What w
ould our world be like if it didn’t include God’s blessing of music? Little do we realize how important music is to us. How many times each day aren’t we exposed to music?
Music is a tool God gave us to provide praise to him. Just speaking praise would never do. Instead, we blow into brass tubes to make noise to God. We pound on things to make noise to God. We pluck strings to make noise to God. And mostly, we open our throats to let out a pleasing melody to praise God. We could sit quietly in a closed room and praise God, but then again, God gave so many wonderful options to make a joyful noise in response to his love for us.
There are many different ways to offer praise. Some cultures clap their hands, some beat on drums to a faster beat, some stand with hands raised up to heaven, some sing lofty arias, chorales, and cantatas, while others chant their slow, deliberate songs. That’s the beauty of praise! It can be done in as many different ways as there are people, instruments, and cultures.
David loved music. From his childhood he was known as the boy who loved to play his harp. When he became king, he was certain to have plenty of music in his worship services. David wanted a wide assortment of instruments and a huge temple choir. David loved his music, and David knew of Heman!
As the grandson of Samuel, Heman spent his time involved in church worship as he mastered various instruments and learned music theory. First Chronicles 6:33 calls him “the musician.”
We can gather from comments in 1 and 2 Chronicles that Heman was both a singing master as well as a great cymbal player. “The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals” (1 Chronicles 15:19).
When a major service was scheduled, Heman was busy choosing the music, assigning the musicians and singers, and spending long hours rehearsing.
What an awesome spectacle it must have been when the 288 musicians played their music for the return of the ark of the covenant. “All the Levites who were musicians – Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives – stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. . . .They raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures forever’” (2 Chronicles 5:12,13). Heman must have been basking in the joy of total praise and worship to God.
Never dismiss the importance that God’s music can play in our lives. Music soothed Saul, it excited the shepherds, it comforted those at Lazarus’ grave, it gave purpose to Paul and Silas in prison, and it filled the life of Heman.
So feel free to enjoy good praise music. Turn up the volume on a Bach cantata. Snap your fingers to a contemporary Christian tune. Enjoy those Gospel hymns that were sung around the parlor pump organ. Let the tears flow during the “Hallelujah Chorus”. Immerse your life in the sweet sounds of God’s music. Finally, look forward to a day when we will all join in a sound of praise like we’ve never heard before. It will be a sound that will continue for eternity. “Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing” (Revelation 5:13). Then be certain to keep looking for Heman. He’ll probably be playing the cymbals.
Personal goal: Memorize a favorite hymn.