Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles 6:16-43. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chronicles%206&version=NASB1995
I quote only the following verses.
“Now these are those whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the ark rested there. They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem; and they served in their office according to their order. These are those who served with their sons: From the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel, the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah, the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai, the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah, the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel. Heman’s brother Asaph stood at his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea, the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah, the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei, the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.” 1 Chronicles 6:31-43.
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It is interesting that the first service mentioned being done by the priests, the sons of Levi, was “the service of the song”. They “ministered with song”. The topic of today’s devotion is “the service of the song”. It is not that the music ministry has been neglected in many worship services today. It is because the music ministry has been abused in many worship services today.
We often see that the song has been hijacked by a Praise Band or Polished Professional Singer who drowns out the congregational singing with loud music and their own voices and makes the lyrics of the song that they sing to be so unknown or twisted in musical rhythm that only the Praise Band or Polished Professional knows how to sing the song. Few in the congregation, other than maybe the first two rows, want to sing it or sing it loudly, but the poor souls are made to stand up for 20 straight minutes to listen to the Praise Band or Polished Professional sing a string of such songs.
Instead of worship songs using the lyrics of well-known Psalms which the congregation love, the Praise Band or Polished Professional Singer want to show off their own created or selected song and sing it in a way that shows their own passion and devotion to the LORD, rather than to use the Scripture in a Psalm song to give thanks and give praise and glory to the LORD for what He has done.
But, there is hope!
The Protestant Reformed Churches denomination has acted like “A royal PRIESTHOOD” (using the language of 1 Peter 2:9-10) in providing “the service of the song” (using the language of today’s Scripture) through its use of “The Psalter” hymnal in its worship services and its otherwise general promotion of using Psalms for its worship songs. Here is a link to one of its resources pages – https://www.prca.org/resources/worship-devotional/psalter
Here below is a “copy and paste” quote from it which also contains two links that you can access from this quote below.
“Psalm singing has been an essential part of Reformed Worship since the time of the great Reformation of the 16th century, and every true reformation of the church since then has seen a return to the singing of the Old Testament Psalter (book of Psalms). With thanks to God we are also seeing a renewed interest in Psalm-singing in our day even while many churches have long-departed from this God-honoring and Christ-centered practice.
The following is an ongoing project to place the entire Psalter on the internet with hopes that it will increase the interest in Psalm Singing in worship, which can serve as a means to unify the Church of Jesus Christ. This version of the Psalter was published in 1927 and is currently being used in the worship services of the Protestant Reformed Churches in America (PRCA). The piano accompaniment is from “The Psalter-Accompaniment for Singing“, produced by Deborah A. Benson, with pianist: Mary A. Haak. Many of these Psalter numbers have been recorded by the Protestant Reformed Psalm Singing Choir under “Fitting Praises” which are also on this website. You can hear these renditions by going to the appropriate “Fitting Praises” link.”
“O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,
Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is a great God
And a great King above all gods,” Psalm 95:1-3.
There are also others who commendably use Psalms for the lyrics of their scriptural songs. One person whom I discovered through YouTube is Esther Mui. Here is a link to her songs – https://www.youtube.com/@emui
“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;” Ephesians 5:19-20.
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ” Colossians 3:16.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 