1 Chronicles 25:6-7 All these were under the hands of their for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the Lord, even all that were cunning, was two hundred four score and eight (288).
David’s preparations for worship in the new temple were elaborate and detailed. The musicians were divided into 24 groups to match the 24 groups of Levites. This division of labor gave order to the temple work, made training easier, gave variety to worship, and involved many people.
God, and David, takes the worship of God in music and song seriously. It was planned orderly and sung enthusiastically. They likely sang the Psalms, many written by David himself. The worship in song was to be done “decently and in order” and energetically. It was also meant to be going on continuously.
Music and song is our believing response to the hearing of the Gospel. Our Sunday worship and praise in songs and hymns ideally follow after listening to the Word and the preaching of the Gospel. Praise is the natural response to the gospel of grace and salvation. We leave church inspired and full of joy, putting a song in our heart that carries us through every day.
For the believer, praise is a continuous way of life. We are always thankful in heart to God. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God [Colossians 3:16].” When we pause to hear the Gospel every morning our whole day is filled with songs of thankfulness and praise. Sing!