BIBLICAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTED WORSHIPERS

GOD’S “Due Order”

Ezekiel 28:13-191 Chronicles 28:11-19Revelation 14: 2-3; 4:9-11; 15:2-4

In the OT, the appointed worshipersare the LEVITES.

Today, the appointed worshipersrefers to the WORSHIP TEAM.

GOD’S STIFF PREREQUISITES FOR HIS APPOINTED WORSHIPERS

SPECIAL SPIRITUAL QUALIFICATIONS :

1.Loyalty ( 1Chronicles 15:2)“LEVI” means “joined.”Exodus 32:26 The Worship Team is the first line of defense of the Pastor.

2. Love for God’s House.Numbers 3:15, 23, 29, 35 The Levites lived closer to the tabernacle.

Appointed worshipers of today mustexhibit a special love for God’shouse through punctuality &care for God’s house.

3. A Servant’s Heart Numbers 8:15-19 / 1 Chronicles 16:37Numbers 3:7 Levites are servants of God and God’s people.Worship team don’t only minister inthe “limelight” but are diligent &willing workers behind thescene.

4. A Teachable SpiritNumbers 8:19, 23-26Young Levites learn their craft by being anapprentice to the older Levites.

1 Chronicles 25:6-8 – Levites & musicianscontinued the apprenticeship system.

5. A Sanctified Lifestyle.Numbers 8:5-7Before they could begin public ministry, the Levites had to go through a specificvoluntary cleansing ceremony :

* sprinkling * shaving their flesh * washing their garments

“sprinkling” signifies “studying God’s Word daily.”

“shaving their flesh” signifies “ applying the Word of God daily to their behavior.”

“washing their garments” signifies keeping their attitude untainted by renewing their minds daily.

According to 1 Chronicles 15:12-16,David used only the musicians whotook the initiatives to go through this sanctification process.

DAVID’S MUSICAL QUALIFICATIONS TO THE PROSPECTIVE APPOINTEES

1. Musical Flexibility 1 Chronicles 15:19; 16:7, 37-42; 25:1

Notice that Asaph’s music ministry includedsinging, percussion, brass, orchestrating,strings, composing, prophesying andteaching.

2. Musical VirtuosityExcellence in musical technique was aHallmark of the Tabernacle of David.

1 Chronicles 15:22 – Chenaniah “instructed about the song because he was skillful.”

The musicians in David’s Tabernacle were“instructed in the songs of the Lord” and were “cunning.” ( 1 Chronicles 25:7)

We are exhorted to play unto the Lord“skillfully” with “cunning.” (Psalm 33:3 & Psalm 137:5)

4.Musical Literacy1 Chronicles 16:4The Levites did more than just play music,they recorded it by writing it down; thatis why we have the book of Psalm today.

In David’s day, the Levites were theonly Hebrews who could readand write.

DAVID INSTALLED THE SANCTIFIED AND QUALIFIED LEVITES INTO PUBLIC MINISTRY BY THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

The sanctified Levites did not enter into public ministry until both leadership andcongregation laid hands upon them.(Numbers 8:9-11)

Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun were publiclyinstalled by David, the elders and the peopleafter they have successfully dispatched theassignment of bringing up the Ark.(1 Chronicles 16: 4,5, 37-43)