August 24-28

A psalm of Heman
Psalm 88
A psalm of Ethan
Psalm 89
A psalm of Asaph
Psalm 50




Hi faithful travelers. I’d like to introduce you to my friends. They are each psalmists. Perhaps you already know about them, or maybe this is your first face-to-face meeting with them. You will hear some of their songs this week and it may help to understand their message if you are more familiar with who they are.

Our first piece of music comes from Heman. Let me tell you a bit about Heman. This powerful man holds an exalted place among the singers of Israel. His official role as a leader among the musicians began when David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem and placed it in the tabernacle he had erected for it.

Now these are those whom David appointed over the service of song in the house of the Lord, after the ark rested there. I Chronicles 6:31

When we examine his background, it is not too difficult to see how Heman rose to this place of prominence. You already know his grandfather.

These are those who served with their sons; from the sons of the Kohathites were Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel. I Chronicles 6:33

The Samuel referenced is none other than the one who anointed Saul and David. Thank God that Heman chose to walk the way of his grandfather, and not the way of his father. You may recall that his father Joel was not a very godly man. Here, let me refresh your memory.

And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his first-born was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba. His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice. I Samuel 8:1-3

Obviously Samuel had a direct affect on Heman. What an encouragement to grandparents who may feel they missed the mark with their children. God is the God of the second chance, and grandchildren give us another opportunity to make a difference.

Keep in mind that Samuel was head of the school of the prophets. An important part of the ministry of prophecy was the ministry of music. You may recall Samuel’s words to Saul after he had anointed him.

And it shall be as soon as you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down form the high place with harp, tambourine, flute, and a lyre before them, and they will be prophesying. I Samuel 10:8

Music and the stirring of the Spirit have always gone hand in hand. Who knows! Perhaps Heman, being one of the “sons of the prophets,” was among the group that day. It wouldn’t surprise me. One thing we know for sure is that Heman grew to understand the power of music and prophecy. He was not only musically talented; he was prophetically gifted.

More, David and the commanders of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph and of Heman and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals; (I Chronicles 25:1)

As I listen to Heman’s song, I hear a distant echo of David voice. Did Heman accompany David in the wilderness? When David fled Saul, he made a straight path for Samuel. Could it be that after Saul had the priests at Nob slain and after Samuel died, Heman felt the safest place to be was with David? His Psalm leads me to believe that he endured the same rejection as David and that he experienced it from a young age. David knew all that this man had been through, he knew his talents and his gifts, and he knew his integrity. And one of his songs made it in the favorite psalms hymnal!

The second gentleman I would like you to become acquainted with is Ethan. Unlike Heman’s song, which is quite serious and foreboding, Ethan’s song is a declaration of God’s power, majesty, and ability. Ethan was highly regarded by his fellow kinsman and as a result, he was appointed as one of the three chief musicians.

Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel, and from his relatives, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and from the sons of Merari their relatives, Ethan the son of Kushiah (I Chronicles 15:16-17) So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were appointed to sound aloud cymbals of bronze; (I Chronicles 15:19)

Although I can’t tell you much about Ethan’s background, I can tell you about his reputation. He, like Heman, was very wise. When God speaks of the greatness of Solomon’s wisdom we are told:

And Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol and Darda, the sons of Mahol and his fame was known in all the surrounding nations. (I Kings 4:30-31)

The words of his Psalm quickly identify why he had such great wisdom. Ethan perceived the greatness of who God is!

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to introduce Asaph. Not counting David, the most published composer in our Psalms Hymnal is Asaph. Twelve of the Psalms are attributed to him. Once again, we find that he had a close relationship with David. On the day the Ark was brought into Jerusalem, we are told:

Then on that day David first assigned Asaph and his relatives to give thanks to the Lord. (I Chronicles 16:7)

David had such honor for Asaph that he left him and his relatives in charge of the music ministry before the Ark.

So he left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required. (I Chronicles 16:37)

Asaph had an appreciation for a variety of music and instruments, but his gifted drumming is deserving of honorable mention!

Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemir-amoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaniah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel with musical instruments, harps, lyres; also Asaph played loud-sounding cymbals, (I Chronicles 16:5)

As I mentioned concerning Heman, Asaph was also one who prophesied with his music.

There are other musicians also mentioned in David’s list of appointees, and in time we will meet others whose psalms made it into our Biblical hymnal, but why are Heman, Asaph and Ethan mentioned together as leaders. The answer is really quite simple. The Levitical priesthood was broken down into three divisions:

1. The descendants of Kohath – headed by Heman (I Chronicles 6:33)
2. The descendants of Gershom, - headed by Asaph (I Chronicles 6:39-43)
3. The descendants of Merari – headed by Ethan (I Chronicles 6:44-47)

Thus the entire spectrum of Levites was represented in music and prophecy with regard to the ministry before the Ark, and eventually the Temple.

As you listen to their songs, open your heart to hear the Temple choir and orchestra as they sing many of the words that are also in your heart. And always remember, we walk to the beat of a different drum!