Who is He?

© 2016 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

The words, “To the chief Musician,” introduce over fifty Psalms. Who is this mysterious “Chief Musician?” Some suggest Asaph. God had allowed King David to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Celebrating this joyous event, David assigned Asaph as chief over many musicians appointed to continually praise God with music.

“So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: … And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel: Asaph the chief, … with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals; Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God” (1 Chronicles 16:1-6).

Though Asaph was chief of many men praising God with music, God Himself was The Chief Musician they praised! Consider the words of the following Psalm addressed to “The Chief Musician.”

“To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer” (Psalm 4:1).

These words were not written to Asaph, but as a prayer to God, The Chief Musician! God is music’s inventor. He designed the entire musical universe to continually praise Him, joyfully, with music. This was true even at the dawn of creation (Job 38:4-7).

Because of Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, his spirit died and all mankind became incapable of such high musical praise. Discordant noise of the spiritually dead has permeated our world. When the religious Pharisees tried to prevent the disciples from praising Jesus as God, Jesus said,

“I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40).

Jesus, the sacrificial redeemer, died, and rose again to save His people from their sins. When he breathes life into a dead heart He enables it to call upon Him for forgiveness. He restores its capability to sing,

“…psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16).

Is your heart praising The Chief Musician with Godly music?

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