usher Him in with music

David was known for it.
Solomon knew the value of it.
Jehoshaphat was wise enough
to make use of it.

Music.
The worship of God through music.

David was a harp player.
From the time he was a shepherd boy,
called from the field
to play for King Saul.
To the days of running from
Saul's spears, David played music.
And his music brought
the presence the of the Lord...
​soothing the soul.

So David created instruments
and he brought worship,
singing and music to the tabernacle.

His son, Solomon knew the value of it.
And when the Temple of the Lord
was built, and the Ark of the Lord
was ushered in with music.
They worshipped, played trumpets,
in unison with the singin of priests.
And the presence of the Lord
filled the Tabernacle.

Jehoshaphat too, was wise enough
to make use of it.
When he feared the great multitude
coming against him from beyond the sea...
he fasted, prayed, positioned his troops,
and stood battle ready.
All in obedience to God.

But one more thing this king did
never mentioned by the Spirit...
he appointed musicians to sing to the Lord
and others to praise the beauty of His holiness.
And they made music before the army saying,
Give thanks to the Lord,
For He is good,
His mercy endures forever.

Jehoshaphat was wise enough
to use music to usher in the presence of God
wgen he needed it most.

And he stood again, as we read today,
in this valley, with two other kings.
They were thirsty.
And their animals without water.
It had been seven days of travel
and they were in need of help
as curcumstance did not turn out
as expected.

So they callled upon Elisha...
a prophet of the Lord.
And only because Elisha knew
that Jehoshaphat is a godly king
would he call upon the Lord for them.

For he knew the two other kings
to be worshippers of idols,
who typically sought the advice
of false prophets.

But first, Elisha made a request.
But now bring me a musician.
2 Kings 3:15

One little verse...
six words that could have made the difference
between victory and defeat,
between life and death of thousands.

And possibly, if it were not
in the presence of King Jehoshaphat,
they may have just laughed at this prophet.

But since this king knew the value of the request,
it was easily honored.
For it ushered in the presence of God.

But not just any music would do.
They weren't going to play...
The Rolling Stones,
Earth, Wind and Fire, or even
Green Day.

Nope!
Only worship music...
lifting of the Lord in praise and thanksgiving.

Then it happened,
when the musician played,
that the hand of the Lord came upon him.
2 Kings 3:15

And Elisha heard from God
and brought forth the word of the Lord.

No different from today...
Just as our hearts can be moved,
transported, and set right with God
during worship in church
the prophet Elisha needed
to settle his heart in that wilderness.

And God can be brought near to us
even outside of church
in our wilderness,
in the middle of our day...
wherever we may be,
just by focusing on Him
with the right music in worship.

Word of God,
train me, today...
to take the time to settle my heart with music,
ushering You into my presence,
to know that anytime I need more of You,
​I can find You in the worship and praise set in song.