The Sound of Music and War
- Justin Ray
- May 4, 2020
- 5 min read
I Chronicles 6-7
There are not many things that are as unifying and divisive as music. People who otherwise have nothing in common can come together and enjoy each other's company while listening to their favorite singer or group. On the other hand, fights can break about when opinions are not shared. I have seen the police called on people because they were playing the wrong kind of music (not loud by the way).
In chapter 6, we read about the genealogy of the family of Levi. If you read yesterday's devotion, you read Jacob's "blessing" of Levi. He shared the same "blessing" as Simeon. I have blessing in quotations because it wasn't really a blessing, at least on the surface.
Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
Genesis 49:5-7
While Simeon was cut off from his brothers (his land was completely surrounded by Judah), Levi was literally scattered all over the nation of Israel. The tribe of Levi lived in cities designated to them in every tribe. In case you are not familiar with the geopolitical arrangement of ancient Israel, think of tribes as states. Levi did not have his own state. Instead, his family spread throughout the whole country.
There was a very important reason for this. The Levites were the religious leaders in Israel. We typically think of the priests, but they were more than that. There was certainly the priesthood, but there were also those who cared for the tabernacle/temple. They were to be teachers of the law of God. Also, they were singers.
For instance, Psalm 42 has this heading: "To the Chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah". Psalm 84 has a similar heading, "To the Chief Musicians upon Gittith, A Psalm for the Sons of Korah". We see also the following verses found later in I Chronicles:
1 Chronicles 16:7 Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.
1 Chronicles 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:
Asaph was a descendant of Korah as well. Korah lived during the time of Moses and Asaph during the time of David. However, this did not end the work of the descendants of Korah. After the Babylonian exile, when Ezre and Nehemiah returned to rebuild Jerusalem, the Sons of Asaph would play an important role in the events. After the foundation of the Temple was laid, the sons of Asaph led the people in praise and worship (Ezra 3:10). When the wall was completed under the leadership of Nehemiah, the sons of Asaph again led in praise and worship (Nehemiah 12:27-43).
There are two other men I would like to discuss from our reading. These are found in chapter 7. They are rather discretely tucked away at the end of a paragraph about the descendants of Ephraim.
Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, 27 Non his son, Jehoshua his son. I Chronicles 7:26-27
We see the name Jehoshua one other time in the Bible, that is in the book of Numbers.
These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.
Numbers 13:16
Even though his father's name is spelled two different ways (Non and Nun), this is the same person. We know him better as Joshua, the leader of the Children of Israel who led the people into the promised land after Moses died. In Numbers 14 we see that Jehoshua is Joshua.
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. 6 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
Numbers 14:5-6
Joshua is the Tribe of Ephraim's most notable descendant. That is a good descendant to have in your family. He was a man who was faithful in his service to Moses. He was faithful in his leadership of the nation. He prayed and sought God's will for the people. He is also a man who was blessed to see the preincarnate Christ during his life.
And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 15 And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
Joshua 5:13-15
Two details reveal to us that this is Jesus and not an angel. First, the "Captain of the host of the LORD" received worship. "Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship" and the "man" did not reject the worship. Angels in the Bible did not allow men to worship them, but would tell them to get up. Also, the "man" said "Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy". This is the same thing that was said to Moses at the burning bush. The place was holy, not because of the location, but because of who was there; Jesus.
Worship and warfare are our calling today. We are to worship God and fight the Christian fight.
Paul wrote:
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:10-12
Just as Joshua was faithful to his fight, may we be faithful to ours!
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