1. 1 OT Musicians as Prophets? © 2012 Dr. Barry Liesch Biola University La Mirada CA

2. 2 Two Major OT Groups: Levites Prophets

3. 3 Two Leadership Groups Levites Priests, Musicians, Gatekeepers Formalized institution Ministry by birth –born into it Prophets Not by birth Individually called by God Become conscience of nation Yet some musicians seem to have prophetic gift Levites Priests, Musicians, Gatekeepers Formalized institution Ministry by birth –born into it Prophets Not by birth Individually called by God Become conscience of nation Yet some musicians seem to have prophetic gift

4. 4 Prophets with instruments prophesying Samuel tells Saul You will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre… and they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy…and be changed into another man. 1Sam 10:5,6 Samuel tells Saul You will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre… and they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy…and be changed into another man. 1Sam 10:5,6

5. 5 Harpist plays Elisha prophesizes [Elisha] Now bring me a harpist. [Elisha] Now bring me a harpist. While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha and he said, This is what the Lord says…. I Kings 3:15,16 I Kings 3:15,16 Music assists reception of prophesy? [Elisha] Now bring me a harpist. [Elisha] Now bring me a harpist. While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha and he said, This is what the Lord says…. I Kings 3:15,16 I Kings 3:15,16 Music assists reception of prophesy?

6. 6 Levite musician prophesizes Jahaziel’s prophecy (2 Chron 20:14-29) Jahaziel’s prophecy (2 Chron 20:14-29) …the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel…the Levite of the sons of Asaph…Do not be afraid… …the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel…the Levite of the sons of Asaph…Do not be afraid… You need not fight this battle…station yourselves…Jerusalem fell down in worship…[he] appointed men to sing to the Lord... they went out at the head of the army saying, Give thanks to the Lord.… As they began sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes… You need not fight this battle…station yourselves…Jerusalem fell down in worship…[he] appointed men to sing to the Lord... they went out at the head of the army saying, Give thanks to the Lord.… As they began sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes… [When they looked there were] corpses on the ground…no one had escaped. [When they looked there were] corpses on the ground…no one had escaped. The Lord fights when the people worship? Jahaziel’s prophecy (2 Chron 20:14-29) Jahaziel’s prophecy (2 Chron 20:14-29) …the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel…the Levite of the sons of Asaph…Do not be afraid… …the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel…the Levite of the sons of Asaph…Do not be afraid… You need not fight this battle…station yourselves…Jerusalem fell down in worship…[he] appointed men to sing to the Lord... they went out at the head of the army saying, Give thanks to the Lord.… As they began sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes… You need not fight this battle…station yourselves…Jerusalem fell down in worship…[he] appointed men to sing to the Lord... they went out at the head of the army saying, Give thanks to the Lord.… As they began sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes… [When they looked there were] corpses on the ground…no one had escaped. [When they looked there were] corpses on the ground…no one had escaped. The Lord fights when the people worship?

7. 7 Musician heads called Prophets Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun called seers Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun called seers King Hezekiah…ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer [prophet] 2 Chron 29:30 King Hezekiah…ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer [prophet] 2 Chron 29:30 The musicians…Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. 2 Chron 35:15 The musicians…Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. 2 Chron 35:15 Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun called seers Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun called seers King Hezekiah…ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer [prophet] 2 Chron 29:30 King Hezekiah…ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer [prophet] 2 Chron 29:30 The musicians…Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. 2 Chron 35:15 The musicians…Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. 2 Chron 35:15

8. 8 Set apart to prophesize Ministry of prophesying David…set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres, and cymbals…Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. 1 Chron 25:1,2 Ministry of prophesying David…set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres, and cymbals…Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. 1 Chron 25:1,2

9. 9 Musicians as Prophets? Asaph, Heman, Jeduthan as psalmists Asaph, Heman, Jeduthan as psalmists Asaph credited with 12 psalms Asaph credited with 12 psalms Psalm 88 ascribed to Heman Psalm 88 ascribed to Heman Psalm 39 ascribed to Jeduthun Psalm 39 ascribed to Jeduthun [10 Psalms ascribed to sons of Korah] Asaph, Heman, Jeduthan as psalmists Asaph, Heman, Jeduthan as psalmists Asaph credited with 12 psalms Asaph credited with 12 psalms Psalm 88 ascribed to Heman Psalm 88 ascribed to Heman Psalm 39 ascribed to Jeduthun Psalm 39 ascribed to Jeduthun [10 Psalms ascribed to sons of Korah]

10. 10 The form of prophecy Tom Finley (Talbot OT professor)   We don’t pay enough attention to the form in which prophecy has been communicated. Tom Finley (Talbot OT professor)   We don’t pay enough attention to the form in which prophecy has been communicated.

11. 11 The form of prophecy Tom Finley (Talbot OT professor)   We don’t pay enough attention to the form in which prophecy has been communicated.   Over half is in poetic form. Tom Finley (Talbot OT professor)   We don’t pay enough attention to the form in which prophecy has been communicated.   Over half is in poetic form.

12. 12 The form of prophecy Tom Finley (Talbot OT professor)   We don’t pay enough attention to the form in which prophecy has been communicated.   Over half is in poetic form.   Yet pastors view the form as a hindrance…feel you have to strip away the form and convert it to propositional statement to really understand it Tom Finley (Talbot OT professor)   We don’t pay enough attention to the form in which prophecy has been communicated.   Over half is in poetic form.   Yet pastors view the form as a hindrance…feel you have to strip away the form and convert it to propositional statement to really understand it

13. 13 Musicians as Prophets? Curtis & Madsen Curtis & Madsen  The writer gives song the same dignity as exhortation…ranks the singers with the prophets of Israel Curtis & Madsen Curtis & Madsen  The writer gives song the same dignity as exhortation…ranks the singers with the prophets of Israel

14. 14 Musicians as Prophets? What is the role of musicians in these passages? What is the meaning of the word “prophesy”? What is the role of musicians in these passages? What is the meaning of the word “prophesy”?

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