are a blessing. o! have a gi#t #rom :od.

Bob +ande Brae( "itho!t yo!r positive vision and eenperception this boo may have not seen completion. Than yo!

#or yo!r constant assistance.

;


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Contents

4ore"ord.....................................................................................9

1 ole o# 'rophecy.............................................................2;

? The >ole o# M!sic..................................................................1

The >ole o# 'raise..................................................................62

6 The >ole o# the M!sician.......................................................;9

Appendi...................................................................................9;

Bibliography............................................................................10

7ndnotes..................................................................................10;


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Foreword

n "riting to the Ch!rch at 7phes!s( 'a!l directed them to

%be &ille' (ith the Spirit) spea*ing to yoursel+es in psalms

an' hymns an' spiritual songs singing an' ma*ing melo'y

in your heart to the Lor', @7phesians 518( 19( therebyteaching !s that the person "ho is #illed "ith the %pirit "ill

over#lo" melodio!sly. e instr!cted the Colossians( %Let the

(or' o& -hrist '(ell in you richly in all (is'om) teachingan' a'monishing one another in psalms an' hymns an'

spiritual songs singing (ith grace in your hearts to the

Lor',@Colossians 2516( "hich s!ggests that being #!ll o# the,ord "ill also prod!ce a melodio!s over#lo". bvio!sly( theoly %pirit is a singing %pirit.

# being #!ll o# the %pirit and o# the ,ord #inds its highest

epression in m!sic( "o!ldnDt it be entirely nat!ral #or theprophetic epression o# the heart o# :od to be releasedmelodicallyE This certainly "as tr!e in the li#e o# -avid( and "ehave strong indication that it "as tr!e in the lives o# many others"ho "ere !sed o# :od in speaing on is behal#.

,hen "e are con#ronted "ith the maFesty( bea!ty(magni#icence( and love o# :od( mere verbal epression seemsimpotent( #or o#ten the #eeling is as important as the #acts( and

"ords are cl!msy tools #or the epression o# #eelingG m!sicepresses emotion #ar better than "ords do. # "e can get thecorrect "ords properly "edded to companionate m!sic( both themessage and the ecstasy comm!nicate to the listener.

Many o# !s have been in p!blic services in "hich "e"itnessed the proclamation o# a prophetic message that "assho!ted by a speaer "ho "ent thro!gh great physical gyrations

"hile he spoe. t is !nliely that :od needed to sho!t and #lailthe arms o# the speaer to eep o!r attention. ,hat is #ar moreliely is that the speaer "as over"helmed "ith the emotion o#:od choosing to spea thro!gh him( and he did not no" ho" toepress that emotion in a manner that "o!ld better represent

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The Prophetic Song

Christ. # only he had no"n ho" to release both the #ervor andthe comm!nication in song( the message "o!ld have been #ar

easier to receive.

Most o# !s are limited in o!r training( so "e never riseabove "hat "e have seen others do. LaMar Boschman hasso!ght to enlarge o!r concepts o# "hat the prophetic "ord is andho" it can be epressed at vario!s levels o# inspiration byremoving some o# the mystery that seems to s!rro!nd


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Chater !!"And Sirit#al Songs$

O sing unto the LO/D a ne( song sing unto theLO/D all the earth. Psalm 2145

,hen the "orship leader began to lead !s in the #irst song o#

the morning ne" this "as going to be an !n!s!al service #orme. The air seemed to be #illed "ith anticipation as i# the spirit"orld "as on red alert. The songs "ere eciting and thecongregation "as t!rned on to "orshipping *es!s. Theaccordion( piano( tambo!rine( and tr!mpet s!pported the vocalpraise.

4rom this small congregation in Calgary( Canada( the so!nd

o# many "aters "as e##ecting this yo!ng Canadian as stoodamong this congregation and "orshipped. Abo!t a hal# ho!r intothe "orship service began to sing spontaneo!s lyrics to anymelody that came to my spirit. As #ast as it came s!ng it. didnot no" "hat "as happening and didnDt thin m!ch o# itbeca!se everyone else "as as m!ch lost in vocal "orship as "as.

%everal min!tes later realiHed "as singing a song that hada str!ct!re. ,hile had been "orshipping a melody and chordpattern had evolved that resembled a "ritten song. 7ven thelyrics "ere in proper meter. "as ecited beca!se ne"another prophetic song had been birthed. The tremendo!srevelation o# *es!s that sensed in the "orship ca!sed the songto be birthed.

,hen the "orship o# the congregation had &!ieted didnDt

hesitate to li#t !p my voice and sing it o!t.

The Lord reigneth( the Lord reigneth(Blessed be the name o# the Lord(4or the Lord o!r :od

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The Prophetic Song

mnipotent>eigneth in maFesty.

sang it over and over !ntil the congregation piced it !pand together "e declared that :od reigned. t bro!ght a de#initeli#t to the already po"er#!l service. The prophetic song is adirect res!lt o# the revelation o# *es!s in the "orship service.

This is the ho!r o# singing in the Ch!rch o# *es!s Christ.This is a day "hen the %pirit o# :od is moving !pon is peopleto


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And Spiritual Songs

Temple "orship5

!n' he 67e8e*iah9 set the Le+ites in the house o& theLO/D... &or so (as the comman'ment o& the LO/D by hisprophets. !n' the Le+ites stoo' (ith the instruments o&Da+i' an' the priests (ith the trumpets. !n' 7e8e*iahcomman'e' to o&&er the burnt o&&ering upon the altar. !n'(hen the burnt o&&ering began the song o& the LO/Dbegan also (ith the trumpets an' (ith the instrumentsor'aine' by Da+i' *ing o& Israel. !n' all the congregation(orshippe'.... # -hronicles #2#$:#;4.

,here there "as "orship( there "as also the song o# the Lord.

'a!l ehorted the believers to


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The Prophetic Song

ealting is nat!re or singing is ,ord( and #eel &!icened bythe %pirit to bring that #orth #or everyone to hear as a means o#

ehortation( edi#ication( or com#ort. This is not the same asprophecy "hich #lo"s o!t o# the o##ice o# a prophet @as "e "illeplain #!rther in a later chapter( b!t it is a very elementarylevel o# prophecy. The prophetic song b!ilds !p those presentG itenco!rages and brings com#ort to the saints.

P#roses %or the Prohetic Song

7amples o# the


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And Spiritual Songs

invoe in !s( or prod !s to( epressions o# "orship to"ard :od.%ometimes "hen a congregation comes together to "orship( the

peopleDs minds are so tied !p in the happenings o# the day thatthey canDt seem to rise above their negative #eelings or nat!raltho!ghts and praise the Lord. ,hen a m!sician is inspired o# the%pirit to sing a song telling o# :odDs goodness( the attention o#the people is dra"n #rom sel# to :od( and praise is a nat!ralres!lt o# seeing is goodness( especially i# the song calls #or apraise response.

ther "riters( ho"ever( translate the "ord zakar as


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The Prophetic Song

thans( and others epress collective thans. Many times "henthe prophetic song comes #orth it "ill be a melodic epression o#

thans both #or "hat :od has already done in the past and #or"hat e has promised to do in the #!t!re #or an individ!al or #orthe !nited Ch!rch. %!ch a song is based !pon :odDsper#ormance or promise( and it "ill !s!ally be Foy#!l as "ell asgrate#!l. A good eample o# this is 'salm 18( in "hich -avidspent #ortyeight verses telling "hat :od had done #or him and

then concl!ded by saying( %?here&ore I (ill gi+e than*s to

thee O LO/D among the heathen an' sing praises unto thy

name, @verse ?9. ,hen the minds o# believers are occ!pied"ith tho!ghts o# :odDs goodness and #aith#!lness( songs o#thansgiving "ill b!rst #orth among the people.

The third thing -avidDs m!sicians "ere to do "as to praise

the Lor'. The 'salms over#lo" "ith epressions o# praise( andthe "ord


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And Spiritual Songs

@*!dges 513. Anointed m!sic( drenched in the %pirit o# :od@"hich is a spirit!al song( a song o# the %pirit breas the po"er

o# the enemy and sets the hostages #ree.

%atan cannot "ithstand the #orce o# s!ch a "ord. -avidplayed his harp in the presence o# the ing( and there "as s!ch a-ivine !nction !pon his m!sic that the evil spirit tro!bling %a!l"as driven a"ay @see1 %am!el 16532. There is an anointingthat breas yoes @seesaiah 1053;( and it can be demonstratedand released in the prophetic song.

%inging this ne" song "ill bring spiritual +ictories. 7ven inthe valley o# tro!ble "e can sing the song o# the Lord and seevictory. osea 351 declares that srael "ill sing in the valley o#Achor @ebre"


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The Prophetic Song

anointed that m!sic( and victory cameI

The prophetic song leads !s into spirit!al #ello"ship. tbrings !s closer to *es!s. There is a sense o# is nearness as "ehear im proclaimed and !pli#ted in the song o# the Lord. Thesame oly %pirit ,ho is prompting the prophetic song desires toealt *es!s( the Lamb o# :od( and as Christ is li#ted !p in thesong( "e are dra"n !nto im. !r #oc!s shi#ts to the ne ,hois the so!rce and the obFect o# o!r love. !r epressions o# thatlove come #orth #rom the %pirit "ithin !s( and "e #ind that the

things o# earth do indeed become strangely dim in is bea!ti#!lpresence. ,e are no longer concerned "ith


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And Spiritual Songs

As the ne" song "ith its prophetic to!ch comes #orth( there

is o#ten a response o# re+erence. %!n' he hath put a ne( song

in my mouth e+en praise unto our o') many shall see itan' &ear an' shall trust in the LO/D, @'salm ?052. Theebre" "ord #or


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The Prophetic Song

m!sic stopped( the man at the p!lpit made a con#ession o# sinand ased #orgiveness. A#ter a time o# prayer( the net man in

line did the same thing( and so did the net( and the net( and thenet. t "as a#ter 1500 p.m. be#ore the service dismissed #orl!nch( and d!ring all that time neither the director nor thespeaer had said a "ordG the anointed m!sic had to!chedsomething in those people and ca!sed them to loo atthemselves and mae a #resh commitment to :od. ,hat thepreaching o# the ,ord had not accomplished( the playing o# the,ord had done in F!st one session. That pastor and con#erence

director are no" #irm believers in

%pirit o# :od. n past days and again in this day( the propheticsong is being sovereignly eperienced among :odDs people.

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Chater &&Patterns %or the Prohetic Song

'raise and "orship are not Jne" thingsJG the song o# theLord( or the prophetic song( is not a ne" thing. Believers havebeen singing to and abo!t the Lord as long as there have been

believers( and certainly the voice o# the Lord has been heardamong is people since the very beginning.

,e have already seen ho" the 'salms abo!nd "itheamples o# songs given by the inspiration o# the %pirit. B!t the'salms do not have a monopoly on the evelation 152( ?( #or both songs are based on the tri!mph o#


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The Prophetic Song

emotion and devotion released by the singing. %ome anointedsongs #it only a single occasion( "hile at other times the

prophetic song has s!ch a dynamic content that an entirecongregation "ill pic !p the song and sing it #or months tocome. %ometimes the song reaches beyond the localcongregation and becomes a message s!ng "idely thro!gho!tthe Body o# Christ. A po"er#!l eample o# this is the song


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Patterns for the Prophetic Song

co!ntries. t spread thro!gh the Christian grapevine as "orshipleaders piced it !p and ta!ght it to their ch!rches. t "as one o#

the #irst songs that ealted *es!s as royalty. $p to that time there"ere a lot o# songs abo!t "hat *es!s had done #or !s. This "asone o# the #irst that declared "ho e is. %ince then( there havebeen more anthem type chor!ses s!ch as


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The Prophetic Song

"rote( %o( (ill I sing to my (ell:belo+e' a song o& my

belo+e' touching his +ineyar'


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stringe' instruments,@2519( and this prayer "as accompaniedon a do!ble harp( according to :. Campbell Morgan. The

prophet had no song at all !ntil he sa" :odDs -eliverer( andthen his song re&!ired a do!ble harp #or ade&!ateaccompaniment. *oy#!lly he sang(

!lthough the &ig tree shall not blossom neither shall&ruit be in the +ines) the labour o& the oli+e shall &ail an'the &iel's shall yiel' no meat) the &loc* shall be cut o&& &romthe &ol' an' there shall be no her' in the stalls yet I (illreAoice in the LO/D I (ill Aoy in the o' o& my sal+ation.31" 1;4

o" eaven m!st have reFoiced to hear this song instead o# thecomplaints o# chapter one.

The ospelslist several instances o# singing( incl!ding thetime "hen Christ led is disciples in prayer in the !pper room.The parable o# the prodigal son speas o# the ret!rn o# the sonbeing celebrated "ith m!sic and dancing (seeL!e 153. t isa pict!re o# the reFoicing in the #amily o# :od "hen a "anderingson ret!rns to the 4ather. ,ho co!ld deny that this "o!ld be asong o# the Lorda song o# the LordDs reFoicing. snDt it #itting#or the oly %pirit to brea #orth into song "hen a sinning sonrepents and ret!rns homeE %ometimes it is even the son "hobreas #orth into Foy#!l singing( and sometimes it is a member o#the #amily "ho shares in :odDs great reFoicing.

n the one historical boo in the /e" Testamentthe boo*o& !cts"e #ind the acco!nt o# the time 'a!l and %ilas "ereillegally arrested and beaten and placed in stocs in the innerd!ngeon. Bodies aching "ith pain( and minds con#!sed "ith

these !nepected happenings( %at mi'night Paul an' Silas

praye' an' sang praises unto o' an' the prisoners hear'

them,@Acts 1653. 4rom the depths o# their spirits they "erepo!ring o!t praises and epressing their con#idence in :od. t"as a song to the Lord( it "as a song abo!t the Lord( and itcertainly "as a song inspired by the Lord( not by theircirc!mstances. t so reached :od that e intervened "ith anearth&!ae and the conversion o# the Failer. Certainly that "as a

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The Prophetic Song

song that prod!ced a response.

As "eDve already mentioned #re&!ently( in the Pauline

epistles 'a!l o#ten spoe o# alph Martin points o!t that thephrase


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to :od( this song maes a doctrinal statement.

'hilippians 35611 and Colossians 15130 are also eampleso# songs in 'a!lDs "ritings. The song in 'hilippians possibly hadsi stanHas. # the song in Colossians( >alph Martin says thatedemption. 3

7ven the general epistles mae provision #or the propheticsong in saying( %I& any man spea* let him spea* as the

oracles o& o') i& any man minister let him 'o it as o& the

ability (hich o' gi+eth that o' in all things may be

glori&ie' through @esus -hrist to (hom be praise an'

'ominion &or e+er an' e+er. !men,@1 'eter ?511. ,hile thisdoes not directly spea o# singing( it does spea o# ministry( and

'eter had F!st instr!cted( %!s e+ery man hath recei+e' the

gi&t e+en so minister the same one to another as goo'

ste(ar's o& the mani&ol' grace o& o', @1 'eter ?510. M!sicis both a gi#t and a ministry( and i# this gi#t is received #rom theLord it m!st be shared "ith the Ch!rch o# the Lord *es!s Christ.*es!s spoe a parable abo!t gi#ts( or evelation o# *es!sChrist. /ot only is the song o# Moses co!pled "ith the song o#the Lamb to be s!ng by the saints in heaven( as "e have alreadyseen (see >evelation 152( ?( b!t the #o!r living creat!res "ith

the elders sang%a ne( song saying ?hou art (orthy to ta*e

the boo* an' to open the seals thereo& &or thou (ast slain

an' hast re'eeme' us to o' by thy bloo' out o& e+ery

*in're' an' tongue an' people an' nation) an' hast ma'e

us unto our o' *ings an' priests an' (e shall reign on the

3;


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The Prophetic Song

earth,@>evelation 59( 10. Later a vast m!ltit!de sang %as it

(ere a ne( song be&ore the throne,@1?52. o" co!ld one be

in the direct presence o# the :od o# glory and not sing this songI

%o "e can see that the #o!ndation has been laid thro!gho!tthe pages o# %cript!re #or the mani#estation o# the %pirit o# :odin the prophetic song. %!rely :od is a singing :odI

The Singing Deit'

,e have spoen o# singing abo!t the Lordetolling isname( nat!re( and actsand singing to the Lordepressing toim "hat is in o!r hearts and spirits. B!t "e m!st alsoremember that there is singing o# the Lord. ,e have clearly seenthat the %pirit is a singing %piritso obvio!sly the othermembers o# the :odhead also sing.

t is totally #oreign and act!ally amaHing to !s to entertainthe tho!ght that :od sings. B!t "hy sho!ld it beE ,hen "e

acno"ledge :od as the Creator ,ho made all things( it isneither prepostero!s nor !nreasonable to thin that e sings. #e can create m!sic( s!rely e can sing. :od is not limited inis ability. ,hat a Foy it is #or the singing m!sician to realiHethat the Chie# M!sician imsel# sings. The Bible is clear on this(#or both the ld and /e" Testaments tell !s that :od doesindeed sing and that in #act( e reFoices in singing. The prophet

ephaniah declared(%?he LO/D thy o' in the mi'st o& thee

is mighty) he (ill sa+e he (ill reAoice o+er thee (ith Aoy) he

(ill rest in his lo+e he (ill Aoy o+er thee (ith singing,

@ephaniah 251;( "hile ebre"s speas o# *es!s saying( %I (ill

'eclare thy name unto my brethren in the mi'st o& the

church (ill I sing praise unto thee,@ebre"s 3513.

have o#ten "ondered "hat "o!ld inspire s!ch Foy that theLord "o!ld sing. The apostle *ohn gave !s a glimpse o# the

heart o# :od "hen he "rote( %I ha+e no greater Aoy than tohear that my chil'ren (al* in truth,@2 *ohn ?. %!rely i# theheart o# an earthly


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is obedient( loving childrenI

:od is revealing mysteries and principles to per#ect theCh!rch. %everal years ago very little "as !nderstood abo!tm!sical praise and "orship( tho!gh there are tho!sands o#%cript!res on the s!bFect"ell over eight h!ndred on m!sicaloneI n those days "e remained steeped in tradition rather thanacting on biblical tr!th. !r traditions bro!ght stability andanchored o!r #aith( b!t they also anchored !s to I (ill e+en ma*e a (ay in the(il'erness an' ri+ers in the 'esert. ?his people ha+e I&orme' &or mysel&) they shall she( &orth my praise. IsaiahE312 #14

These %cript!res held no revelation #or !s a decade ago. B!tno" "e have s!ch revelation that "e no longer m!st remain inthe darness o# the past b!t can "al in the ill!mination o# is,ord. ,e have tr!th available to !s( and "e are also responsibleto embrace that revealed tr!th and to "al in it.

As :od &!icens this tr!thmaes it alive to yo! and inyo!and yo! !nderstand that the Lord not only sings b!tdesires to sing thro!gh yo!( yo!r praise and "orship "illchange. o! "ill begin to hear the so!nd o# the Lord as e

moves in the midst o# the congregation. o! "ill cry(


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The Prophetic Song

part o# the concert hall or the television station( b!t it m!stal"ays be a part o# is Ch!rch.

Moses( the mighty servant o# :od( testi#ied that %the LO/D

is my strength an' song,@7od!s 153. Moses loved to sing(and :od "as his songI 7od!s 1 gives !s that "onder#!lvictory song "hich Moses and the people sang a#ter theirmirac!lo!s deliverance #rom the 7gyptians. t "as a #reshepression o# Foy and rene"ed #aith in :od( perhapsaccompanied by m!sical instr!mentsG in #act( verse 30 says that

Miriam and the "omen not only sang and danced b!t played thetimbrels. n another occasion Moses %spa*e in the ears o& all

the congregation o& Israel the (or's o& this song until they

(ere en'e',@-e!teronomy 21520a song "hich occ!pies thenet #ortythree verses. :od had given Moses this song and hadalso instr!cted him to teach it to the children o# srael( #or

F the LO/D sai' unto Moses... o( there&ore (riteye this song &or you an' teach it the chil'ren o& Israel putit in their mouths that this song may be a (itness &or meagainst the chil'ren o& Israel... it shall not be &orgotten outo& the mouths o& their see'.... Moses there&ore (rote thissong the same 'ay an' taught it the chil'ren o& Israel.Deuteronomy 311 12 #1 ##4

'erhaps :od even rehearsed the song in MosesD ear. ,henMoses sang( the people heard :odDs song. They heard the

prophetic song o# the Lord( #or "hen Moses sang( the %pirit o#:od "as singing thro!gh him. Moses received a "ord #rom :od(and instead o# delivering it as a spoen prophetic !tterance( hesang it according to the commandment o# :od.

es( the :odhead sings. %ome men o# :od believe that atcreation the "orld "as sung rather than spoken into eistence(that there "as singing "hen the #o!ndation o# the "orld "aslaid( #or "hen :od revealed is omnipotence to *ob( e ased(

Ghere (ast thou (hen I lai' the &oun'ations o& theearth>... Ghereupon are the &oun'ations thereo& &astene'>or (ho lai' the cornerstone thereo&) (hen the morningstars sang together an' all the sons o& o' shoute' &or

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Aoy> @ob 3;E "4

*es!s declared( %I am... the bright an' morning star,@>evelation 33516. ,hat a celestial so!nd m!st have echoedthro!gh the heavens "hen this song "as s!ng amid sho!ts o# Foy#rom the mighty sons o# :odI

eFoicing and gladness= are the themes o# the song that theLord sings among is people. The %pirit o# :od not only singspraise to the 4ather in the congregationG e inspires songs thatepress the 4atherDs great Foy in is children. :od is happy "ith

is redeemed ones( and e b!rsts #orth "ith songs that bring"ellsprings o# Foy in their hearts. A tr!e mani#estation o# thesong o# the Lord "ill be Foy in the hearts o# singer and listeneralie. :od does not sing is F!dgmentsG e sings is FoyI o""ell -avid epressed this5

Shout Aoy&ully to the LO/D all the earth) brea* &orthin song reAoice an' sing praises. Sing to the LO/D (ith

the harp (ith the harp an' the soun' o& a psalm (ithtrumpets an' the soun' o& a horn) shout Aoy&ully be&orethe LO/D the ing. Psalm 2;E: @H4

-avid also declared( %?hou shalt compass me about (ith

songs o& 'eli+erance,@'salm 235;. The Lord "ill s!rro!nd !s"ith songs o# victorio!s deliverance. is songs are not dirges o#despair b!t songs o# might( victory( and #aithI

7very Christian sho!ld eperience :od singing thro!gh him(and every m!sician m!st no" :od in his m!sic. t is #ar morethan "riting a song and asing the Lord to anoint yoursongG it isletting :od singissong thro!gh yo!. t is bringing #orth songso# the oly %piritthose


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The Prophetic Song

by history( that the early Ch!rch eperienced the same presenceo# Christ in their midst as "e do today( and that the

mani#estations o# the oly %pirit "ere present then even as theyare no". This "o!ld incl!de the prophetic song. There is littledo!bt that the #o!nding #athers o# the /e" Testament Ch!rcheperienced the singing o# spontaneo!s %piritgiven melodies intheir "orship( or that the prophetic voice "as heard in theirgatherings on a reg!lar basis. t is also believed by many thatm!sical instr!ments "ere !sed in their "orship.

'a!l testi#ied that he "orshipped the :od o# his #athers andbelieved everything "ritten in the La" and the prophets (seeActs 3?51?. ,hen 'a!l established ch!rches and set the"orship order( he did so according to the script!ral pattern o#that time.

The early Ch!rch began its eistence "ithin the #rame"oro# the *e"ish #aith. n the s!r#ace it "o!ld appear that thisgro!p o# disciples "as a party "ithin the *e"ish #old. B!t "hat

mared them as di##erent "as that they believed the Messiah hadcome. T. ,. Manson states( alphMartin observes that


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have to sing the re#rains and responses.= n the eveninggatherings the men and "omen "ere separated at #irstG in their

separate gro!ps they "o!ld sing hymns( sometimes antiphonally(o#ten accompanying the anthems "ith rhythmical movements.


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The Prophetic Song

psalmos,"hich means a set piece o# m!sic "ith accompanimentby a m!sical instr!ment. n general( the term


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he "rote(%... a&ter the (ay (hich they call heresy so (orship

I the o' o& my &athers belie+ing all things (hich are

(ritten in the la( an' in the prophets, @Acts 3?51?. 'a!l!ne&!ivocally p!t himsel# on the side o# tr!th. e believed "hat"as "ritten in the boos o# Moses. e believed "hat theprophets had proclaimed. thers( too( embraced the ,ord o#:od. *ames &!oted the "ords o# the prophet abo!t therestoration o# -avidDs tabernacle (seeActs 1516( and 'eter

prono!nced that


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Chater ))The Role o% Prohec'

# "e are going to !nderstand the prophetic song and( moreimportantly( become personally involved "ith it( "e m!st #irsthave a clear comprehension o# prophecy. ,e m!st !nderstand

"hat it is( "hat its p!rpose is( and ho" it is epressed. ,e see(o# co!rse( that the t"o elements "hich mae !p the propheticsong are the m!sical aspect and the prophetic aspect. bvio!slythe prophetic element is the more important beca!se it is the-ivine ingredient( and the m!sic is the realm thro!gh "hich that-ivine #actor is epressed. The epression "o!ld still be -ivine"hether it "as s!ng or spoen( b!t the m!sic "itho!t the -ivineelement "o!ld F!st be m!sic.

#ten "e thin o# prophecy mainly in the sense o# beingpredictive( that is( telling something to happen in the #!t!re( b!tthis is only one aspect o# prophecy. 'rophets do #oretell #!t!reevents( b!t prophecy is both #oretelling and #orthtelling.

'rophecy is :od speaing to is people thro!gh a person.To prophesy is to spea @or sing( by inspiration o# the oly%pirit( a prediction or a disco!rse o# ehortation( edi#ication( or

com#ort. ,e no" that prophecy is listed as one o# the gi#ts o#the oly %piritone o# "hat "e generally call


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The Prophetic Song

Prohec' o% Scrit#re

All biblical revelation spoen by the prophets is prophecy o#%cript!re. ,e no" that %all scripture is gi+en by inspiration

o& o' an' is pro&itable &or 'octrine &or reproo& &or

correction &or instruction in righteousness, @3 Timothy2516. That "hich "e call it

hath been alrea'y o& ol' time (hich (as be&ore us,

@7cclesiastes 159( 10. There is no


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The $ole of Prophecy

ne "ho holds the o##ice o# a prophet is endo"ed "ith theability to prophesy at any time. This is a greater or higher

dimension than the gi#t or spirit o# prophecy( #or it embodies ali#e style as "ell as a message. The person in this o##ice is not aprophet beca!se he speas prophetic messagesG he speas thoseprophetic messages beca!se he is a prophet.

The prophetic call and anointing come by :odDs choice andonly by :odDs choice. Man cannot achieve this o##ice by his o"n

desire or e##orts. :od told *eremiah( %Be&ore I &orme' thee in

the belly I *ne( thee) an' be&ore thou earnest &orth out o&the (omb I sancti&ie' thee an' I or'aine' thee a prophet

unto the nations,@*eremiah 15. :od selects "hom e "ills(to spea "hat e "ills( "hen e "ills. e doesnDt as manDsopinion.

The prophetic o##ice is one o# the ascension gi#t ministriesgiven to the /e" Testament Ch!rch (see7phesians ?511. Theprophet may( o# co!rse( minister edi#ication( ehortation( and

com#ort( b!t he may also operate in the spheres o# g!idance(reb!e( F!dgment( correction( prediction( or revelation. /o onesho!ld pres!me to minister in this realm !nless he has beencommissioned by the Lord to the o##ice o# a prophet( so o#co!rse no one "ho sings the prophetic song sho!ld attempt to sominister !nless he no"s that he has been placed in thatprophetic o##ice.

n the ld Testament( prophets "ere called omans 253.

Those "ho do mani#est the prophetic o##ice proclaim :odDspresence( p!rpose( and message( "hether in "ord or in song.

%Surely the Lor' OD (ill 'o nothing but he re+ealeth his

secret unto his ser+ants the prophets,@Amos 25;.

There is a great responsibility involved #or one "ho carries

29


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The Prophetic Song

this prophetic anointing. # his prophecies are to be pro#itable( hem!st be


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The Sirit o% Prohec'

The spirit o# prophecy is the &!icening @or anointing o# theoly %pirit( in "hich all may prophesy. ,hen this !nction is

present( anyone may enter into the prophetic #lo"G %ye may all

prophesy one by one that all may learn an' all may be

com&orte',@1 Corinthians 1?521. The spirit o# prophecy is theoly %piritDs mantle o# prophetic anointing given #rom time totime to a believer @or believers( res!lting in the speaing #ortho# the "ord o# the Lord.

The ey to !nderstanding this realm is that it happens #romtime to time. ,itho!t this special endo"ment( an individ!al "hodoes not hold the o##ice o# a prophet or have the gi#t o# prophecyco!ld not prophesy the "ord o# the Lord. @e co!ld respond to asit!ation "ith an appropriate "ord( b!t !nless the spirit o#prophecy is present( it is not the "ord o# the Lord( and he darenot attach :odDs name to it. e is enabled to prophesy by the

presence o# the clo!d o# :odDs prophetic anointing.

%omeone "ho prophesies only occasionally is givingevidence that he has neither the o##ice nor the gi#t o# prophecyb!t #!nctions only "hen the spirit o# prophecy is present.


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The Prophetic Song

Most prophetic songs #it into the realm o# the spirit o#prophecy( #or( relatively speaing( there are more


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came !pon me. t "as not !ntil a #e" min!tes later that realiHed"hat "as happening. The b!rden o# the prophetic "as arising

#rom "ithin me and my #lesh "as already nervo!s "ith thepossibility that "o!ld be p!blicly prophesying. The deepa"areness o# the oly %piritDs !nction #rom "ithin and s!ddenprophetic inspiration both came to my spirit at one time.

The "ords came #irst so tho!ght this is to be a spoenprophecy.

Dve heard a cry thro!gho!t the land

'eople F!st cannot !nderstandThe ,ord o# the LordAnd the "ays o# yo!r :od%o Dm raising !p sonsAnd Dm raising !p da!ghters( in ion.

nly the #irst si lines seemed to come and didnDt no"ho" it "o!ld end. B!t "as "illing to step o!t in #aith and

spea "hat :od had given me. "atched #or openings in theservice to spea b!t the "orship "as so intense. The people"ent on singing in the %pirit #or abo!t 1 min!tes. ,hen thepraise decrescendoed eno!gh #or me to spea the "ord :od hadgiven me another prophecy came #rom a man across thesanct!ary. anio!sly "aited #or him to #inish beca!se "hat theoly %pirit "as saying thro!gh him seemed very similar to "hat:od had given me. o"ever as soon as he ended a "oman

to"ard the bac began to prophesy. The nervo!sness inside megre"( my heart began beating #aster. -id :od really "ant me toprophesyE Then "hy didnDt e allo" me opport!nity to speaETension in my throat and stomach mo!nted. ne" "hat sensed "as :od( and yet "asnDt s!re. %ome people had told me"hen :od "anted them to prophesy their right hand "o!ld get"arm. thers had said they "o!ld receive other inds o# signs. didnDt have a signF!st a


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The Prophetic Song

n the ,ords o# the Lordn the "ays o# their :od

Them "ill teachTo do my "ill( in ion.

My %pirit shall be !pon my peopleThey shall go #orth in my /ame.,ith the ,ord o# the LordAnd the tr!th o# their :od4eeding h!ngry so!ls

The bread o# li#e( thatDs in ion.As the service contin!ed several more prophecies came b!t

as soon as they ended( the congregation b!rst into praise. ,henall this #inally #inished the service moved into the preaching o#the ,ord and then ended. never gave the prophetic "ord :odhad given me.

n the car abo!t hal# "ay home that a#ternoon the "ords o#

the prophecy came !p in my spirit again and there seemed to bea #resh anointing. The ecitement ret!rned as "as ca!ght !p inthe prophecy again. All o# the s!dden began to sing it in myhead. The "ords seemed to be carried #reely o!t o# my spirit onthe "ings o# a melody.

,hen "e "aled into the ho!se &!icly piced !p myg!itar and sang it over and over. t!rned on a tape recorder so "o!ldnDt #orget it. "as elated( my #irst prophetic song "as

birthed. The song "as entitled


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eperience o# receiving the prophetic message #rom :odG somedeal "ith the eperience o# transmitting the prophetic message

to others.

ne ebre" "ord !sed o#ten is roeh &rooh',


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The Prophetic Song

prophetic song. %ome say it is only a m!sician


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not hear :od spea( he dares not spea #or :od.

,#dging Prohec' and the Prohetic Song

The ,ord declares that all prophecy sho!ld be F!dged (see1Corinthians 1?539( so there#ore the prophetic song sho!ld alsobe F!dged. 'rophecy al"ays has the potential o# mit!re beca!sethe h!man is present along "ith the -ivineG the channel thro!gh"hich the prophecy comes is #allible. The :odinspired "ord @orprophetic song co!ld be mied "ith the speaerDs @or singerDs

imagination and come o!t tainted. There may be a correctreception #rom :od o# the "ord( b!t the individ!al co!ldincorrectly or imper#ectly comm!nicate it.

The prophetic song( as any prophetic epression( can betested in si "ays. 4irst( the prophetic "ord sho!ld be tested by

the (ritten Gor'. As "e said earlier( tr!e prophecy originates"ith or can be con#irmed by the %cript!res. %ometimes a

prophecy "ill be !nscript!ral in content. 'a!l told !s to reFectthe bad content and retain the good. %Despise not

prophesyings. Pro+e all things) hol' &ast that (hich is goo',

@1 Thessalonians 530( 31. -oes the prophetic song con#orm incontent to the principles and precepts o# :odDs "ritten ,ordE-oes it spea according to the "hole o# %cript!reE s it in line"ith speci#ic ehortations in the BibleE

The second test is the character o# the prophetic song. ,hatis the spirit in "hich the prophetic song is givenE -oes itcondemnE >emember that the oly %pirit never speas incondemnationin conviction( yes( b!t not in condemnation.There may be gen!ine reb!e or correction @given thro!gh one"ho has the o##ice o# a prophet( b!t it "ill be given in a spirit o#tenderness and "ith the p!rpose o# restoration. A prophetic!tterance given in a harsh tone or spirit that "o!ld leave the

hearer devastated and condemned is not o# :od.The third test o# prophecy is its &ul&illmentJespecially

predictive prophetic songs. # the prophecy is #!l#illed( that is the

proo# that its content "as divinely inspired and acc!rate. %Ghen

?;


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The Prophetic Song

a prophet spea*eth in the name o& the LO/D i& the thing

&ollo( not nor come to pass that is the thing (hich the

LO/D hath not spo*en but the prophet hath spo*en itpresumptuously,@-e!teronomy 18533. bvio!sly( then( i# thething comes to pass( it "as the thing "hich the Lord spoe.

The #o!rth test is the con'uct o# the individ!alDs li#e.%cript!re re&!ires !s to s!spect the prophecy i# the li#e style o#

the one prophesying is not righteo!s. %Cor &rom the prophets

o& @erusalem is pro&aneness gone &orth into all the lan'.

?hus sai' the LO/D o& hosts 7ear*en not unto the (or's o&the prophets that prophesy unto you they ma*e you +ain

they spea* a +ision o& their o(n heart an' not out o& the

mouth o& the LO/D,@*eremiah 3251( 16. t is important to

try the spirits o# the singers o# the prophetic song. %Belo+e'

belie+e not e+ery spirit but try the spirits (hether they are

o& o' because many &alse prophets are gone out into the

(orl',@1 *ohn ?51. There m!st be not only proven ministry b!t

proven lives to s!bstantiate that ministry.

The #i#th test is the con&irmation o& the Spirit. A propheticsong can be tested by "hether or not it bears "itness "ith o!rinner man thro!gh the oly %pirit ,ho d"ells in !s. >omans

8516 says that %the Spirit itsel& beareth (itness (ith our

spirit.,,e do need to be a"are that this is the least reliablemethod o# F!dging prophecy or the prophetic song beca!se o!r

o"n spirits can be misled.


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every "ord shall be established (see3 Corinthians 1251. t isimportant to !nderstand that the F!dging o# s!ch prophecy

sho!ld be le#t to the spirit!al leadership in the ch!rch beca!sethey sho!ld be more sensitive to and a"are o# spirit!al mattersin the lives o# the people #or "hom they have been givenoversight. They are the ones "ho pray #or their people and m!stgive acco!nt to :od o# their leadership. # they are tr!eshepherds( their hearts are concerned "ith :odDs best #or thepeople.

,hile it is tr!e that prophecy is to be F!dged( and indeedm!st be F!dged( it "o!ld be "rong to become so F!dgmental o#the prophecy that its message is missed. Those "ho hearprophecy have a responsibility to respond to it. Tr!e prophecysho!ld be received "ith #aith and "ith a con#ident epectationthat :od has done and "ill do all that e has said in theprophetic !tterance. The #act that the prophecy is s!ng instead o#spoen does not change this. ,hat is heard sho!ld be mied

"ith #aith @the s!bstance o# things hoped #or and the evidence o#things not seen so that the song "ill bring the res!lts that :oddesired and planned "hen e gave the song. t may be that them!sic "ill act!ally enhance and strengthen the propheticmessage( #or m!sic and prophecy have a close and contin!ingrelationship.

?9


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Chater --The Role o% .#sic

n the ,ord o# :od there is a close association bet"eenm!sic and prophecy. The %cript!res contain many re#erences"hich deal "ith this close relationship bet"een m!sic and

prophecy( and many prophetic songs are to be #o!nd in both theld and the /e" Testaments.

,e no"( o# co!rse( that m!sic is a po"er#!l tool( and thatm!sic is part o# the essential nat!re o# the believer( #or "e havealready noted 'a!lDs ehortations on singing (see 7phesians518( 19G Colossians 2516( "hich s!ggest that the presence o#the %pirit in the believer also means the presence o# m!sic in thebeliever. To be #illed "ith the %pirit is to be #illed "ith song.

The %pirit is a singing %pirit( and there#ore "e can epect imto give !s songs and to spea thro!gh !s in song.

Many biblical revelations "ere #irst delivered m!sicallyG attimes ld Testament prophets sang their prophecies instead o#speaing them as :od moved !pon them and gave themspontaneo!s "ords and melodies. @t is important to rememberthe melodies these prophets sang "ere not in the scales or modes

"e are most #amiliar "ith in the ,estern emisphere. Manys!ch prophecies are #o!nd in the boos "e call the maFor andminor prophets. # the maFor prophets( saiah probablyprophesied in song &!ite #re&!ently. Thro!gho!t the boo o#

saiah "e #ind the "ord


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The Prophetic Song

other prophetic boos as "ell. :od spoe to 7Heiel and told

him( %Say thou unto them ?hus saith the Lor' OD) ?his

bur'en concerneth the prince in @erusalem an' all thehouse o& Israel that are among them, @7Heiel 13510. The

prophet /ah!m spoe o# %the bur'en o& ine+eh, @/ah!m

151( and aba! "rote o# %the bur'en (hich 7aba**u*

the prophet 'i' see,@aba! 151. %imilar prophetic songsare recorded in echariah 951 and 1351 and in Malachi 151.

t is interesting that many o# the chor!ses "e sing today

come #rom the maFor and minor prophets. There is a m!sicalanointing !pon these boos beca!se the ,ord o# :od "as sent#orth on the "ings o# melody. They cry o!t to be s!ng "ithm!sical accompaniment( #or they "ere birthed "ith melody bythe oly %pirit.

,#/al0The First .#sician

The #irst mention o# m!sic in the %cript!res is #o!nd in:enesis ? "ith the introd!ction o# *!bal( the chie# instr!ctor o#

those "ho played the "ind and stringed instr!ments. %!n' his

6@abal=s9 brother=s name (as @ubal he (as the &ather o& all

such as han'le the harp an' organ,@:enesis ?531. /ot m!chis said abo!t *!bal in this one verseG ho"ever( m!ch is containedin his name. ebre" names "ere o#ten prophetic( pointing to"hat the person "o!ld be or do. n #act( it "as common to

re#rain #rom naming a child at birth b!t to "ait !ntil the childhad developed to a point "here some idea co!ld be had o# hispersonality and nat!re( and then to name him accordingly.*!balDs name contains insight into the man and his m!sicalabilities( #or his name means


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The $ole of usic

Prohetic .#sic in the Old Testament

Thro!gho!t the ld Testament there are recordedprophecies "hich came #orth m!sically. ,e are #amiliar "ithMosesD great song o# victory a#ter the children o# srael "eremirac!lo!sly led across the >ed %ea and the 7gyptian #orces"ere dro"ned in those same "aters. /otice that the song o#reFoicing became a prophetic !tterance as Moses proclaimed"hat "o!ld happen as a res!lt o# that victory5

?he people shall hear an' be a&rai' sorro( shall ta*ehol' on the inhabitants o& Palestine. ?hen the 'u*es o&K'om shall be ama8e') the mighty men o& Moabtrembling shall ta*e hol' upon them) all the inhabitants o&-anaan shall melt a(ay. Cear an' 'rea' shall &all uponthem) by the greatness o& thine arm they shall be as still asa stone) till thy people pass o+er O LO/D till the peoplepass o+er (hich thou hast purchase'. ?hou shalt bringthem in an' plant them in the mountain o& thine

inheritance in the place O LO/D (hich thou hast ma'e&or thee to '(ell in in the Sanctuary O LO/D (hich thyhan's ha+e establishe'. Kxo'us 1$1E:1"4

,hat a prono!ncementI

%am!el spoe o# m!sic in connection "ith prophecy "henhe #oretold events to come in the li#e o# %a!l. e told %a!l(

%?hou shalt meet a company o& prophets coming 'o(n &rom

the high place (ith a psaltery an' a tabret an' a pipe an'a harp be&ore them) an' they shall prophesy, @1 %am!el105. These prophets "ere coming #rom a garrison o#'hilistines that protected a place o# idolatry#or


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The Prophetic Song

mani#ested in their praises( the prophetic !nction "o!ld rise"ithin them and they "o!ld spea #orth divinelyinspired "ords.

t is liely that one "ho attended the


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The $ole of usic

the ministry o# m!sic so po"er#!l is "hen :od not only d"ellsin o!r m!sic b!t thro!gh o!r m!sic speas a prophetic "ord.

The .inistr' o% .#sicians

The ld Testament is #!ll o# re#erences to m!sic andm!sicians and to the part they had in the li#e and "orship o# thechildren o# srael. ,e have already seen the time "hen one o#their battles "as #o!ght not by the armies b!t by the m!sicians@see 3 Chronicles 30( and "e no" that m!sic "as an intimate

part o# their "orship( #rom the day "hen Miriam led the singingand dancing in celebration o# the release #rom the 7gyptians(thro!gh the time "hen -avid danced be#ore the Lord as the Arret!rned( and in the dedication o# the temple "hen the m!siciansli#ted their songs and praises as one voice and the glory o# theLord descended in s!ch a tremendo!s "ay.

-avid( o# co!rse( !nderstood the importance o# m!sic and

gave special attention to the place o# m!sic in the ho!se o# theLord.

n his m!sic department the m!sicians "ere given


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The Prophetic Song

trained in #lo"ing in the prophetic realm( and they led theremaining #o!r tho!sand. ,e are told that5

Da+i' an' the captains o& the host separate' to theser+ice o& the sons o& !saph an' o& 7eman an' o&@e'uthun (ho shoul' prophesy (ith harps (ithpsalteries an' (ith cymbals an' the number o& the(or*men accor'ing to their ser+ice (as O& the sons o&!saph... (hich prophesie' accor'ing to the or'er o& the*ing. O& @e'uthun the sons o& @e'uthun... (ho prophesie'(ith a harp to gi+e than*s an' to praise the LO/D. O&

7eman... all these (ere the sons o& 7eman the *ing=s seerin the (or's o& o' to li&t up the horn. !ll these (ereun'er the han's o& their &ather &or song in the house o& theLO/D (ith cymbals psalteries an' harps &or the ser+iceo& the house o& o'.... So the number o& them (ith theirbrethren that (ere instructe' in the songs o& the LO/De+en all that (ere cunning 6s*ill&ul= @H9 (as t(ohun're' &ourscore an' eight. 1 -hronicles #$1:"4

The Place o% Instr#ments

There are many other eamples that co!ld be given. $s!ally"e #ind re#erences to both singers and those "ho played sometype o# m!sical instr!ment. ,e "ill disc!ss the s!bFect o#prophecy "ith instr!ments at more length in another chapter( b!tobvio!sly the instr!ments had an important role in the m!sic and

in the prophetic #lo"G as "e "ill see( prophecy sometimes comes#orth by means o# the instr!ments( so that the m!sicians playingthe instr!ments are not F!st accompanying the singing b!t are inthemselves a part o# the prophetic ministry. The instr!mentshelp epress and demonstrate the prophecy( so that theinstr!mental playing and the song may seem almost inseparablethe message being comm!nicated "o!ld be incomplete"itho!t both.

The %cript!res "e have F!st read #rom 1 Chronicles 3clearly state that some o# the appointed m!sicians prophesied onthe harp and other instr!ments. The song o# the Lord that came#orth at the cleansing o# the Temple began "ith tr!mpets and

6


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The $ole of usic

instr!ments (see 3 Chronicles 3953;. The ,ord o# :od "ascomm!nicated in song !pon the instr!mentsG there "ere no

lyrics( and yet there "as still a message comm!nicated and aspirit!al attit!de conveyed. An impression "as given. :od "asheard playing thro!gh the m!sician.

Many o# the songs recorded in %cript!re "ere s!ng to theaccompaniment o# m!sical instr!ments. n several instances( F!stthe playing o# the m!sical instr!ment bro!ght the propheticanointing. The hand o# :od came !pon 7lisha as a res!lt o# the

playing o# the stringed instr!ment. 7lisha !nderstood therelationship o# m!sic to the prophetic realm( so he called #or aminstrel to play. As a res!lt( 7lisha prophesied.

praise :od that m!sicians are n!mbered among those "hoprophesy. %ingers and players o# instr!ments may sing theprophetic song( as may those in the congregation. t is a ministryno longer looed do"n !pon as insigni#icant( !nimportant( oreven improper. As the prophets o# old li#ted !p their voices and

declared the "ord o# :od "ith melody( so "e( too( can sing theprophetic "ord o# the Lord.%Cor the prophecy came not in ol'

time by the (ill o& man but holy men o& o' spa*e 6or sang9

as they (ere mo+e' by the 7oly host,@3 'eter 1531.

.#sic To#ches the Sirit#al Realm

t is remarable ho" "e str!ggle "ith the concept o# :odsinging and playing thro!gh is "orshippers( b!t "e do notseem to have tro!ble believing or accepting the oppositethatevil spirits can so possess someone that they can at times beheard speaing or singing thro!gh a person.

,hen "as in aiti became a"are o# the reality o# theingdom o# darness and ho" it so perversely imitates the tr!thso# the ingdom o# :odDs marvelo!s light. Lying !pon my bed at

night( co!ld hear the distant throb o# voodoo dr!ms as them!sicians called !pon the spirits o# darness and invited them todra" nearer so the "orshippers co!ld no" their presence.

t has been reported that in the midst o# voodoo "orship(

;


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The Prophetic Song

a#ter ho!rs o# demoninspired singing( there "o!ld come a time"hen one o# the "orshippers possessed by evil spirits "o!ld

stop singing a recogniHable song and "o!ld begin to sing a songnever heard be#ore. t "as !nderstood that at that time the spiritpossessing the person "as singing. The song "o!ld reach a ne"climactic crescendo. The m!sic o# the "orshipping m!sicians"as o# !tmost importance in prod!cing this state. M!sic to!chesthe s!pernat!ral and releases spirit!al activity( and #or thatreason m!sic is integrally lined to the prophetic realm.

ne o# the secrets in reaching this spirit!al state is totalabandonment. 4riends o# mine "ho have enco!ntered this typeo# activity have told me o# seeing a h!man being act!allys!spended in the air #rom si to ten #eet above the gro!nd andbeing held there #or several min!tes by the strength o# the evil#orces "ithin. # s!ch things are not only possible b!t act!al("hy sho!ld it be so di##ic!lt to believe that the oly %pirit( ,hois in#initely more po"er#!l than any demon( "o!ld bring #orth

prophetic mani#estations thro!gh a m!sician "ho is yielded tothe Lord *es!s ChristE

M!sic is one o# manindDs #!ndamental aven!es o#comm!nication( and one o# the most s!ccess#!l beca!se ittranscends the conscio!s mind and reaches the s!bconscio!s.M!sic can bypass the gate that g!ards the entrance to the mind@"hich constantly tries to red!ce the ,ord o# :od to "hat it can

!nderstand and comes in another "ay. M!sic is


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psalmist o& Israel sai' ?he Spirit o& the LO/D spa*e by me

an' his (or' (as in my tongue, @3 %am!el 3251( 3.

Thro!gho!t the historical record and then in the boo o# 'salms("e #ind many o# the songs that -avid composed and sang. Many"ere prophetic in nat!reG the maFor theme in these prophecies"as the coming Messiah. As a matter o# #act( there are over adoHen prophetic re#erences to the Messiah in the boo o# 'salms(all o# "hich are #!l#illed in the /e" Testament. -avid the singer"as also -avid the "orshipper( "ho prophesied in his m!sic.M!sic is an integral part o# "orship( and so it "as( and is( a

channel o# prophecy as "ell.

,hen "e thin o# the 'salms "e thin o# -avid( b!t he "asnot the only psalmist. The collection o# songs "e call the booo# 'salms "as "ritten d!ring a lengthy period ranging #rom thetime o# Moses to the posteilic era o# the second Temple. ,hile-avid "as the maFor contrib!tor to this songboo( having"ritten seventythree o# the psalms( others also added their

inspired "ords5 Asaph( "ho "rote t"elve psalmsG the sons o#)orah( "ho "rote tenG %olomon( "ho "rote t"oG and Moses(eman( and 7than( "ho each "rote one psalm. These are all parto# the divinelyinspired ,ord o# :od( and they are a bea!ti#!leample o# prophecy in m!sic.

.#sic in the Prohetic 2ooks

Many other prophecies #o!nd in the ld Testament "ere nodo!bt delivered in song. saiah #re&!ently spoe #orth the "ordo# the Lord by singing( and many o# those prophetic !tterancesare #o!nd in his booG in #act( many o# the chor!ses "e singtoday come #rom the boo o# saiah. 7Heiel "as anotherprophet "ho probably sang a n!mber o# his prophecies. naddition to these( some o# the minor prophets !sed m!sic as a"ay o# epressing the messages :od gave them to proclaim.

aba! delivered a prophetic prayer( %a prayer o&

7aba**u* the prophet upon Shigionoth,@aba! 251 %to

the chie& singer on my stringe' instruments, @verse 19.


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indicating a piece o# m!sic that "as passionately or "ildlylyrical. This is harmonio!s "ith the #orm and content o# this

chapter( "hich indicates the intimate connection bet"een m!sicand prophecy.3

Prohetic .#sic Is Contemorar'

The same prophetic mantle that rested !pon -avid and theother biblical m!sicians and song"riters can rest !pon m!siciansand song"riters today. The same prophetic #lo" into "hich they

entered is available in this present ho!r. All across the co!ntry have heard m!sicians singing prophetic songs. ne o# the mostpo"er#!l anthems o# praise have heard come #orth "ith aprophetic anointing in the midst o# a congregation is the song


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o# praise.

61


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Chater 33The Role o% Praise

t is signi#icant that praise and song are virt!ally inseparable.!e)sters *e+ !orld ictionarytells !s that one meaning o# theverb


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The Prophetic Song

B!t praise is -ivine. ,e are #ollo"ing :odDs pattern( not manDs("hen "e praise. 'raise is :odDs idea( :odDs command( and also

:odDs pleas!re. e loves to hear is people praising imI

,#dah

'raise is #irst #o!nd in the Bible in :enesis 3952( "hich isthe acco!nt o# the birth o# *!dah. Leah( his mother( "as


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,e #ind *!dah mentioned not only in the 'entate!ch and thehistorical boos b!t in the 'salms as "ell. t is also signi#icant

that *!dah is mentioned more than 390 times in the propheticboos alonerein#orcing the relationship o# praise to theprophetic !tterance.

B!t praise is not con#ined to %cript!ral re#erences orconcepts. n everyday li#e( people praise. # yo! donDt thin so(F!st "atch a #e" television commercialsG each company praisesits prod!ct as being the ne"est( the greatest( the bestcertainly

better than its competitorsI ,e praise things( abilities( otherpeople( and even the dog "hen he learns to sit !p or roll over.%!rely( then( i# everyday things rate praise( ho" m!ch moresho!ld "e be involved "ith praise o# the :od o# heaven andearthI

The Imortance o% Praise

As "e have read in 'salms 112 and 10( :od has told !sthat "e are to praise im. t is is "ill #or is children. verand over again in the %cript!res "e are ehorted to praise andinstr!cted in praise. t is :odDs "ill and command.

Let !s loo at 'salm 81 to get a good pict!re o# praise and

its importance. +erse 1 tells !s( %Sing alou' unto o' our

strength ma*e a Aoy&ul noise unto the o' o& @acob.,@Thisgets both singers and nonsingers in on the actI +erse 3

incl!des the m!sicians5 %?a*e a psalm an' bring hither the

timbrel the pleasant harp (ith the psaltery., /o one isecl!ded( "hether


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The Prophetic Song

praise to im. %Sing O ye hea+ens) &or the LO/D hath 'one

it shout ye lo(er parts o& the earth brea* &orth into

singing ye mountains O &orest an' e+ery tree therein,@saiah ??532. is created beings are praisers5 %Praise ye him

all his angels praise ye him all his hosts, @'salm 1?853. The

s!n( moon( and stars o##er praise( #or %the hea+ens 'eclare the

glory o& o') an' the &irmament she(eth his han'i(or*,

@'salm 1951G they are told( %Praise ye him sun an' moon)

praise him all ye stars o& light,@'salm 1?852. /at!re itsel# is

instr!cted to praise the Lord5 %Let the hea+ens reAoice an' let

the earth be gla') let the sea roar an' the &ulness thereo&.

Let the &iel' be Aoy&ul an' all that is therein then shall all

the trees o& the (oo' reAoice be&ore the LO/D, @'salm 9651

l12a. %Praise the LO/D &rom the earth ye 'ragons an' all

'eeps &ire an' hail) sno( an' +apours) stormy (in'

&ul&illing his (or' mountains an' all hills) &ruit&ul trees

an' all ce'ars beasts an' all cattle) creeping things an'

&lying &o(l,@'salm 1?85;10. ,e are even told that %surelythe (rath o& man shall praise thee,@'salm ;6510. # all thelesser rans o# :odDs creation praise im( ho" can man( thehighest o# :odDs creation( do anything elseI

'raise is not a choiceG it is a command. t is not optionalG itis obligatory. t is not a privilegeG it is a prere&!isite. /ot topraise is to be disobedient to a speci#ic command o# :od. *es!s

said( %I& ye lo+e me *eep my comman'ments, @*ohn 1?51.# "e #ail at this point( ho" then can "e say that "e love :od( orcontin!e in is "aysE

ne o# the most #re&!ently s!ng songs in all o# Christendoms!ms it !p5


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?052. 'raise brings :odconscio!sness. The testimony o# :od isnot is po"er b!t is praiseI !r praises sho" :od to the

"orld. ,here there are praising believers( :od is the center o#attention beca!se e is the %o!rce and the bFect o# that praise.

'eter declared that "e %are a chosen generation a royal

priesthoo' an holy nation a peculiar people) that ye shoul'

she( &orth the praises o& him (ho hath calle' you out o&

'ar*ness into his mar+ellous light, @1 'eter 359. ,e arecalled to be "itnesses !nto im (seeActs 158. ,e have been

%chosen... in him be&ore the &oun'ation o& the (orl'... that(e shoul' be to the praise o& his glory, @7phesians 15?( 13.e is li#ted !p #or all to see and adore "hen "e o##er praise toim.

'raise is also a deliverance. %I remo+e' his shoul'er &rom

the bur'en his han's (ere 'eli+ere' &rom the pots. ?hou

calle'st in trouble an' I 'eli+ere' thee, @'salm 8156( ;.There is a po"er in praise that can bring deliverance( as "enoticed earlier in this boo "hen taling abo!t the res!lts o# theprophetic song. :od d"ells in praiseG the allpo"er#!l and allno"ing ne( ,ho has never eperienced loss or de#eat( residesthere( so no adversary has a chance. A#ter their deliverance #rom

the 7gyptians( Moses and the children o# srael sang( %Gho is

li*e unto thee O LO/D among the go's> Gho is li*e thee

glorious in holiness &ear&ul in praises 'oing (on'ers>,

@7od!s 1511. +ictory is certain and prevailing po"er ispresent "hen praises are s!ng. ,eDre no longer slavesG "eDre#reeI The Lion o# the tribe o# *!dah praiseN has prevailed overall o!r enemiesI

'raise also brings deliverance #rom mo!rning( depression(and a heavy spirit. The %pirit o# :od singing in man "ill ca!seone to be !pli#ted. -isco!ragement or depression can bedispelled as praises are o##ered to :od. The res!lt is as s!re as

:odDs promises. %?here&ore the re'eeme' o& the LO/D shall

return an' come (ith singing unto ion) an' e+erlasting Aoy

shall be upon their hea' they shall obtain gla'ness an' Aoy)

an' sorro( an' mourning shall &lee a(ay,@saiah 1511.

6;


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The prophetic "ord given thro!gh saiah "as %the Spirit o&

the Lor' OD is upon me) because... he hath sent me... to

appoint unto them that mourn in ion to gi+e unto thembeauty &or ashes the oil o& Aoy &or mourning the garment o&

praise &or the spirit o& hea+iness, @saiah 6051( 2. TheChristian living in ion @:odDs presence is to be clothed in thegarment o# praise. This article o# spirit!al clothing is mostmirac!lo!s( #or "hen the believer is "earing it( the principle o#ca!se and e##ect goes into operation. ,hen he p!ts it on( thespirit o# heaviness immediately departs. -epression( "eightyspirits( heavy b!rdens( and accompanying "orries #all a"ay"hen praise begins. The %pirit o# :od sings accolades to the4ather as the believer begins to vocaliHe "hat is stirring in hisheart and his inner eyes loo to the Almighty. is conscio!snesso# the m!ndane( the ordinary( and the problemladen realm #adesas he begins to soar in heavenly places. >egenerated man "asnot meant to roost on the earth lie a chicenG he is destined to

mo!nt !p "ith "ings as an eagle. Chicens donDt #lyG they #l!tterand sp!tter( "ith insigni#icant res!lts. B!t eagles soar "ith verylittle e##ort as they catch the !pdra#ts o# air. %o the


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added. :od "ants !s to !nderstand the principles o# praise andthe ca!se and e##ects o# o##ering the sacri#ice o# praise. ,e are

to praise "ith an !nderstanding o# "hat "e are doing and "hy"e are doing it.

+nderstanding Praise

7very ch!rch or denomination has its o"n de#inition o#praise or mani#estation o# "hat it believes praise to be. To some(praise means singing a #e" lively chor!sesG to others( praising

:od is singing &!iet( !nh!rried songs o# thansgiving oradoration. %ome may say(


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The Prophetic Song

e comes to d"ell in it.

A "ellno"n %cript!re that "e o#ten &!ote( and o#ten

mis!nderstand( is 'salm 1005?%Knter into his gates (ith

than*sgi+ing an' into his courts (ith praise., o#ten tho!ghtthat as sang a chor!s or hymn "as entering is presence. B!tthis may not necessarily be so. The ,ord o# :od says thattehillah is the entrance to is co!rts. /otice saiah 60518( in

"hich the prophet said( %... thou shalt call thy (alls Sal+ation

an' thy gates Praise., saiah said that "e pass thro!gh the

gates to enter ion by means o# o!r songs o# praise. ion is"here :od d"ells. %Cor the LO/D hath chosen ion) he hath

'esire' it &or his habitation. ?his is my rest &or e+er here

(ill I '(ell) &or I ha+e 'esire' it,@'salm 123512( 1?. The Aro# the Covenant "as in ion. Above the Mercy %eat( bet"eenthe "ings o# the cher!bim( "as a mani#estation o# :odDspresence (see7od!s 3533. %o :od is telling !s that "e cancome into is presence @ion "ith tehillah. t is the gate that

leads to the )ingDs co!rts.

The %cript!res #rom 'salm 123 that "e have F!st read tell !sthat :od chose ion #or is d"elling place beca!se e desired

to abide there. ,e are told #!rther that %?he LO/D lo+eth the

gates o& ion more than all the '(ellings o& @acob, @'salm8;53. :od loves o!r praise. e delights in the spontaneo!s

o!tpo!rings o# o!r hearts to im. %Praise is comely &or the

upright,@'salm 2251b. %Praise ye the LO/D &or it is goo'to sing praises unto our o') &or it is pleasant) an' praise is

comely,@'salm 1?;51.

The "ord


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in the co!ntenances and lives o# those "ho have been close toim( #or they "ill radiate :od to the "orld. Their lives "ill emit

the #ragrance o# is presence( ca!sing others to realiHe that theyhave been "ith im. The light o# is glory cannot be hidden.

!rise shine) &or thy light is come an' the glory o& theLO/D is risen upon thee. Cor behol'... the LO/D shallarise upon thee an' his glory shall be seen upon thee. !n'the entiles shall come to thy light an' *ings to thebrightness o& thy rising... they shall she( &orth the praiseo& the LO/D. Isaiah 01:3 b4

saiah also records :odDs declaration that %mine house

shall be calle' a house o& prayer &or all people, @65;. The"ord #or prayer is the ebre" "ord tephillah, "hich is verysimilar to the "ord tehillah"hich "e have F!st seen. :od "antsis ho!se to be a place "here prayers are s!ng as "ell asspoen. e "ants the Ch!rch to be no"n #or singing prayersand praise. tDs both interesting and signi#icant to notice ho"

many #orms o# o!r comm!nion "ith :od involve m!sic.

The Ch!rch is not a b!ildingG it is a body o# believers "hocongregate #or a common p!rpose. The very #ocal point o# "hat:od is doing in m!sic is #o!nd in the Ch!rchthe assemblingo# the saints. t is in the midst o# this assembly( as praises ascendto heaven( that :od d"ells. 'salm 11?53 tells !s that


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The Prophetic Song

As "e o##er this sacri#ice o# praise !nto im( there comes a time"hen it is no longer !s praising or singing( b!t it is the oly

%pirit singing thro!gh !s.

:od "ants !s to%ma*e his praise glorious,@'salm 6653.As "e sing to im( and e sings thro!gh !s( is tehillah canbecome tremendo!sly spectac!lar and a"esome. t "ill be

sho"n #orth in all the earth. -avid declared( %7is tehillahshall

continually be in my mouth,@'salm 2?51( and according to

*oel 2530( %@u'ah 6praise9 shall '(ell 7ebre( %abi'e,4

&ore+er.,Tho!gh praise may be epressed in a variety o# "ays(it can and sho!ld be ever present( #or %his praise tehillah4

en'ureth &or e+er,@'salm 111510.

",o'%#l$ Praise

The %cript!res( partic!larly the 'salms( describe many indso# praise. -avid and the other psalmists spea o#ten o# reFoicing

and o# epressing praise to :od in an e!berant ordemonstrative manner.%Praise ye the LO/D. I (ill praise the

Lor' (ith my (hole heart, @'salm 11151. This certainlys!ggests that the praising "as done "ith enth!siasm and vigorI>aising o!r hands( clapping o!r hands( or dancing be#ore theLordall o# "hich are not only endorsed b!t commanded in%cript!reare all demonstrations o# o!r inner #eelings beingreleased in praise to :od.

P!ite o#ten praisers are criticiHed #or being


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The $ole of Praise

F (hen the buil'ers lai' the &oun'ation o& the templeo& the LO/D they set the priests in their apparel (ith

trumpets (ith the Le+ites the sons o& !saph (ith cymbalsto praise the LO/D a&ter the or'inance o& Da+i' *ing o&Israel. !n' they sang together by course in praising an'gi+ing than*s unto the LO/D) because he is goo' &or hismercy en'ureth &or e+er to(ar' Israel. !n' all the peopleshoute' (ith a great shout (hen they praise' the LO/Dbecause the &oun'ation o& the house o& the LO/D (aslai'.... &or the people shoute' (ith a lou' shout an' thenoise (as hear' a&ar o&&. K8ra 310 11 134

The people


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the "aves roll in and beat !pon the shoreline in tremendo!seplosions o# so!nd.

*ohn heard this great roar and eplosive( th!ndering "ave o#so!nd as the voices ascended in praise and "orship o# Almighty:od( and as the harpists and other m!sicians played. ,hat a#orce o# so!ndI ,hat a m!sical dynamicI ne h!ndred #orty#o!r tho!sand voices "ere blended together in a tremendo!so!tpo!ring o# so!nd. have heard approimately #i#ty tho!sandpeople sing at a Billy :raham cr!sade in the )ingdome in

%eattle( ,ashington( and "as a"ed at the greatness o# the so!ndo# all those voices blended in m!sical epression. cannotimagine almost three times that many voices singing glorio!spraise to the 4ather. t "as a so!nd that "as literally o!t o# this"orldI 7ach voice "as roaring #orth a spontaneo!s epression o#praise and "orship to :od as *ohn beheld and listened. ,hat acelebrationI

'raise is the so!nd that #ills heaven. :od desires that the

earth also be #illed "ith praisenot the so!nd o# a congregationsinging hymn n!mber s!chands!ch or the ne"est chor!s on theoverhead proFector( b!t many voices o# believers singing theiro"n spontaneo!s song to :od. *ohn did not say that he heardone disting!ishable melody or lyric( b!t he heard a greatdea#ening o!tb!rst o# praise as each individ!al voice blended"ith another to become a "hole( #orming one tremendo!s so!nd

o# praise.The boo o# >evelation is #!ll o# praise( and the #irst verse

tells !s "hy5 %?he re+elation o& @esus -hrist...., ,henrevelation o# *es!s is received( praise and "orship #ollo". ,hen"e tr!ly see *es!s( "e cannot help epressing the response o#o!r hearts. !r voices Foin "ith millions in heaven to be part o#that great so!nd as every nee bo"s and every tong!e con#essesthat *es!s Christ is the Lord o# lords and the )ing o# ings. e is

ealted above all godsG is name is above every name in heavenand on earth. e is the only %!preme 'otentate. 7very creat!re(every nation( and every person in every lang!age "ill singglorio!s( a!dible praise to o!r ealted Lord.

;?


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The Lord delights in the praise o# is people( and e iscompletely at home in their lo!d praisesI ,e see in 1 Chronicles

that "hen the Levites carried the Ar( %Da+i' tol' the chie&Le+ites to appoint their brethren the singers (ith

instruments o& music harps lyres an' cymbals to play

lou'ly an' li&t up their +oices (ith Aoy,@1 Chronicles 1516(Ampli#ied Bible. The Ar speas to !s o# the presence o# :od.These m!sicians made a lo!d( Foy#!l noise beca!se :odDspresence "as among them. ,hen :odDs presence is mani#estedand "e become a"are o# it( "e too "ill become lo!der and moreFoy#!l in singing o!r praiseI

This is not an endorsement o# noise #or its o"n sae( #orthere are some "ho mae noise F!st to be obnoio!s( or !se:odDs commands as a license to become chaotic or to let their#leshly epressions tae over. That is not praise. 'raise is asacri#ice o# thansgiving and honor to the Lord. t is adeclarative statement and m!st come #rom the heart. t m!st start

"ith :od and end "ith :od( and spea o# :od in bet"een.

Praise and the Prohetic Song

Thro!gho!t this chapter "e have constantly re#erred to thesinging o# praisein #act( not maing m!ch distinction bet"eenthe t"o beca!se o# their intimate relationship. # co!rse( "em!st !nderstand that F!st beca!se someone is singing does not

necessarily mean he is praising. 4or singing to be praise( the one"ho is singing m!st be conscio!sly singing about the Lord or tothe Lord. /ot every song is a song o# praiseG a tr!e song o#praise "ill be abo!t Christ imsel# or abo!t "hat e has done.,e m!st learn not to


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then that sho!ld be the type o# singing "e do "hen praising.

o"ever( "hen "e are taling abo!t the prophetic song( o!rgoal is to rise in praise to that song so that "e eperience thesinging o# the Lord. %inging #rom the intellect( or even #rom aso!l response( is not the same as singing in the %piritG "e m!stmove #rom a physical per#ormance to a spirit response.

The boo o# *!dges tells o# an episode in sraelDs history"hich involved -eborah and Bara. 4ollo"ing a signi#icant

victory( these t"o sang( %I e+en I (ill sing unto the LO/D I

(ill sing praise to the LO/D o' o& Israel, @*!dges 52. Asthey sang their praise( they #lo"ed right into a bea!ti#!lprophetic song.

'salm 39 begins( %i+e unto the LO/D the glory 'ue

unto his name) (orship the LO/D in the beauty o&

holiness.,Then verses three thro!gh nine spea o#


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The $ole of Praise

A third e##ect o# the prophetic song is to give inspiration.Asong speaing o# the imminent #!l#illment o# a promise o# :od(

#or eample( "o!ld no do!bt prod!ce a great sense o# Foy amongthe people. This "o!ld inspire #!rther and perhaps higherepressions o# praise. %ongs given by the %pirit !s!ally lead thecongregation into higher levels o# "orship.

Singing the New Song

n o!r praiseo!r tehillah"e sing by the inspiration o# the

oly %piritG to be more acc!rate( by the inspiration andempo"ering o# the %pirit o# :od( e sings thro!gh !s. Theministry o# the oly %pirit is to ealt the Lord *es!s and bringattention to im. # "e are over#lo"ing "ith the %pirit( "e "illnot #ind it di##ic!lt to sing tehillah.:od p!ts that ne" song in o!rmo!ths. ,e canDt even praise im !nless e gives !s the "ordsand the m!sic( #or e is the po"er that "ors in !s to "ill and todo o# is good pleas!re. :od implants the tehillahG "e #lo" "iththe inspiration. e gives the ne" songG "e sing "ith the %pirit.

%Open thy mouth (i'e an' I (ill &ill it,@'salm 81510( etold srael. Tho!gh "e no" that is promise to the children o#srael "as to #ill their mo!ths "ith nat!ral provision d!ring theirtime in the "ilderness( believe "e can be ass!red that i# "eopen o!r mo!ths in praise to im( e "ill #ill them "ith iso"n "ords and m!sicI

t is not !n!s!al #or a praiser to a"aen d!ring the night andbe a"are that the %pirit "ithin him is praising the Lord in song. believe it "o!ld not be !n!s!al #or this to happen d!ring theday( too( i# o!r conscio!s minds did not so #irmly and rigidlycontrol o!r spirits.

The %pirit "ithin !s "ants to release that ne" song. :oddelights in hearing it. B!t sometimes "e F!st donDt &!ite


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man "ithin !s reaches o!t to"ard :od and the things o# :od. %othe opposition "e sense and "ith "hich "e str!ggle( in regard to

:odDs p!rpose #or m!sical praise and the directives e gives(comes #rom the con#lict bet"een the nat!ral man and thespirit!al man. ,henever o!r reaction is to s&!elch theepression o# the %pirit( "e are identi#ying "ith o!r old nat!resand not "ith :odDs ,ord.

%ometimes "eDre F!st plain a#raid. "as( the #irst time heard the so!nd o# lo!d( #ree( spontaneo!s praise. B!t "hen

#o!nd o!t it "as :odDs "ay( cr!ci#ied the #ears and voices o#my #lesh and obeyed the ,ord o# :od. nce the spirit isreleased in this epression( there comes a great sense o#pleas!re. There is no greater Foy( #!l#illment( or satis#action than

that "hich is eperienced in is presence. Tr!ly %in thy

presence is &ulness o& Aoy) at thy right han' there are

pleasures &or e+ermore,@'salm 16511. The pleas!res o# sinlast #or only a brie# timeG the pleas!res one eperiences in

dra"ing near to :od last #or eternity. They are "itho!t end.There is no earthly


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Chater 44The Role o% the .#sician

,hen "e !nderstand that :od has limited imsel# to movethro!gh is people( "e can !nderstand that e epresses issong thro!gh !s. Most o#ten e directs is song thro!gh one

silled in the art o# m!sic( b!t e does not ecl!de otherChristians( #illed "ith the %pirit o# :od( "ho also can prophesyin song by the oly %pirit. More o#ten( ho"ever( it is the silledm!sicians "hom :od calls to prophesy in song.

,e have already read the ld Testament acco!nt o# theappointment by -avid o# m!sicians to praise and prophesy inm!sic (see1 Chronicles 3. The spirit!al leadership set apartthose "ho "o!ld #lo" in prophetic m!sic. This "as their Fob

description. The m!sician "as to be an oracle o# :od. e "asnot to evangeliHe( testi#y o# personal eperience( or entertainG hisappointment "as #or the p!rpose o# edi#ying and ehortingthro!gh m!sic. ccasionally he "o!ld sing o# #!t!re events.

,e also no"( #rom 7phesians 518 and Colossians 2516(that are to be #illed "ith the %pirit and "ith the ,ord o# :od.,itho!t these( "e cannot sing spirit!al songs. :od is looing #or

m!sicians @and nonm!sicians "ho are so #illed "ith the %piritand the ,ord @not "ith sensealtering stim!li that they sing andplay psalms( hymns( and songs o# the %pirit o# :odsongs thatare %piritinspired and %pirits!ng. 7very %pirit#illed m!sicianhas the ability "ithin him to bring #orth


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The Prophetic Song

or #lo" comes #rom "ithin the m!sician. n the nat!ral( am!sician can bring #orth a #lo" o# s!stained so!nd. The %pirit

#illed m!sician can bring #orth a stream o# the m!sic o# the %pirito# :od. The songs he brings #orth "ill not come #rom a so!lishor nat!ral realm. They "ill not be songs o# the #leshchildishsongs "hich are mancentered or #!ll o# sel#pity or sel#seeing.

A m!sician sho!ld never play a song by improvisation andcall it a prophetic song( #or it "as initiated by the nat!ral mind(not by the %pirit o# :od. /or sho!ld a song be created o!t o#

#eelings( "hether emotional moods or responses o# the senses(#or then the song comes #rom the so!l. The song m!st be theres!lt o# the %pirit rising "ithin the m!sician. There#ore( therem!st be a certain level o# mat!rity in the %piritled m!sician( #orhe m!st no" the di##erence bet"een the song that the %pirit o#:od "o!ld inspire and sing and the song "hich is nat!rallyimprovised @as in a


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The $ole of the usician

singing and melody are directed to the Lordnever to a person.There is no mention o# a!dience rapport or response. The singer

is to epress his m!sic "ith grace in his heart( according to theColossians re#erence. e is not to sing in pride or sel#ealtation./o singer sho!ld ever bring #orth a song to impress people orca!se them to respond to him personally. There is( o# co!rse( anappropriate appreciation o# a gi#t or talent in an individ!al( b!tthe song sho!ld li#t !p *es!s and direct all eyes to im. # "esing to im( people "ill #ollo" !s to im.

The splendor "hich this m!sician p!ts on display is thesplendor o# :odDs magni#icence. :odDs maFesty and grande!rbring a"e and response in the listener. This is the pomp todayDsChristian *!bals are to prod!ce.

see the Christian *!bals as #loodgates o# the rivers o# :od.,hen they are opened( streams o# -ivine li#e #lo" o!t to thirstyso!ls ready to drin in the "aters o# :odDs presence. t is notF!st one personG all the "ells m!st spring #orth( and all the

#loodgates m!st be openedI :od declared( %I (ill open ri+ers inhigh places an' &ountains in the mi'st o& +alleys I (ill

ma*e the (il'erness a pool o& (ater an' the 'ry lan'

springs o& (ater, @saiah ?1518. 7Heiel had a vision o#

%(aters to s(im in,and trees that prod!ced ne" #r!it beca!se

o# the "aters that %issue' out o& the sanctuary,@7Heiel ?;5(13. The "aters that come #orth #rom the presence o# :od bring

li#egiving #r!itIAs #loodgates( "e have the ability to bring #orth or to hold

bac those "aters. ,e can restrict the #lood o# :od( or "e canrelease it. # "e choose not to release the song the %pirit gives(and hold it bac behind the dam o# !n"illingness( the %pirit "illnot #orce !sG b!t "hen "e begin to release the river o# the oly%pirit in praise( the "aters o# :odDs presence "ill #ill the Ch!rch#irst to the anles( and then to the nees( and then #inally to

the s"imming pointI %an' e+erything shall li+e (hither theri+er cometh,@7Heiel ?;59.

Prohes'ing on Instr#ments

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The Prophetic Song

7arlier in this boo( in o!r disc!ssion o# the role o# m!sic("e looed at a n!mber o# %cript!res that taled abo!t the !se o#

m!sical instr!ments in praising and prophesying. As "e saidthen( prophecy sometimes comes #orth on the instr!ments so thatthe m!sicians are not merely accompanying the singing b!t arethemselves part o# the prophetic #lo". The instr!ments helpdemonstrate and epress the prophecy.

The instr!mental prophetic ministry "as not haphaHard.Both boos o# Chronicles spea o# m!sical instr!ction. 1

Chronicles 35; notes that %their brethren... (ere instructe'in the songs o& the Lor', "hich certainly incl!ded

instr!mentalists( #or verse 1 describes the men %(ho shoul'

prophesy (ith harps (ith psalteries an' (ith cymbals.,

The acco!nt o# the cro"ning o# *oash as ing speas o# %the

singers (ith instruments o& music an' such as taught to sing

praise,@3 Chronicles 32512.

The boos o# Chronicles abo!nd "ith re#erences toinstr!ments and their !se in singing and praising :od. -avid setinstr!mentalists in place to praise and prophesy( and %olomonlie"ise had m!sicians "ith tr!mpets( cornets( psalteries( harps(and other instr!ments. The instr!ments "ere not an a#tertho!ghtGthey "ere a ey element o# the praise and the prophetic #lo".

The "ord


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'rophecy testi#ies o# *es!s( and o!r praise and "orship m!sttesti#y o# the Lord *es!s Christ. The songs "e sing and the m!sic

"e play sho!ld testi#y o# *es!s. All %cript!re is given byinspiration o# :od @3 Timothy 2516( so "hen "e sing or playthe ,ord o# :od( "e are to!ching a prophetic epression.

The Bible says that %(hen ye come together e+ery one o&

you hath a psalm...,@1 Corinthians 1?536( "hich is %a sacre'

o'e or cantillation accompanie' (ith harp or other

instrument., The root "ord( psallo, has the meaning emember that "hen "e are speaing o# the prophetic song(

"e are not limiting that song to a +erbalm!sical epression. t istr!e that the prophetic song "ill more o#ten be s!ng in "ordsGho"ever( the m!sical accompaniment to that songperhaps on apiano( or an organ( or a violinis also a prophetic epression(#or it is an enhancement to the "ords. t paints a pict!re. A vocal

prophecy is o#ten more e##ective "hen cloaed in bea!ti#!lm!sic. t is lie the di##erence bet"een a blacand"hite pict!reand one in vivid color. The m!sic highlights the "ord b!t neverdistracts #rom it or overpo"ers it.

'rophecy on an instr!ment( "hether melodic or chordal( is a-ivine impression or revelation being played !pon theinstr!ment. t is a oly %piritprompted song. There are several

"ays that a m!sician can step o!t in this epression. 4orinstance( he can blend epressively "ith the prophetic messageso that his m!sic enhances the "ords. The goal is to add( torein#orce( to s!pport or color( b!t never to bring attention to them!sician or to s!pplant the message "ith the m!sic. Another

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The Prophetic Song

"ay is to play "hat has been s!ng or spoen in a di##erent "ayG#or eample( i# :od has prophetically said that e "ill come as

rain to is people( then the pianist co!ld play in a manner that"o!ld depict "ater #alling #rom heaven.


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cas!al abo!t it or tae #or granted that he can at any time or"itho!t prior tho!ght or preparation be one "ho to!ches that

-ivine #lo".

4irst and #oremost( the m!sician "ho desires to enter thestream o# :odDs %pirit and bring #orth the prophetic song m!stbe a "orshipper o# the Lord *es!s. is attention sho!ld becentered not on the song b!t on the ne ,ho gives the song. esho!ld actively see *es!snot service #or *es!s( b!t *es!simsel#. ,e see im not #or "hat e can do #or !s b!t #or

,ho e is. To intimately no" im( to be close to im andenFoy im( is o!r most important goal. The #irst and greatestcommandment is that "e are to love the Lord o!r :od "ith allo!r heart( so!l( mind( and strength (see Mar 13520( 21todesire im "ith all o!r heart( to enFoy im "ith all o!r so!l( toadmire im "ith all o!r mind( and to embrace im "ith all o!rstrength. To do less is to come short o# :odDs p!rpose( desire(and command.

,e no" that %the Cather see*eth such to (orship him,@*ohn ?532. :od is looing not #or "orship b!t #or "orshippers.e "ants the person( not the #orm. The smell o# the spices a

The Prophetic Song - LaMar Boschman

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