1 Chronicles 25:3 Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the Lord. 25:4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5 All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to exalt his horn. For God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these were under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the authority of the king. 7 So the number of them, with their brethren who were instructed in the songs of the Lord, all who were skillful, was two hundred and eighty-eight.

Have you ever given thought to what our lives as believers would be without praise and worship? Worship as defined as Webster is 1: reverence offered a divine being or supernatural power; also : an act of expressing such reverence 2: a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual 3: extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem.

Today we are focusing on three women in the scriptures that were all musicians. Haman their father had been assigned by King David to lead the temple music. Along with Haman there were his father, 14 sons and 3 daughters. They played the instruments and sang the songs of the Lord. It was an honored ministry of assisting in the praise in the sanctuary.

The glory and honour of God were principally intended in all this temple-music, whether vocal or instrumental. It was to give thanks, and praise the Lord, that the singers were employed, v. 3. It was in the songs of the Lord that they were instructed v.7, that is, for songs in the house of the Lord, v. 6. This agrees with the intention of the perpetuating of psalmody in the gospel-church, which is to make melody with the heart, in conjunction with the voice, unto the Lord, {Matthew Henry}.

Praise and worship is a necessity for all believers. Worship before services, prepares the heart to receive the message that God has given the Pastor to minister to his people. There are many types of praise and worship in our churches today. We have the Hymnals, Praise Music, Hosanna Music just to mention a few. How one chooses to worship is between that individual and God. Not one way is better than the other, not one is Holier than the other. However I will step forward and say that true worship is done in reverence to the Lord and is done according to the scriptures. Upon visiting many churches I had the experience to see many different ways of worship. Some with the most sweet serene Spirit of God that you would want to stay all day, Others that were Spiritless, it seemed the worship was done out of mere "have to" rather than any reverence shown to God. And there were those that were in "worship" that were literally scary and confusing. Yes, King David danced to the Lord. However the Spirit of God is orderly, gentle, sweet and kind and is NOT of confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 tells us clearly 26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. I am not judging anyone's way of worship however I am saying that there are forms of worship in our society today that have no Biblical foundation. That is precisely why we are instructed in 1 Thessalonians 5 to test all things. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

We must make sure that the worship we participate in is of God and not of our own flesh Colossians 3:22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. When praise and worship is of the flesh it is in vain. Philippians 2:21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.

Through the ages women like Haman's daughters have participated in formal and informal public worship. When reading of Haman and his family of musicians we can see two very important issue's. First, Haman was teaching and leading his children to worship God. This gives a good example to parents to train up their children, and indeed to all seniors to instruct their juniors in the service of God, and particularly in praising him, It also gives an example to the younger to submit themselves.

PONDER THIS:

GET INVOLVED! If you are musically or have the ability to play an instrument then use that talent to Worship God.

TRAIN! Train your children to show reverence to the Lord through Praise and Worship. There are many video's and sing-along's that can help. COOPERATE! When the congregation sing along whole heartedly..

LEARN! Take some time and learn the origins of your favorite hymn's or praise songs. You will find that most all of them have a personal story behind them that can minister to you as much as the song itself.

Oh Ladies just look at the blessing here. We still have the opportunity to Praise and Sing to the Lord! Keep in mind that many have lost their lives for doing this very thing. Let us take the example of Haman's Daughters in worshipping the King of King and Lord of Lords, with praises hymn's and song. Colossians 3:16 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.





NLŠ2000