1 Chronicles 15:16-24: a reflection

16David spoke to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers with instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up their voices with joy. 17So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brothers, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brothers, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; 18and with them their brothers of the second rank: Zechariah, Ben, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers. 19So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were given cymbals of bronze to sound aloud; 20and Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with stringed instruments set to Alamoth; 21and Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps tuned to the eight-stringed lyre, to lead. 22Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the singing. He taught the singers, because he was skillful. 23Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark. 24Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before God’s ark; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.

When David arranges the worship that will accompany the ark to Jerusalem, he appoints Levites as singers and musicians, with harps, lyres, and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. And the passage notes that these were chosen for their skill: Chenaniah, the leader of the music, was in charge because he was skillful; the singers were those skilled in song. The worship of God was to be led by those who had developed real skill, and offered with excellence, not carelessly.

Notice the place of skill in this worship. The musicians and singers were not chosen at random, but for their developed skill; Chenaniah led because he was skillful. God's worship was worthy of excellence, of practiced, developed ability offered with care. The joy of their worship did not excuse carelessness; it was joyful and skilled together, exuberant praise offered with real craft.

That commends the offering of our developed skill to God, especially in worship. We are sometimes tempted to think that in worship, sincerity is all that matters and skill is irrelevant, or even that developing and offering skill is somehow less spiritual. But David chose the skilled, and their skill was offered to God as part of their worship. God is worthy of our best, of the skill and ability we have developed, offered with excellence and care. Whatever your skill, in music, or any craft used in God's service, develop it, and offer it to him with excellence. Skill offered wholeheartedly to God, joined with joy and sincerity, is a worthy part of worship. Give God not careless offerings, but your developed best.

Lord, when David arranged the worship for your ark, he chose skilled singers and musicians, and Chenaniah led the music because he was skillful; your worship was offered with developed skill and excellence, not carelessly. Teach me to offer my skill to you. Keep me from thinking that in worship and service, skill is irrelevant, or that developing and offering it is somehow less spiritual. You are worthy of my best, of the ability I have developed, offered with excellence and care. Whatever skill you have given me, help me develop it and offer it to you wholeheartedly, joined with joy and sincerity. Let me give you not careless offerings, but my developed best, in worship and in all I do for you. Receive the skill I offer, and let it be a worthy part of my worship.