Go Ahead, Artist, Prophesy

The book of 1 Chronicles, starting around chapter 22, is a beautiful picture of the body of Christ, the church. One would be tempted to think at first glance that it's simply lists of who does what in the temple of the Lord. But on second and third glance, oh!

There are bakers-of-bread and gatekeepers, washers-of-utensils, oil mixers, treasurers, judges. And musicians. Musicians who are told to prophesy with the lyre, the harp and the cymbal.

Looking at this, I was struck by the necessity of each job for making the temple a holy place that would proclaim the beauty of God. I was also amazed that the musicians were a form of prophet. The verb used in telling them to prophesy does mean to sing or praise, but naba' also means more deeply...

to bubble up, to be under the influence of the divine spirit, to speak with ardour, to show and declare the words of God.

Imagine, that music could do this. And imagine that music does this in a place where all those other workers are keeping the place fragrant and abundant, beautiful and just. To me, this is a picture of the body of Christ. We all work together to prophesy, to show and declare God's word.

So go ahead, Artist, prophesy, and know that you are bubbling up with Glory.


Speaking of artistic fervor, check out the new and amusing group of Crossings pictures that Dave Zimmerman added to the Stone Crossings book club wiki.


Piano photo by Sara B. Used with permission.

NEW LINKS TO THIS POST:

Sarah Grace's An Answer, Of Sorts

Mark Goodyear's Finding God in Heifetz and Porcelain Life Jackets

the High Calling's Labors of the Artist