| When you are under spiritual attack, one of the tools | | | | the Lord in Jerusalem and the temple was being |
| you can use is the gift of anointed praise and | | | | dedicated. There was a great number of Levites, |
| worship songs. Note that I said "anointed." The Bible | | | | who were singers and musicians, who played and |
| teaches that we do not fight against flesh and blood, | | | | sang during this service. Here is the account of what |
| but against spiritual forces. As such, music must carry | | | | transpired as they praised God in unison. |
| spiritual weight, i.e. an anointing from God, in order to | | | | 2 Chronicles 13-14 It came even to pass, as the |
| be truly effective. | | | | trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one |
| Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and | | | | sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; |
| blood, but against principalities, against powers, | | | | and when they lifted up their voice with the |
| against the rulers of the darkness of this world, | | | | trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, |
| against spiritual wickedness in high places. | | | | and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his |
| We see the important role that music plays in fighting | | | | mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was |
| spiritual battles throughout the Word of God. | | | | filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So |
| An excellent illustration of this can be found in the | | | | that the priests could not stand to minister by reason |
| account of how David, the man after God's own | | | | of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the |
| heart, was brought into the service of KIing Saul. | | | | house of God. |
| Saul, the current king of Israel, had lost favor with | | | | Their anointed praise and worship ushered in the |
| God because of his disobedience and rebellion. The | | | | presence of God! The glory of the Lord literally filled |
| prophet Samuel had prophesied to Saul that his | | | | the whole place and 120 priests could not even stand |
| kingdom would be given to another and God sent an | | | | up! |
| evil spirit to torment Saul. Saul had wise servants | | | | Does God change? We know the scriptures declare |
| who suggested that a skilled musician be found. King | | | | He does not: |
| Saul wisely received their counsel and asked that | | | | Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; |
| such a man be brought. | | | | therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. |
| David had the reputation of not only being a skilled | | | | As music was instrumental in times of old, it can be |
| player, but that the Lord was with him. In David was | | | | instrumental in your spiritual walk today. It is, in fact, |
| noted the presence and favor of the Lord. As such, | | | | a very powerful tool you can use in times of spiritual |
| David was an anointed musician. | | | | attack. Beautiful praise and worship music can soothe, |
| When David came into Kind Saul's service, we see | | | | comfort, inspire, affirm, encourage, and lift your |
| that whenever David would play, the evil spirit would | | | | spirits. Surrounding yourself, literrally wrapping |
| leave: | | | | yourself, in praise music can literally mean deliverance |
| 1 Samuel 16:23 And it came to pass, when the evil | | | | in some cases! |
| spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an | | | | One artist in particular, Richard Smallwood, produces |
| harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was | | | | beautifully anointed praise and worship music, music |
| refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed | | | | that will feed you spiritually. |
| from him. | | | | Let your environment be saturated in music that has |
| As Israel prospered and became more firmly | | | | an anointing from God. Play anointed music in your |
| established as a nation under the reign of King | | | | car while driving to work, while walking or exercising, |
| Solomon, we see that the singers and musicians | | | | going about chores or housework. You will soon find |
| played an important role in worship and in ushering in | | | | the Spirit of God ministering to you in special ways to |
| the presence of God. There is an excellent illustration | | | | lift you, give you direction, encourage you in your |
| of this in the book of 2 Chronicles. Here, King | | | | spiritual walk and defend you against spiritual |
| Solomon had finished the building of the temple of | | | | adversaries. |