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Before we begin our study of Asaph, we must discuss why Old Testament examples can be legitimately used as patterns for present day practice. We as Christians certainly do not observe the Old Testament rituals and ceremonies as part of our walk with the Lord. For example, when we go to church next Sunday, we will not be taking along a lamb to be offered as a burnt sacrifice. I do believe, however, that by closely examining Old Testament laws, we can discover principles concerning God's attitude toward sin.
God has never changed His mind about sin. So many valuable principles for living can be gleaned from the pages of Scripture. If we were to carefully examine the Old Testament observances, we would find that the underlying principles of the elements of Old Testament worship are an integral part of our worship today.
Continuing with the previous example, we are no longer required to perform animal sacrifices to atone for our sins. We must, however, look to the sacrifice of the perfect, spotless Lamb of God on Calvary for the atonement of our sins. Old Testament laws and ceremonies were pictures and types which pointed to the coming Messiah.
Christians do not meet to worship on the Sabbath day, which is Saturday. We do, however, come together on the first day of the week, Sunday, the day on which our Lord rose again from the dead. The principle is, one day set apart to rest and to center our attention on the Lord.
The Old Testament worship ceremony included music. It was important enough to God to set aside whole families of the tribe of Levi to be full-time musicians. God's desire was that both instrumental music and vocal music would permeate the lives of His chosen people. The music was to praise the Lord, thank the Lord, worship the Lord, extol His wonderful works, show man's sinfulness, and to praise God for His supreme holiness.
I. Who he was
With the view of gleaning principles for church musicians today, we will examine the life of the man called Asaph and his family in detail. What kind of man was Asaph? Who was he, and where did he come from? What position and responsibilities did he fulfill?
A. Positionally -- Levite
Asaph's appointed position was a Levitical priest. This meant that his full-time responsibility was to work in the tabernacle. Levites were ordained by God to perform all the various functions of the Tabernacle. They had no promised land areas in Canaan, but were to live off of the work of the Tabernacle. Certain portions of the Temple sacrifices were allotted to the Levites to eat. In a literal sense, Levites were chosen by God to be servants of God.
B. Professionally -- Musician
1Ch 16:37 So he [David] left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required:
1 Ch 9:33 And these [are] the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, [who remaining] in the chambers [were] free: for they were employed in [that] work day and night.
Asaph's function within the immense hierarchy of Tabernacle workers was that of a musician. Basically, he was paid for the music services that he performed. In a later section we will see what all that position entailed.
C. Personally -- Prophet/Seer 2Ch 29:30
Asaph was called a "seer" or prophet. The closest New Testament equivalent of an Old Testament prophet would be a preacher. This would make Asaph a spiritual leader, a man of God. In the days before Christ, God used prophets to teach men about Himself. Prophets were not born into their positions because of their family heritage (such as the priests being born into the tribe of Levi), but were rather people who answered the personal call of God on their lives. Their holy testimony and close walk with God allowed them to know the heart of God in an intimate way. Many Old Testament prophets or seers were given some divine vision to allow them to foretell future events. Close examination reveals that much of the message of the prophets was the same as the message of today's Bible preachers: look to the Lord for the salvation of your souls. Old Testament saints were saved by looking forward to the cross, as pictured by the sacrifices, whereas in the New Testament age, looking back on the finished work of Calvary saves people.
The point is that Asaph, as well as other Old Testament musicians, was among the spiritual leaders of his day. He was not an entertainer, nor was he a worldly, carnal businessman trying to use the children of Israel to line his own pockets. He was a holy, sanctified spiritual leader, with a strong knowledge of Scripture, who communicated God's truths and his love for the Lord in his musical worship.
II. What He Did: Asaph's Musical Roles
Asaph filled many roles as a musician, all of which I believe are applicable today. It seems quite obvious that Asaph was no back-porch fiddler, but a knowledgeable, godly, proficient performer and educator.
A. Performer -- Sang
1Ch 15:19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, [were appointed] to sound with cymbals of brass;
B. Player of instruments
C. Professor -- Instructed others in a Levitical school
D. Psalm Composer -- Authored 12 Psalms (songs)
Asaph wrote at least 12 of the Psalms: 50, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83. He was a songwriter and composer. Where is the music of the Bible believer? The liberals have developed entire industries around "anything-goes" "Christian" music. Much of this music seeps into Bible-believing churches for lack of a better alternative. Where are the godly poets and musicians of today, the Fanny Crosbys, the Ira Sankeys, Charles Alexanders, soul-winning musicians who write Scriptural songs that are meaningful and beautiful? We need musicians who will dedicate themselves to writing, performing, recording, and distributing the "new song."
E. Publisher -- Collected and distributed King David's music
I Chronicles 16:7 Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.
Asaph's name means "gatherer." The king gave his songs to Asaph to preserve, learn, perform, and teach to others. Asaph was able to take the work of others, King David in this case, and distribute it so that others could benefit and profit by it.
F. Paternal Leader and Instructor -- Trained his children
III. Who He Worked With: Asaph's Co-workers
A. Heman - "faithful"
2Ch 5:12 Also the Levites [which were] the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, [being] arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)
Authored Psalm 88.
B. Jeduthun - "praising"
Strong's Concordance states Jeduthun was
C. Ethan - "enduring"
1Ch 15:19 So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, [were appointed] to sound with cymbals of brass;
Ethan authored Psalm 89.
D. Chenaniah - "Jehovah establishes"
1Ch 15:22 And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, [was] for song: he instructed about the song, because he [was] skilful.
1Ch 15:27 And David [was] clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also [had] upon him an ephod of linen.
E. At Least Nine Others
1Ch 16:5 Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah {Jehovah remembers}, Jeiel {God sweeps away}, and Shemiramoth {name of heights}, and Jehiel {God lives}, and Mattithiah {gift of Jehovah}, and Eliab {my God is father}, and Benaiah {Jehovah has built}, and Obededom {servant of Edom}: and Jeiel {God sweeps away} with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;
IV. What His Tools Were: Asaph's Musical Environment
A. Music terms
(some possibly names of melodies)