King David was a musician. As a boy, he provided music therapy for Saul. After killing Goliath, he moved permanently into Saul’s house, leading the troops in wartime and playing the harp in the palace whenever the king was tortured by an evil spirit. As “the sweet psalmist of Israel,” David composed many songs that we are still singing today. So it’s not surprising that he would make detailed plans for the music that would be played and sung in the house of the LORD soon to be constructed by Solomon. In 1 Chronicles 25, we meet the three directors of music: Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. Combined, they had 24 sons, and each one was taught to lead a group of 12 musicians. 24 groups of 12 meant that 288 people were dedicated to the ministry of song at the temple (v 1-7). That’s a lot of people to keep on your worship team schedule! All of it was “under the order of the king” (v 6), which highlighted the importance of this ministry. But David didn’t try to work around everyone’s personal calendar. Each group was chosen by lot, then responsible to take their turn providing the music (v 8-31). More was expected than simply “a joyful noise” (Ps 100:1); these leaders were “skillful” and “trained in singing to the LORD” (v 7). Every church may not be blessed with an abundance of skilled and trained people to lead in worship, but this is a reminder to always do our best to pursue excellence with whatever resources and personnel are available. The chief point to note in this chapter is the thoroughness and orderliness of all the preparation that was done to sing God’s praises. Some might wonder: is there no place here for spontaneous worship? The answer must surely be yes, because their performances are described as “prophesying” (v 1-2), and Heman is referred to as “the kings’s seer” (v 5). For the most part, to “prophesy” meant to declare the Word of God, and this is what they were doing in the form of music. It doesn’t mean they went into some kind of trance, uttering divine revelation, though it may have happened at times. But the choice of words does indicate they were open to whatever unexpected ministry the Spirit of God may have put into their hearts. In these same verses though, we are told four times that their music was “under the direction” of the three main leaders (v 2a, 2b, 3, 6a), each of whom was “under the order of the king” (v 6b). So the freedom was within a framework. To be filled with the Spirit is not to lose personal restraint. For further meditation: