Bible Characters – Part 19
Series – November 2024 – Grace & Truth Magazine
Bible Characters
Gleanings From The Old Testament
Part 19
The Temple Singers And Their Service
Stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening. —1 Chronicles 23:30 NKJV
The Service Of Singing
When King David had grown old, he gave instructions to his son Solomon to build the temple and to divide the Levites and assign them their duties. David is a type of Christ the Lord, as having authority to determine the order in God’s house, which is “the Church of the living God” (1 Tim. 3:15). Christ acts as a Son and Lord over His own house (Heb. 3:6), and He instructs us how we ought to conduct ourselves in His holy temple. He does this by His Word and His Spirit, and the order within the Church bears every mark of Them. It is not an order devised by men but one of the Spirit in conformity with the instructions of the Word of God (1 Cor. 14:33,40).
This also goes for the work of the singers, who are still present today. Christ is the Chief Musician of His people, and He sings praises to His God and Father in the midst of the assembly (Ps. 22:22-23; Heb. 2:12). After His resurrection from the dead, God put a “new song” in His mouth (Ps. 40:3); it is the song of triumph over death and of salvation from Satan’s power. This song has resounded in our hearts. As the redeemed of the Lord, we join in the singing with the risen Lord. This new song really is an eternal song of praise to the honor and glory of the Lamb who was slain (Rev. 5:9). As Christians we shall always remember Him in His death on Calvary’s cross.
Similarly, the work of the temple singers was, to a certain extent, a permanent duty associated with the sacrifices on the altar of burnt offering. The service of singing in the house of the Lord was not introduced in connection with the tabernacle service. It appears to be a new institution introduced by David, “the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Sam. 23:1). The tabernacle was God’s house during the wilderness journey, and that journey certainly did not inspire singing.
As far as we know, the people of Israel only sang twice in the wilderness: right at the beginning and almost at the end of their journey from Egypt to Canaan. We find the songs of Moses and Miriam after the Red Sea crossing (Ex. 15:1-21), and the song of praise in connection with the wells by which God strengthened His people when they had reached the border of Moab (Num. 21:16-18). Israel also danced around the golden calf and sung there, but that song was a disgrace to God (Ex. 32).
The Time Of Singing
Only in the Promised Land could the people say, “The time of singing has come,” to use the words of the Song of Solomon 2:12. This did not happen immediately after Israel’s entry into Canaan, but centuries later in the days of David and Solomon. A time of peace and quietness had come, which was needed for the establishment of a permanent sanctuary for the LORD and regular worship to the honor of His name.
The appointment of the singers, for that matter, was associated with finding a final resting place for the ark of the covenant, the symbol of God’s presence. When it was no longer needed to lead the people in battle against the enemies in the land, it found a resting place in the city of David and later in Solomon’s temple. Therefore, we see that the rest experienced in the kingdom of peace was required for the temple service and the work of the temple singers (1 Chr. 6:31-32, 15:15-17, 22:6-19, 28:2; 2 Chr. 6:41-42; Ps. 132).
A time of rest, a man of rest and a house of rest were all needed for the introduction of a regular worship and a permanent song of praise to God’s of peace and quietness in the land of Israel. God’s good hand was over His glory and honor. The ministry of the levitical singers was based on this situation people and He looked with favor on them, and the ark of His presence had found its resting place on Mount Zion. God dwelt in the midst of His people and the king after God’s own heart reigned by divine grace. For these reasons, the Levites could continually sing: “His mercy endures forever” (2 Chr. 7:6). This chorus was first heard when David brought the ark to its resting place in Jerusalem, and it was sung again when the ark was brought into the temple (1 Chr. 16:34,41; 2 Chr. 5:13).
The Endless Song
This has great significance for us too. In the same way as God’s mercies for Israel were certain in the person of the anointed king, we are sure of His grace in the One He anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. Our blessed Lord Jesus, the Christ of God, is our perfect Representative and Head. God has exalted Him to be Lord of all. Through Him we are the objects of God’s favor. Through Him we have “peace with God” and “access by faith into this grace in which we stand” (Rom. 5:1-2). Through Him we have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated “into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Col. 1:13), the true “Man after His own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14). This is a kingdom of light and love, and of “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).
Shouldn’t we then break into a song of praise and thank Him for His endless mercy, His eternal goodness? For us, too, the time of rest and of singing has come. We know the Prince of Peace who has found a resting place in the midst of His people, so we can be thankful and happy. The song “His mercy endures forever” is an endless one that resounds in our midst to the glory of the Father and the Son. This song of praise will resound in the Church throughout all ages, world without end.
We can conclude that now, too, the choirs are ready in God’s temple to sing and make melody in their hearts to the Lord in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 2:17-22; 5:19). In Colossians 3:16 our songs of praise are clearly connected with mutual instruction, teaching and admonition: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” We are to sing, being conscious of His grace, for “His mercy endures forever.”
Therefore we see that the singing also contains a prophetic element – something that is to the edification of others. Not only is God honored by it, but our fellow believers are edified in the faith. It is very interesting to note that it is said of the temple singers in 1 Chronicles 25 that they prophesied (see vv.1,2,3,5). They sang, and at the same time they prophesied. Their songs of praise glorified God and instructed His people.
The Hour Of Revival
I would like to close with a few words on the position of the levitical singers in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah. It was the same time in which the author of the Chronicles lived and in which he remembered the former glory under David and Solomon. A remnant had returned to the Promised Land, to the place where the LORD had caused His name to dwell.
By the rivers of Babylon, the singers had hung their harps upon the willows. How could they possibly sing one of the songs of Zion, the LORD’s song, in a foreign land? How could they sing there about Zion, about the mountain of God’s grace, about the sanctuary of the one true God and the reign of His King (Ps. 137)? But, as soon as they returned to Jerusalem, they resumed their duties. It was a day of revival, restoration and rebuilding – of the altar, the temple and the city wall. When the foundation of the new temple had been laid, we hear the singers sing again. They sang the chorus “His mercy endures forever” (Ezra 3:11).
The choirs also had a very significant role in celebrating the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem (Neh. 12:27). Everything took place “according to the command of David and Solomon his son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chiefs of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God” (vv.45-46).
We, too, in the present time of decay and decline, should return to the institutions God has delivered to His Church from the very beginning through the risen Lord and His apostles. At the restoration of true worship around the Christian altar, that is the Lord’s table, the singers, the worshipers should also be set in their place to sing the endless song of praise to God in His holy temple.
By Hugo Bouter (adapted)
Look for Part 20 of this Series next month.
O Lord, the glad new song Is ours e’en here to sing; With loyal heart and joyful tongue We now our homage bring. —Miss Catherine Helene von Poseck (1859-1953)