What if worship singers'
main role is to prophesy (declare the emotion and heart of God)?
I was reading in 1
Chronicles 25 and the heading in my bible for that chapter is "The
Singers." I was struck by the directive this seems to give us as
singers. In referring to the singers, it states
"David... set
apart some... for the ministry of prophesying accompanied by
(the band)."
Hmmm...so how would my
singers sing if they realized they are to be prophesying? First, before you
get uptight, overwhelmed, or theological about folks prophesying, here's what
I mean. I may be prophesying if I "sound like I've been with
God" because I know who God is and what He's like and say and do
things that are reflected in scripture. If I have a current, growing
relationship with Him, He will be revealing Himself to me more and more, and
that will spill out.
Matthew Henry's Commentary
says this: "To prophesy, in this place, means praising God
with great earnestness and devout affections, under the influences of the
Holy Spirit."
So what's the difference
between a singer who just sings and one who prophesies? (great question!)
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 Singers
Prophesy
To prophesy, I have to hear
God. To sing, I have to hear myself.
To prophesy, I have to be
clear. To sing, I can watermelon.
To prophesy, I have to walk in fearless obedience. To sing, I can just show up because I was on the schedule this week.
To prophesy, I have to realize
I'm only a conduit. To sing, I can be the singer in the spotlight.
So let's sing hearing
God, being clear, walking in fearless obedience, and remembering that we're a
conduit. How can you be more intentional?
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 Hear
God
To prophesy, I have
to hear God. To sing, I have to hear myself.
So, if i'm going to hear
God (like the "Shepherd's-voice-hearing-sheep" that He says I am),
there are at least three things I need to do:
1. Get to know the God
revealed in scripture
2. Be in growing
relationship with Him through private prayer and worship
3. Ask Him for specific
revelation
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 Be
Clear
To prophesy, I have to be clear. To sing, I can
watermelon.
There's a message when I prophesy. In fact, it's all about the
message. (how many prophets checked their outfits or tried to look cool?)
This may just help you sing with greater enunciation and emotion. But let the
subtext and poetry inspire you and sing with great meaning.
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 Walk
in Fearless Obedience
To prophesy, I have
to walk in fearless obedience. To sing, I can just show up because I was
on the schedule this week. No matter what we feel prompted to do, we need to
walk in it. Think of it more as a posture of your heart to walk out, not
defined by your track record. And don't "worst case scenario"
either, because you don't have the grace for the future, just for right now.
Walk in grace. And do what He says.
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Realize
I'm only a Conduit
To prophesy, I have
to realize I'm only a conduit. To sing, I can be the singer in the
spotlight.
You can tell a story about
something that happened to you in two ways. In one, it's clearly about you.
In the other, it's about the shared experience, the truth gleaned, the humor,
the point. You're not the point. Tell the story (read: sing) so that He is the
point, not you.
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