Topical Bible: Music: Teachers of

◄ Music: Teachers of ►

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In the biblical context, music holds a significant place in worship, celebration, and instruction. Teachers of music are individuals who have been endowed with the skill and responsibility to instruct others in the art of music, particularly in its use for worship and praise.

Old Testament References

The Old Testament provides several references to the role of music teachers, particularly within the Levitical tradition. The Levites were appointed as the primary musicians and singers in the temple worship. In 1 Chronicles 15:22, we read about Chenaniah, a leader of the Levites, who was in charge of the music because he was skillful: "Chenaniah the head Levite was the director of the music because he was skillful." This indicates that musical ability and the capacity to teach were recognized and valued.

Furthermore, 1 Chronicles 25:6-7 highlights the organized structure of music instruction under King David: "All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the house of the LORD, with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the direction of the king. Together with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in singing to the LORD—they numbered 288." This passage underscores the formal training and leadership in music, suggesting a structured approach to teaching music for worship.

Role and Importance

The role of music teachers in the biblical narrative is not merely technical but deeply spiritual. Music was an integral part of worship, and those who taught it were responsible for ensuring that it was performed with excellence and reverence. The teachers were tasked with passing down the musical traditions and skills necessary for leading the congregation in worship.

In the Psalms, we see the importance of music in worship and the need for skilled musicians. Psalm 33:3 encourages, "Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy." This call to play skillfully implies the need for instruction and practice, roles fulfilled by music teachers.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not explicitly mention music teachers, the early church continued the tradition of using music in worship. Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 both encourage believers to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord. This suggests an ongoing tradition of musical instruction and participation within the Christian community.

Spiritual Implications

Music teachers in the biblical context were not only responsible for the technical aspects of music but also for fostering a spirit of worship and devotion. Their role was to guide others in using music as a means to glorify God and to edify the community of believers. The emphasis on skill and training highlights the importance of music as a divine gift that requires stewardship and dedication.

In summary, teachers of music in the Bible were vital to the worship practices of Israel and the early church. They were entrusted with the task of instructing others in the art of music, ensuring that it was used to honor God and uplift His people.

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1 Chronicles 15:22
And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skillful.
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1 Chronicles 25:7,8
So the number of them, with their brothers that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.
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2 Chronicles 23:13
And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.
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Library

The Extraordinary Teachers of the Apostolic Church; and Its ...
... it was their common duty to discountenance and resist false teachers; [239:4 ... sweet
singer was absent, every one admitted that the congregational music was less ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter ii the extraordinary teachers.htm

Through-The-Week Activities for Boys' Organized Classes
... The Organized Class."The great majority of Sunday school teachers have no ... Sing: Popular
Songs Old Familiar Songs School Songs Patriotic Hymns Church Music. ...
/.../the boy and the sunday school/x through-the-week activities for boys.htm

Personalia
... Since then, not only the Academy of Music, but other public buildings throughout
the ... and published in a book for the use of ministers, teachers, and public ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/griswold/sixty years with plymouth church/personalia.htm

Chapter seven
... Rollin Page. What purpose had she in life? She had been abroad and studied
music with one of the famous teachers of Europe. She had ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter seven.htm

The Ministry.
... last may come to naught and perish,"though in times past such music hath been ... of
the ignorant, is because those that pretend to be their teachers do behave ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxii the ministry.htm

The Story of a Cup of Water
... And your teachers and others who have brought together this wealth of beauty, this
glory ... I want to make all these flowers and this music the setting of a truth ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the story of a cup.htm

Jesus Declares Himself.
... a cart; neither can we expect that those will be the best teachers regarding God ...
reality, because it is not shared by those whose taste for music is unawakened ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/x jesus declares himself.htm

Thoughts for the Clergy on the Amusement Question.
... Our work as Christian teachers reaches beyond our own generation. ... of one of the vilest
fashionable groggeries in the city, and preceded by the music of a drum ...
/.../vincent/amusement a force in christian training/thoughts for the clergy on.htm

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... of later times; [215:2] and had any of the inspired teachers of the ... permitted to
unite, [216:1] and which was accompanied by instrumental music, constituted a ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

The Boy and the Sunday School
... of teen age, among which were the lack of efficient, virile teachers, a
misunderstanding of boy nature, lessons not adapted to the boy's needs, music that ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/v the boy and the.htm