The imagery of God as a
Warrior is never far away from the Psalmist’s mind.  In the great processions of the kings of the
Near East, they would have grand processions where their mighty victories would
be declared.  But this is no mere human
returning from battle.  This is the Lord
God Almighty.  In this procession, we
acknowledge the ultimate King of kinds and Lord of lords.

 

The inspired Psalmist
writes in Psalm 68:24-27: 24 Your
procession, God, has come into view, the procession of my God and King into the
sanctuary. 25 In front are the singers, after them the
musicians; with them are the young women playing the timbrels.  26 Praise God in the great
congregation; praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel. 27 There
is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of
Judah’s princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

 

As the Lord returns from
battle, He ascends to His sanctuary—the place of worship.  Leading the great parade of praise are the
singers and the musicians.  There is a
significant lesson to learn here: church musicians have a high calling in the
assembly of God’s people.

 

Music plays such a
significant role in our lives.  How many
times do people have a song reminding them of highlights in their lives?  There’s the song you dedicated to your
sweetheart in high school.  There’s the
song you used as an anthem representing your freedom.  There are songs ministering to you in the
lowest points of your life.  There are
songs at the highest highs and the lowest lows. 
Church musicians are bearers of this responsibility.

 

Whether a worship leader,
singer, instrumentalist, choir member, or tech operator, you have a high
calling in the Kingdom: you LEAD the procession to the mountain of
worship.  What a privilege; what a sobering
reality.

 

When we gather to worship
as a congregation of the redeemed, may we joyfully follow the excited procession
up to the Lord’s throne.  The place of
praise remains of high value to our Warrior King.