Class 5 from this series was used in GCT Episode 338.
1
00:00:00,520 –> 00:00:04,320
Our second speaker this morning,
brothers and sisters, is our
00:00:00,520 –> 00:00:04,320
Our second speaker this morning,
brothers and sisters, is our
2
00:00:04,320 –> 00:00:08,360
Brother Rodger Lewis of the
Christchurch Ecclesia in New
3
00:00:08,360 –> 00:00:11,720
Zealand.
The theme for Brother Louis’s
4
00:00:11,720 –> 00:00:18,680
classes this week is the House
of Asaph, Family of Faith and
5
00:00:18,680 –> 00:00:23,640
Masters of Music.
Today’s class is entitled The
6
00:00:23,640 –> 00:00:28,200
Secret of the House of Asaph
Brother Louis.
7
00:00:29,160 –> 00:00:31,840
Thank you again brother
Chairman, and my dear brothers
8
00:00:31,840 –> 00:00:34,280
and sisters in the Lord Jesus
Christ.
9
00:00:34,280 –> 00:00:38,400
Well, as they say, all stories
have an end.
10
00:00:38,840 –> 00:00:42,920
And so this morning we also come
to the end of the story
11
00:00:42,920 –> 00:00:46,880
concerning the House of Asaph
and their remarkable
12
00:00:46,880 –> 00:00:52,160
contribution to the spiritual
fibre and strength of the nation
13
00:00:52,160 –> 00:00:56,480
of Israel for such a long period
of time in their history.
14
00:00:57,040 –> 00:00:59,720
You’ll remember that our
previous study left the sons of
15
00:00:59,720 –> 00:01:04,440
Asaph on that barren hill of
Mariah, singing with all their
16
00:01:04,440 –> 00:01:08,120
heart over a few stones that had
been laid in that place.
17
00:01:09,720 –> 00:01:14,240
And although there was no temple
there, just the beginnings of a
18
00:01:14,240 –> 00:01:19,920
new order of things, they still
sang with the same fervour as
19
00:01:19,920 –> 00:01:24,040
their family had sung so long
before at the dedication of
20
00:01:24,040 –> 00:01:27,960
Solomon’s magnificent temple in
the earlier days.
21
00:01:28,240 –> 00:01:32,400
They knew their courses, they
knew their words, they knew
22
00:01:32,400 –> 00:01:35,800
their instruments, they knew
their songs.
23
00:01:36,400 –> 00:01:44,960
The year was BC 535, and this
was some 85 years after Josiah’s
24
00:01:45,000 –> 00:01:52,400
great Passover, but 460 years
after David had first given to
25
00:01:52,400 –> 00:01:56,760
the family the great Psalm that
they would sing all the days of
26
00:01:56,760 –> 00:02:00,960
their life in the first of
Chronicles and chapter 16.
27
00:02:01,360 –> 00:02:03,960
And you’ll remember, therefore,
that in that study we learned to
28
00:02:03,960 –> 00:02:08,960
appreciate the virtue of
constancy that this family stood
29
00:02:08,960 –> 00:02:12,320
for, that they truly believed
that because of the truths they
30
00:02:12,320 –> 00:02:17,040
sang were eternal things, that
there was no change ever needed
31
00:02:17,040 –> 00:02:19,680
to them.
And so they used the same
32
00:02:19,680 –> 00:02:25,760
instruments to sing the same
words to the same tune from the
33
00:02:25,760 –> 00:02:30,000
same hymn book for over 500
years.
34
00:02:31,000 –> 00:02:35,560
Well, brothers and sisters, this
morning we come to the next
35
00:02:35,560 –> 00:02:38,200
stage of the story of this
family.
36
00:02:38,440 –> 00:02:42,240
And that stage is found for us
in Nehemiah chapter 12.
37
00:02:42,800 –> 00:02:46,320
In the book of Nehemiah.
You’ll recall that in the days
38
00:02:46,320 –> 00:02:50,760
of Nehemiah, he successfully
built the walls all around the
39
00:02:50,760 –> 00:02:54,240
city of Jerusalem that the city
might be protected.
40
00:02:54,720 –> 00:02:57,760
And we’re told that at the time
of the accomplishment of that
41
00:02:57,760 –> 00:03:01,480
building that there was a great
celebration upon the walls
42
00:03:01,480 –> 00:03:04,120
themselves.
And this is what we’re told in
43
00:03:04,320 –> 00:03:11,200
Nehemiah chapter 12 and verse
27, it says.
44
00:03:11,200 –> 00:03:15,440
And, and at the dedication of
the wall of Jerusalem, they
45
00:03:15,440 –> 00:03:18,680
sought the Levites out of all
their places to bring them to
46
00:03:18,680 –> 00:03:22,880
Jerusalem, to keep the
dedication with gladness, both
47
00:03:22,920 –> 00:03:29,720
with thanksgivings and singing,
with cymbals, with psalteries
48
00:03:30,760 –> 00:03:35,280
and with halves.
So you see, only the sacred
49
00:03:35,320 –> 00:03:39,720
instruments were used.
They’ve never been changed, had
50
00:03:39,720 –> 00:03:41,120
they?
Brothers and sisters, these are
51
00:03:41,120 –> 00:03:44,280
the same things that were
ordained as the instruments of
52
00:03:44,280 –> 00:03:47,720
God from the very days of David.
There’s no other instruments
53
00:03:47,720 –> 00:03:51,920
have ever been added to the
matters of worship in Israel’s
54
00:03:51,920 –> 00:03:55,800
history from the time of David
to this time, Now in the days of
55
00:03:55,800 –> 00:03:58,920
Nehemiah, the singers are still
there, but the instruments are
56
00:03:58,920 –> 00:04:02,480
unchanged.
And verse 28 says, And the sons
57
00:04:02,480 –> 00:04:05,800
of the singers gather themselves
together both out of the plain
58
00:04:05,800 –> 00:04:09,360
country round about Jerusalem,
and from the villages of
59
00:04:09,360 –> 00:04:13,920
Natopathy, and also from the
House of Gulgal, and out of the
60
00:04:13,920 –> 00:04:17,959
fields of Gieba and Esmaleth.
For, and we oughtn’t to be
61
00:04:17,959 –> 00:04:22,680
surprised at this, for the
singers had builded them
62
00:04:22,680 –> 00:04:27,480
villages round about Jerusalem.
Well, we wouldn’t be surprised
63
00:04:27,480 –> 00:04:30,320
that that would be brothers and
sisters, that of all the place
64
00:04:30,320 –> 00:04:33,040
in the land where the singers
would want to live and where
65
00:04:33,040 –> 00:04:34,480
they would want to build their
villages.
66
00:04:34,480 –> 00:04:37,680
They wanted to be clustered
around Jerusalem, the centre of
67
00:04:37,680 –> 00:04:40,600
God’s presence in Israel, the
place where the ark would be
68
00:04:40,600 –> 00:04:43,400
kept.
That was always the heart and
69
00:04:43,400 –> 00:04:47,240
soul of this particular family.
So out of the villages they now
70
00:04:47,240 –> 00:04:51,360
come that they might celebrate
the dedication of the wall of
71
00:04:51,360 –> 00:04:53,920
Jerusalem.
And, and we’re told this in the
72
00:04:53,920 –> 00:04:56,800
35th verse.
It says in certain of the
73
00:04:56,800 –> 00:05:00,840
priest’s sons with trumpets,
namely Zechariah the son of
74
00:05:00,840 –> 00:05:04,240
Jonathan, the son of Semei, the
son of Matani, the son of
75
00:05:04,240 –> 00:05:11,680
Milkei, the son of Zecher the
son of Asaph and his brethren
76
00:05:11,800 –> 00:05:17,720
Shemaya and Azrael and Millili
and Gilali and Mai and Nathaniel
77
00:05:17,720 –> 00:05:22,960
and Judah and Hamani with the
musical instruments of David the
78
00:05:22,960 –> 00:05:27,280
man of God and Ezra described.
So here is a descendant of
79
00:05:27,280 –> 00:05:32,640
David, sorry, descendant of
Asaph, now found again leading
80
00:05:32,640 –> 00:05:35,520
the matters of worship even in
the days of Nehemiah.
81
00:05:35,800 –> 00:05:39,320
And with him and with his
brethren are those musical
82
00:05:39,320 –> 00:05:40,760
instruments.
And you see how they’re
83
00:05:40,760 –> 00:05:44,280
described in this verse, the
musical instruments of David the
84
00:05:44,280 –> 00:05:46,920
man of God.
And, and I think we can probably
85
00:05:46,920 –> 00:05:52,560
reasonably assume that the force
of this expression is that they
86
00:05:52,560 –> 00:05:56,440
are the very same instruments
that the House of Asaph had
87
00:05:56,440 –> 00:06:00,160
preserved these very instruments
all during the Babylonian
88
00:06:00,160 –> 00:06:02,600
captivity.
And it’s those ancient
89
00:06:02,600 –> 00:06:06,400
instruments that have now been
brought back to be used in the
90
00:06:06,480 –> 00:06:09,520
songs of worship here at the
dedication of the wall.
91
00:06:09,520 –> 00:06:13,200
The very ones that David himself
had made, by the way, I think
92
00:06:13,200 –> 00:06:15,080
they were made under divine
inspiration.
93
00:06:15,640 –> 00:06:18,520
I think that just as David
received the pattern of all the
94
00:06:18,520 –> 00:06:21,560
things that would go into the
temple service, that amongst the
95
00:06:21,560 –> 00:06:26,800
patterns that David received by
by by inspiration was the
96
00:06:26,800 –> 00:06:29,440
pattern of the instruments
themselves.
97
00:06:30,360 –> 00:06:33,480
So once they’ve been made by
David, this house treasured them
98
00:06:33,480 –> 00:06:37,680
for all time.
And now here they are again
99
00:06:37,680 –> 00:06:40,800
being played on the wall.
You know, it would really pluck
100
00:06:40,800 –> 00:06:43,000
at your heartstrings, wouldn’t
it, brothers and sisters, to be
101
00:06:43,000 –> 00:06:46,360
standing on that wall on that
day with that family and to hear
102
00:06:46,360 –> 00:06:50,560
those instruments being sung
again, being played again.
103
00:06:51,640 –> 00:06:55,240
We’re told that in verse 40, the
two companies of them that stood
104
00:06:55,240 –> 00:07:01,680
gave thanks in the House of God.
And verse 42 says the singers
105
00:07:01,880 –> 00:07:05,720
sang loud.
And so they always had brothers
106
00:07:05,720 –> 00:07:09,080
and sisters, because they sang
from the bottom of their hearts,
107
00:07:09,080 –> 00:07:11,200
this family.
And verse 45 says.
108
00:07:11,440 –> 00:07:14,000
And both the singers and the
porters kept the ward of their
109
00:07:14,000 –> 00:07:17,600
God and the ward of
purification, according to the
110
00:07:17,600 –> 00:07:20,720
commandment of David and of
Solomon his son.
111
00:07:21,200 –> 00:07:26,880
For in the days of David and
Asaph of old, there was a chief
112
00:07:26,880 –> 00:07:30,920
of the singers, and there were
songs of praise and Thanksgiving
113
00:07:30,920 –> 00:07:32,680
unto God.
And you see, I think what verse
114
00:07:32,680 –> 00:07:38,000
46 is telling us is that just as
there was a chief musician in
115
00:07:38,000 –> 00:07:42,840
the days of David, who was of
course, ASAP himself, so now
116
00:07:43,240 –> 00:07:47,920
even in the days of Nehemiah,
just as there was in the days of
117
00:07:47,920 –> 00:07:53,360
old, there was still a chief of
the singers and songs of Oh, and
118
00:07:53,360 –> 00:07:56,320
by the way, did you notice the
two keywords there in verse 46?
119
00:07:56,320 –> 00:08:03,000
Again, songs of praise and
Thanksgiving, those two keywords
120
00:08:03,160 –> 00:08:06,240
from the first of Chronicles
chapter 16.
121
00:08:06,560 –> 00:08:09,000
So here they are.
You see, there’s no change to
122
00:08:09,000 –> 00:08:11,120
the spirit of this house.
Marvelous.
123
00:08:11,520 –> 00:08:15,520
They had always sung before the
ark of God, and here they are
124
00:08:15,520 –> 00:08:19,520
still singing with the same
fervour in the days of Nehemiah.
125
00:08:19,680 –> 00:08:22,160
And you want to know what’s
really interesting about this
126
00:08:22,160 –> 00:08:29,560
verse?
In Nehemiah chapter 12, there is
127
00:08:30,960 –> 00:08:36,120
no ark.
Brothers and sisters, the Ark of
128
00:08:36,120 –> 00:08:45,560
God is gone, there is no priest
with Urim and Thummim, there is
129
00:08:45,560 –> 00:08:51,960
no Shekinah glory.
And do you think that that
130
00:08:51,960 –> 00:08:55,280
changed the fervency of this
house in terms of their songs?
131
00:08:57,320 –> 00:09:01,920
Not one bit.
You see, they had long since
132
00:09:01,920 –> 00:09:05,960
transcended the idea of the
physical arc, and they drew
133
00:09:05,960 –> 00:09:10,360
close to God in song, even
though the token of His presence
134
00:09:10,360 –> 00:09:17,960
now was no longer there, They
still sang the same songs, and
135
00:09:17,960 –> 00:09:20,480
they still came into the
presence of the Father when they
136
00:09:20,480 –> 00:09:26,960
sang those songs, even though
the ark of His presence has now
137
00:09:26,960 –> 00:09:30,960
disappeared for good.
From the record of Israel, do
138
00:09:30,960 –> 00:09:36,880
you know that this episode in
Nehemiah chapter 12 occurs in BC
139
00:09:36,880 –> 00:09:44,880
445?
That’s 90 years after Ezra
140
00:09:44,880 –> 00:09:49,360
chapter 3 and the laying of the
foundation of the Temple.
141
00:09:49,560 –> 00:09:54,360
This is about another 3
generations of this family after
142
00:09:54,360 –> 00:09:58,520
the days of Ezra 3 when they
sang to to to celebrate the
143
00:09:58,520 –> 00:10:01,160
laying of those stones on Mount
Moriah.
144
00:10:01,360 –> 00:10:03,560
Will this family never ever give
up?
145
00:10:05,840 –> 00:10:08,320
They were truly brothers and
sisters, weren’t they, in in
146
00:10:08,320 –> 00:10:12,200
every respect, as we have seen,
a family of faith.
147
00:10:13,920 –> 00:10:17,280
They were there in the days of
David when he first set the ark
148
00:10:17,480 –> 00:10:20,840
in Zion and commanded this
family that they should sing to
149
00:10:20,840 –> 00:10:24,520
celebrate the real significance
of that ark in the presence of
150
00:10:24,520 –> 00:10:26,920
Israel.
They were there at the time of
151
00:10:26,920 –> 00:10:30,520
the great celebration, the great
dedication of the temple in the
152
00:10:30,520 –> 00:10:32,720
days of Solomon.
And you remember that so
153
00:10:32,720 –> 00:10:36,440
wondrous was the singing of the
House of Asaph on that occasion,
154
00:10:36,680 –> 00:10:41,040
that it was the songs of the
singers that drew down the glory
155
00:10:41,040 –> 00:10:44,760
of the divine presence, so that
the glory of God fill the house.
156
00:10:45,160 –> 00:10:48,880
They were there in the days of
Jehoshaphat marching at the head
157
00:10:48,880 –> 00:10:52,640
of the army, and singing was
such fervor that Almighty God
158
00:10:52,640 –> 00:10:55,880
acted on their behalf.
And a wondrous victory was won
159
00:10:55,880 –> 00:10:59,080
that day on behalf of the
nation, so that their enemies
160
00:10:59,080 –> 00:11:02,040
were destroyed.
Yet not a man in Israel was
161
00:11:02,040 –> 00:11:04,640
lost.
They were there at the time of
162
00:11:04,640 –> 00:11:08,720
the revival of Jehoyada, when he
sat Joas, the boy king upon the
163
00:11:08,760 –> 00:11:12,840
throne of David, and launched a
special reformation in Israel,
164
00:11:13,120 –> 00:11:15,520
in Judah.
And at that time the sons of
165
00:11:15,520 –> 00:11:18,880
Asaph, the leaders of the
singers, were present to witness
166
00:11:18,880 –> 00:11:21,680
that coronation and to sing
their praises.
167
00:11:21,880 –> 00:11:25,160
They were there when Hezekiah
launched his revival in the
168
00:11:25,160 –> 00:11:28,680
nation, and when in the space of
just two weeks, he he brought
169
00:11:28,680 –> 00:11:32,200
them all together and asked them
to sing perfectly in that great
170
00:11:32,200 –> 00:11:35,640
celebration of the Second of
Chronicles, chapter 29.
171
00:11:35,840 –> 00:11:39,760
They were there when Josiah
reformed the nation and asked
172
00:11:39,760 –> 00:11:42,600
the Levites to bring the ark
back and to put it into the
173
00:11:42,600 –> 00:11:46,240
Temple, into the House of of God
from whence they had spirited
174
00:11:46,240 –> 00:11:47,840
away.
Spirited away.
175
00:11:48,120 –> 00:11:51,400
They were there in the time of
Ezra, at the laying of the
176
00:11:51,400 –> 00:11:56,080
foundation of a new temple, as
they stood upon the barren hill
177
00:11:56,080 –> 00:11:58,840
of Zion and sang their songs to
God.
178
00:11:59,040 –> 00:12:03,360
They’re here in the days of
Nehemiah as the wall is built
179
00:12:03,360 –> 00:12:05,640
again.
Is there ever a family like
180
00:12:05,640 –> 00:12:09,480
this?
They were truly a family of
181
00:12:09,480 –> 00:12:11,840
faith in every sense of the
word.
182
00:12:11,840 –> 00:12:13,840
There is no family, brothers and
sisters.
183
00:12:13,840 –> 00:12:18,760
I believe that compares with the
fervency and the dedication of
184
00:12:18,760 –> 00:12:20,920
this particular family in
Israel.
185
00:12:20,920 –> 00:12:24,720
And not only were they a family
of faith, but as we’ve seen in
186
00:12:24,720 –> 00:12:29,280
the course of these studies,
they were truly masters of music
187
00:12:29,280 –> 00:12:33,080
in Israel, not simply because of
their musical excellence, but
188
00:12:33,080 –> 00:12:37,240
because of the five key things
that they held as the benchmark
189
00:12:37,240 –> 00:12:40,360
of their singing and from which
they never deviated.
190
00:12:40,640 –> 00:12:44,000
Because they constantly
celebrated the supremacy of God,
191
00:12:44,720 –> 00:12:47,880
they made sure that all their
music had the had the
192
00:12:48,120 –> 00:12:50,160
appropriate solemnity of
worship.
193
00:12:50,760 –> 00:12:54,840
They constantly maintained the
preeminence of principle in all
194
00:12:54,840 –> 00:12:58,000
that they sang.
They stood for the excellence of
195
00:12:58,000 –> 00:13:00,800
endeavour in all of their their
music.
196
00:13:01,080 –> 00:13:05,120
And they established the virtue
of constancy in Israel like no
197
00:13:05,120 –> 00:13:09,680
other family, as they sang the
same hymns with unswerving
198
00:13:09,680 –> 00:13:13,200
devotion.
And those five key principles
199
00:13:13,360 –> 00:13:17,520
that they established, if we
could only use those as the
200
00:13:17,520 –> 00:13:22,760
benchmark for our songs of
worship to the Father, then I
201
00:13:22,760 –> 00:13:25,640
believe, brothers and sisters,
that whatever music we might
202
00:13:25,640 –> 00:13:30,600
choose, as long as it messes up
to these five key principles,
203
00:13:30,840 –> 00:13:35,360
then we will have a basis for
acceptable worship and song to
204
00:13:35,360 –> 00:13:38,880
the Father even in our own day
and generation.
205
00:13:39,000 –> 00:13:42,440
How thankful we can be to this
family that even though we have
206
00:13:42,440 –> 00:13:47,320
never received one single note
of what they sang, we know their
207
00:13:47,320 –> 00:13:51,680
spirit, we know their mind, we
know their attitude.
208
00:13:53,560 –> 00:13:57,960
Now their appointment in the
days of David was approximately
209
00:13:57,960 –> 00:14:03,840
995 BC.
By the time we get to Nehemiah
210
00:14:03,840 –> 00:14:11,880
chapter 12, we’ve come to 445 BC
and therefore we’ve traced this
211
00:14:11,880 –> 00:14:16,160
one family from the first of
Chronicles 16 to Nehemiah
212
00:14:16,160 –> 00:14:25,760
chapter 12, and we’ve covered
550 years of continuous history
213
00:14:27,200 –> 00:14:33,440
with just one family.
Do you know that in the year
214
00:14:33,440 –> 00:14:46,520
14181 AD in Spain, the
Inquisition was renewed under a
215
00:14:46,520 –> 00:14:52,960
villainous man known as
Torquemada around about that
216
00:14:52,960 –> 00:14:56,960
same time?
In fact, in the year 14185 in
217
00:14:56,960 –> 00:15:03,240
England was the great Battle of
Bosworth and Henry the 7th
218
00:15:03,280 –> 00:15:07,720
defeated Richard the third
Richard Plantagenet and as a
219
00:15:07,720 –> 00:15:11,120
result of that battle he founded
the House of Tudor that would
220
00:15:11,120 –> 00:15:12,880
become famous in English
history.
221
00:15:15,680 –> 00:15:20,560
Just before that, in the year
14183 in France, the the reign
222
00:15:20,560 –> 00:15:24,440
of Louis the 11th had come to an
end, and Charles the 8th
223
00:15:24,440 –> 00:15:27,920
ascended the throne and began
his his Italian wars.
224
00:15:30,400 –> 00:15:36,200
In 14148 AD in Denmark,
Christian the First was elected
225
00:15:36,760 –> 00:15:39,880
and he became the Dukes, the
Duke of both Schleswig and
226
00:15:39,880 –> 00:15:45,120
Holstein, and thereby united 2
of the greatest Danish Dutchies
227
00:15:45,120 –> 00:15:50,840
together.
In the year 1440 AD in Germany,
228
00:15:50,840 –> 00:15:55,600
Frederick the Third became
Regent and he was the man who
229
00:15:55,600 –> 00:15:59,200
would lay the foundations for
the power of the Habsburg
230
00:15:59,200 –> 00:16:04,680
family.
You’re probably thinking now why
231
00:16:04,680 –> 00:16:11,200
are we listening to history
around about 14150 AD?
232
00:16:14,120 –> 00:16:17,120
The answer is, of course, well,
that’s how far back in our time
233
00:16:17,120 –> 00:16:24,520
we would have to go to begin the
House of Asaph and take it
234
00:16:24,520 –> 00:16:31,320
through to our time.
Now, from 14150 AD, this family
235
00:16:31,320 –> 00:16:32,680
was faithful through to our
time.
236
00:16:32,680 –> 00:16:35,960
Can you imagine that?
Can you imagine any family that
237
00:16:35,960 –> 00:16:38,600
could have been faithful for
that long, for that many years,
238
00:16:38,600 –> 00:16:45,000
for that many centuries?
Well, this one was, you know, in
239
00:16:45,000 –> 00:16:48,440
the Book of Maccabees, there’s
an interesting reference to the
240
00:16:48,440 –> 00:16:52,800
days of Judas Maccabees, and
that refers to one of the great
241
00:16:52,800 –> 00:16:54,920
battles that he fought on on
behalf of Israel.
242
00:16:54,920 –> 00:16:57,840
Of course, we know that that the
Book of Maccabees are apocryphal
243
00:16:57,840 –> 00:17:00,240
books, and although we don’t
take them as part of the
244
00:17:00,240 –> 00:17:03,480
inspired record of Scripture,
there’s nothing to say that they
245
00:17:03,480 –> 00:17:07,160
are in any way inadequate as
historical records, just as we
246
00:17:07,160 –> 00:17:10,359
would take Josephus as an
historical record.
247
00:17:10,359 –> 00:17:13,839
Well, in the Book of Maccabees
we have the story of one of the
248
00:17:13,839 –> 00:17:16,520
great battles, and I just draw
your attention to some
249
00:17:16,680 –> 00:17:19,359
interesting words in this
particular record.
250
00:17:20,079 –> 00:17:21,560
Might look at the bottom piece
first.
251
00:17:21,560 –> 00:17:28,160
It says on the five and 20th day
of the ninth month, they rose up
252
00:17:28,160 –> 00:17:30,840
the times in the morning and
offered sacrifice according to
253
00:17:30,840 –> 00:17:34,680
the law upon the new altar, and
they burnt, burnt offerings
254
00:17:34,680 –> 00:17:38,480
which they’d made according to
the time and according to the
255
00:17:38,480 –> 00:17:41,560
day wherein the heathen had
defiled that in the same.
256
00:17:41,560 –> 00:17:50,560
Was it dedicated with songs and
harps and lutes and cymbals?
257
00:17:51,480 –> 00:17:54,400
Then all the people fell upon
their faces, worshipping and
258
00:17:54,400 –> 00:17:57,600
praising the God of heaven who
had given them good success.
259
00:17:57,840 –> 00:18:00,560
And we’re told that in the days
of Judas Maccabees there was an
260
00:18:00,560 –> 00:18:02,440
outpouring of praise to the
Father.
261
00:18:02,640 –> 00:18:05,680
And the particular instruments
that were used were, why, harps
262
00:18:05,680 –> 00:18:09,320
and lutes, which are psalteries
and cymbals.
263
00:18:11,120 –> 00:18:13,800
And they’re the very, they are
the very instruments that were
264
00:18:13,800 –> 00:18:17,080
known from the days of David as
belonging to that system of
265
00:18:17,080 –> 00:18:19,000
things that the House of Asaph
stood for.
266
00:18:19,000 –> 00:18:22,560
And in this same reference in
the book of Maccabees, we’re
267
00:18:22,560 –> 00:18:27,640
told this, it says, then Judas
returned to spoil the tents
268
00:18:27,800 –> 00:18:32,440
wherein they got much riches,
and they went home, and they
269
00:18:32,440 –> 00:18:36,520
sang a song of Thanksgiving.
And this is what they sang.
270
00:18:37,760 –> 00:18:45,160
They praised the Lord of heaven
because he is good, because his
271
00:18:45,160 –> 00:18:54,120
mercy endureth forever.
Now I wonder who might have led
272
00:18:54,120 –> 00:18:57,680
that song of singing brothers
and sisters, in the days of
273
00:18:57,680 –> 00:19:02,720
Judas Maccabeus?
What we do know, of course, is
274
00:19:02,720 –> 00:19:06,640
that those words are the ancient
family Psalm of the House of
275
00:19:06,640 –> 00:19:09,000
Asaph.
Now, I don’t know, brothers and
276
00:19:09,000 –> 00:19:11,080
sisters, we can’t say with
absolute certainty.
277
00:19:11,200 –> 00:19:15,200
What we do know is that on that
day, someone sang that song in
278
00:19:15,200 –> 00:19:18,480
Israel with the right
instruments.
279
00:19:21,600 –> 00:19:24,520
What’s interesting is that that
is BC 160.
280
00:19:26,800 –> 00:19:32,840
That’s 285 years after Nehemiah
chapter 12.
281
00:19:35,800 –> 00:19:41,320
We just don’t know exactly how
long this family may have gone
282
00:19:41,320 –> 00:19:45,960
on for.
But what we do know is that this
283
00:19:45,960 –> 00:19:50,120
family had obviously discovered
certain principles for their
284
00:19:50,120 –> 00:19:53,640
life and for their family life
that was so unique and so
285
00:19:53,640 –> 00:19:58,640
special as to cause them to to
maintain their spirit of faith
286
00:19:58,640 –> 00:20:02,080
before God for such a remarkable
period of time.
287
00:20:02,080 –> 00:20:05,200
So I suppose really that the
burden of our study this morning
288
00:20:05,200 –> 00:20:07,840
then is to say, well.
Having looked at them for the
289
00:20:07,960 –> 00:20:12,320
last few days, what was the
secret?
290
00:20:13,000 –> 00:20:16,920
So how did they do this?
Because if we could just unlock
291
00:20:16,920 –> 00:20:20,480
the secret of this family, then
we might discover a secret that
292
00:20:20,480 –> 00:20:22,000
we could translate into
buildings.
293
00:20:22,000 –> 00:20:25,360
Such tremendous families for the
truth today.
294
00:20:27,480 –> 00:20:30,600
So what was it that this family
knew that others didn’t know, or
295
00:20:30,600 –> 00:20:36,240
that we’ve never understood?
Well, here’s the secret, then,
296
00:20:36,240 –> 00:20:40,440
of the House of Asaph.
Let’s take it a step at a time.
297
00:20:43,280 –> 00:20:47,160
I think the first thing was that
this family was thoroughly
298
00:20:47,160 –> 00:20:50,560
imbued with the Spirit of God
manifestation.
299
00:20:50,560 –> 00:20:53,280
They really understood that
principle.
300
00:20:53,480 –> 00:20:57,320
That’s what the first of
Chronicles 16 had taught them.
301
00:20:58,200 –> 00:21:01,360
This is the central issue of the
truth.
302
00:21:01,600 –> 00:21:05,840
This is the core purpose of any
ecclesia, of any family, of any
303
00:21:05,840 –> 00:21:08,280
individual.
Remember the So that test for
304
00:21:08,280 –> 00:21:12,400
our prayers.
Whatever we pray for is it
305
00:21:12,400 –> 00:21:16,160
couched in accordance with the
idea that it might be so that
306
00:21:16,360 –> 00:21:20,160
the Father’s purpose may be
advanced in whatever we have
307
00:21:20,160 –> 00:21:22,680
prayed for.
Now you know what’s interesting
308
00:21:22,680 –> 00:21:24,960
about the doctrine of God
manifestation.
309
00:21:26,720 –> 00:21:29,600
How do we teach this doctrine to
our children?
310
00:21:32,000 –> 00:21:39,280
And the answer is that we don’t
teach it by what we say, we
311
00:21:39,280 –> 00:21:46,360
teach it by what we do.
Our children, unfortunately, for
312
00:21:46,360 –> 00:21:53,160
better or for worse, will copy
what we do, not what we say.
313
00:21:55,800 –> 00:21:58,600
And if we want our children to
be passionately convinced as to
314
00:21:58,600 –> 00:22:03,400
the truth and the wonder and the
beauty of God manifestation as
315
00:22:03,400 –> 00:22:07,400
the central issue of of the
truth itself, then they will
316
00:22:07,400 –> 00:22:10,680
learn that from our lives,
brothers and sisters.
317
00:22:11,440 –> 00:22:16,040
So that’s our responsibility as
parents is to teach this in what
318
00:22:16,040 –> 00:22:19,280
we do.
I think the second thing about
319
00:22:19,280 –> 00:22:24,000
this family was that they were
deeply conscious of the majesty
320
00:22:24,000 –> 00:22:27,680
of the divine presence.
All their lives they’d lived in
321
00:22:27,680 –> 00:22:31,920
the sense of being with God, and
in God’s presence.
322
00:22:31,920 –> 00:22:35,760
They’d learned to ascend into
the presence of God wherever
323
00:22:35,760 –> 00:22:37,280
they were.
You see, I think that this
324
00:22:37,280 –> 00:22:40,600
family had learned the
principles of focus and
325
00:22:40,600 –> 00:22:45,480
concentration and that our
singing needs to to to capture
326
00:22:45,480 –> 00:22:49,600
that same spirit.
And you can tell, brothers and
327
00:22:49,600 –> 00:22:52,120
sisters, when a hymn is being
sung in the ecclesia where the
328
00:22:52,120 –> 00:22:54,680
people are really focused on the
words, whether they’re
329
00:22:54,680 –> 00:22:57,960
concentrating on what they are
singing to the Father as an
330
00:22:57,960 –> 00:22:59,880
offering of praise and
Thanksgiving.
331
00:22:59,880 –> 00:23:01,600
Well, this family had learnt how
to do that.
332
00:23:02,240 –> 00:23:05,840
When they sang, they were so
focused that they felt as if
333
00:23:05,840 –> 00:23:08,760
they’d come into the presence of
God himself.
334
00:23:09,680 –> 00:23:13,160
It’s something we need to work
at, it’s something we need to
335
00:23:13,160 –> 00:23:15,600
develop.
We need to unlock the power of
336
00:23:15,600 –> 00:23:18,920
our hymns by discovering their
scriptural background.
337
00:23:18,920 –> 00:23:22,160
And I think that one of the very
best things that Eccleses can do
338
00:23:22,280 –> 00:23:25,120
is to spend time in that area.
One of the things that we’ve
339
00:23:25,120 –> 00:23:30,080
done in our meeting from time to
time is that after Bible class
340
00:23:30,160 –> 00:23:33,360
we will deal with a hymn that is
new as far as the Eccleses
341
00:23:33,360 –> 00:23:34,400
concerned, which we’ve never
sung.
342
00:23:34,400 –> 00:23:38,360
And there will be plenty of
opportunity for this, if, God
343
00:23:38,360 –> 00:23:41,480
willing, the new hymn book is
launched in due course,
344
00:23:41,560 –> 00:23:43,800
according to the schedule that
it’s currently running on.
345
00:23:43,800 –> 00:23:46,320
There will be lots of hymns to
learn, but I think that a very
346
00:23:46,320 –> 00:23:49,760
good way of learning those hymns
is to have a brother who first
347
00:23:50,000 –> 00:23:54,680
will set aside 10 minutes of
time to thrill the ecclesia with
348
00:23:54,680 –> 00:23:59,320
the scriptural background to
that hymn that makes it come
349
00:23:59,320 –> 00:24:02,200
alive.
And then you learn it.
350
00:24:04,160 –> 00:24:07,000
And I think by that means we
revive the power of our hymns,
351
00:24:07,120 –> 00:24:09,640
including by the way, many
splendid old ones that maybe
352
00:24:09,640 –> 00:24:12,840
we’ve never really investigated
to the depths of what we should
353
00:24:12,840 –> 00:24:14,920
do.
You see, this family understood
354
00:24:14,920 –> 00:24:18,000
this principle.
They were deeply committed to
355
00:24:18,000 –> 00:24:21,160
the standard of excellence of
endeavour.
356
00:24:21,320 –> 00:24:25,400
They practiced under the
watchful eye of Father Asaph.
357
00:24:25,640 –> 00:24:28,400
And remember this, brothers and
sisters, that that the spirit of
358
00:24:28,400 –> 00:24:31,720
endeavour isn’t just the singing
our hymns of praise.
359
00:24:31,720 –> 00:24:34,400
It’s the whole attitude of of
how we live our life and the
360
00:24:34,400 –> 00:24:36,800
truth.
It relates to everything we do
361
00:24:36,800 –> 00:24:40,520
in ecclesial life and in family
life that whatever we do, we
362
00:24:40,520 –> 00:24:42,880
should do to the very best of
our ability.
363
00:24:43,160 –> 00:24:46,920
Now the Father knows our varying
levels of ability.
364
00:24:47,800 –> 00:24:51,000
The Father knows that some of us
will bring forth thirtyfold, and
365
00:24:51,000 –> 00:24:54,720
some 60 and some 100.
We need not worry about the fact
366
00:24:54,720 –> 00:24:58,120
that our abilities may vary.
What the Father does want from
367
00:24:58,120 –> 00:25:01,680
us, though, is that spirits,
that spirit of excellence, of
368
00:25:01,680 –> 00:25:05,160
endeavour, to at least the
capability that we have in the
369
00:25:05,160 –> 00:25:08,080
truth.
Well, this family knew that they
370
00:25:08,080 –> 00:25:10,480
practiced that spirit of
endeavour every day.
371
00:25:10,720 –> 00:25:13,840
Only the very best was good
enough for them.
372
00:25:14,080 –> 00:25:20,040
As their offering of praise to
the Father, this family was
373
00:25:20,040 –> 00:25:26,400
involved in the principle of
thanks and praise to God every
374
00:25:26,400 –> 00:25:30,040
single day of their lives.
They were, they were involved in
375
00:25:30,040 –> 00:25:32,680
this, as the Scriptures tell us.
In fact, I’ve got another
376
00:25:32,680 –> 00:25:35,600
overhead here that just sort of
says that there was a whole
377
00:25:35,680 –> 00:25:39,440
series of passages here that
tell us this daily involvement
378
00:25:39,440 –> 00:25:42,880
of the House of Asaph.
In the first of Chronicles 16
379
00:25:43,080 –> 00:25:47,360
and verse 37, it says so he left
there Asaph and his brethren to
380
00:25:47,360 –> 00:25:52,640
minister before the ark
continually as every day’s work
381
00:25:52,760 –> 00:25:56,680
required.
And again in Nehemiah Chapter
382
00:25:56,680 –> 00:26:01,040
11, verses 22 and 23, we’re told
of the sons of Asaph.
383
00:26:01,040 –> 00:26:03,960
The singers were over the
business of the House of God,
384
00:26:04,280 –> 00:26:06,680
for it was the King’s
commandment concerning them that
385
00:26:06,680 –> 00:26:12,280
a certain portion should be for
the singers due every day.
386
00:26:13,840 –> 00:26:16,440
And if we were to ask, Well, why
was it that that the portion
387
00:26:16,440 –> 00:26:18,840
should be due every day?
It was because, because this
388
00:26:18,840 –> 00:26:23,160
family had responsibilities
every day to to sing before the
389
00:26:23,160 –> 00:26:25,760
father.
In the first of Chronicles 9 and
390
00:26:25,760 –> 00:26:29,600
verse 33, it says, And these are
the singers, chief of the
391
00:26:29,600 –> 00:26:32,560
fathers of the Levites, who
remaining in the chambers were
392
00:26:32,560 –> 00:26:37,480
free, for they were employed in
that work, that is, the work of
393
00:26:37,480 –> 00:26:44,720
singing day and night.
And the first of Chronicles 23
394
00:26:44,920 –> 00:26:50,240
verses 27 to 30 says, For by the
last words of David, the Levites
395
00:26:50,240 –> 00:26:53,400
were numbered from 20 years old
and above because their office
396
00:26:53,400 –> 00:26:59,000
was to stand every morning to
thank and praise the Lord.
397
00:27:00,240 –> 00:27:04,880
And likewise it Even so every
morning and every night did this
398
00:27:04,880 –> 00:27:08,440
family sing their praise to
Almighty God on behalf of the
399
00:27:08,440 –> 00:27:09,560
nation?
Certainly.
400
00:27:09,760 –> 00:27:12,560
And yet of course, it was an
expression of their own
401
00:27:12,560 –> 00:27:16,360
conviction concerning those
matters of praise to the Father.
402
00:27:16,360 –> 00:27:20,160
So they were involved in the
principle of thanks and praise
403
00:27:20,400 –> 00:27:26,080
every day of their life.
Now that’s a good thing to think
404
00:27:26,080 –> 00:27:29,280
about, isn’t it?
You know, we say that we ought
405
00:27:29,280 –> 00:27:33,880
to to give daily prayer, daily
prayer a focus in our lives and,
406
00:27:33,920 –> 00:27:36,840
and as families we endeavour to
have daily readings.
407
00:27:37,680 –> 00:27:40,640
So, so maybe a good idea at the
time of our daily readings is to
408
00:27:40,640 –> 00:27:43,600
have a daily hymn together.
Imagine every family of the
409
00:27:43,600 –> 00:27:47,200
ecclesia at night time having a
hymn with their family as they
410
00:27:47,200 –> 00:27:51,040
did the daily readings, so that
every day they have learned the
411
00:27:51,040 –> 00:27:55,680
spirit of singing to God, of
singing praise to the Father, so
412
00:27:55,680 –> 00:27:57,960
much so that it’s become a daily
habit in life.
413
00:27:58,080 –> 00:27:59,240
Well, that’s what this family
did.
414
00:27:59,880 –> 00:28:03,320
And I’m sure that that was part
of a secret to this family’s
415
00:28:03,320 –> 00:28:07,880
faithfulness is that every day
they sang those songs, every day
416
00:28:08,320 –> 00:28:11,240
they understood those
principles.
417
00:28:13,680 –> 00:28:19,560
You see, this family were
influenced by godly music to the
418
00:28:19,560 –> 00:28:27,800
heights of spiritual exaltation.
See, not only did this family
419
00:28:27,800 –> 00:28:34,320
sing the songs of praise every
day, brothers and sisters, but
420
00:28:34,320 –> 00:28:36,160
this family didn’t know any
other music.
421
00:28:38,920 –> 00:28:42,960
They knew nothing else but the
songs of the Lord.
422
00:28:46,040 –> 00:28:53,240
You know, we should never, ever
underestimate the power of
423
00:28:53,240 –> 00:29:01,360
music.
So I say to parents, parents, if
424
00:29:01,360 –> 00:29:08,960
you want to keep your children
in the truth, guard their tastes
425
00:29:09,440 –> 00:29:14,400
in music.
Some of you may have heard this.
426
00:29:14,400 –> 00:29:17,160
I’ve mentioned it to a couple of
families, but in the House of
427
00:29:17,160 –> 00:29:24,040
Lewis, every child age of 13 has
received ACD player in their
428
00:29:24,200 –> 00:29:28,040
bedroom.
They received that as a result
429
00:29:28,040 –> 00:29:31,840
of the love and the kindness and
the overflowing generosity of
430
00:29:31,840 –> 00:29:38,400
their father.
There’s only one catch.
431
00:29:40,640 –> 00:29:47,760
Father chooses all the C DS in
the home and naughty else is
432
00:29:47,760 –> 00:29:51,960
allowed.
And we did that, brothers and
433
00:29:51,960 –> 00:29:56,600
sisters, because we wanted,
first of all, to establish our
434
00:29:56,600 –> 00:30:00,160
children’s taste in music from
the very earliest stage, to give
435
00:30:00,160 –> 00:30:02,720
them that which we considered to
be according to the standard of
436
00:30:02,720 –> 00:30:04,480
excellence.
Now, by the way, there’s a whole
437
00:30:04,480 –> 00:30:08,400
range of secular music, and I
perfectly appreciate that tastes
438
00:30:08,400 –> 00:30:10,520
differ.
You might be surprised at the
439
00:30:10,520 –> 00:30:14,680
range of music you would hear
even in the House of Lewis, but
440
00:30:14,680 –> 00:30:18,160
the point is that we want to be
able to control that process.
441
00:30:18,360 –> 00:30:21,680
And of greatest importance of
all is this, that what we didn’t
442
00:30:21,680 –> 00:30:25,440
want was any music or any
singing or any songs in our
443
00:30:25,440 –> 00:30:30,240
house that might subvert or
undermine or be detrimental to
444
00:30:30,240 –> 00:30:31,920
the godly atmosphere of our
home.
445
00:30:31,920 –> 00:30:35,640
Because we want our home to be a
sanctuary for spiritual things.
446
00:30:35,800 –> 00:30:39,160
And we won’t have any music in
our house that in any way will
447
00:30:39,160 –> 00:30:42,960
cut across that principle.
And we also want the music of
448
00:30:42,960 –> 00:30:46,600
our home to be compatible with
the music of the truth.
449
00:30:46,920 –> 00:30:49,680
We never wanted our children to
learn music and to develop a
450
00:30:49,680 –> 00:30:53,720
taste for music or the sort of
music that would cause them to
451
00:30:53,720 –> 00:30:57,640
have a distaste for the hymns of
Sunday morning.
452
00:30:58,480 –> 00:31:01,520
That whatever music we have in
the home that is as thoroughly
453
00:31:01,520 –> 00:31:05,040
compatible with the music we
sing to the Father, so that they
454
00:31:05,040 –> 00:31:08,320
find both are harmonious
together and they never develop
455
00:31:08,320 –> 00:31:11,400
a distaste or a dislike of the
hymns that we sing.
456
00:31:14,680 –> 00:31:20,240
So if you don’t know what your
children are listening to, then
457
00:31:20,240 –> 00:31:25,280
you better find out because
music is one of the greatest
458
00:31:25,280 –> 00:31:31,400
powers for either spiritual good
or for spiritual evil.
459
00:31:34,560 –> 00:31:36,720
You know, in some places, in
fact, probably in quite a few
460
00:31:36,720 –> 00:31:39,280
places, I’ve had it happen
myself, not in this country, but
461
00:31:39,480 –> 00:31:42,520
in another place.
I I was taken after the memorial
462
00:31:42,520 –> 00:31:46,360
meeting to to be taken to a
brother and sister’s place for
463
00:31:46,360 –> 00:31:51,680
the afternoon meal.
And I was driven there by a
464
00:31:51,680 –> 00:31:54,640
young brother.
You see, after the meeting, we
465
00:31:54,640 –> 00:31:57,400
hopped into the cab.
No sooner had the ignition
466
00:31:57,400 –> 00:32:06,720
turned on and one was assailed
by a monstrous beat and even
467
00:32:06,720 –> 00:32:11,480
more monstrous lyrics which
pounded us to death all the
468
00:32:11,480 –> 00:32:14,600
route to this family’s place
where we were going to have
469
00:32:14,600 –> 00:32:15,720
lunch.
And the young brother was
470
00:32:15,720 –> 00:32:17,120
oblivious, in fact, of what had
happened.
471
00:32:17,120 –> 00:32:21,440
But what I can tell you is this,
in less than 5 minutes, any
472
00:32:21,440 –> 00:32:25,080
spiritual benefit from that
meeting was utterly wiped out.
473
00:32:27,600 –> 00:32:30,520
I wonder how many cars drive
away from ecclesial meetings
474
00:32:31,640 –> 00:32:36,520
with that sort of music playing.
You know, they’ve done some
475
00:32:36,520 –> 00:32:39,920
studies which have showed, I
think with reasonable
476
00:32:40,680 –> 00:32:44,680
mathematical certainty, that the
music that you develop a taste
477
00:32:44,680 –> 00:32:51,960
for during the years 15 to 25
will continue to have the
478
00:32:51,960 –> 00:32:57,760
greatest emotional effect on you
for the rest of your life.
479
00:32:59,360 –> 00:33:04,080
You will never escape the pull
of that music if you play it.
480
00:33:04,920 –> 00:33:06,800
Course, you don’t have to play
it later on, but if you do,
481
00:33:06,920 –> 00:33:10,160
you’ll immediately feel the
pulling of your emotions towards
482
00:33:10,160 –> 00:33:13,680
that music.
Whatever you develop a taste for
483
00:33:13,800 –> 00:33:17,960
in those years of life will
affect you the greatest.
484
00:33:17,960 –> 00:33:21,520
Now, that’s not to say that you
can’t develop new tastes, not to
485
00:33:21,520 –> 00:33:24,240
say that you can’t develop new
musical tastes, because I
486
00:33:24,240 –> 00:33:27,440
believe that you can with
courage and with commitment.
487
00:33:27,600 –> 00:33:30,240
But we need to appreciate,
therefore, the power of what
488
00:33:30,240 –> 00:33:32,760
we’re doing with and for our
children, that those are the
489
00:33:32,760 –> 00:33:35,880
vital years.
If they develop a taste for the
490
00:33:35,880 –> 00:33:39,960
right things, then they will
have that taste for the rest of
491
00:33:39,960 –> 00:33:44,120
their life.
This family never knew any other
492
00:33:44,120 –> 00:33:49,600
sort of music and the songs of
Zion, and I’m absolutely sure
493
00:33:49,800 –> 00:33:52,040
that it was one of the secrets
to their family.
494
00:33:52,400 –> 00:33:56,040
They were diligent in
inculcating these principles
495
00:33:56,240 –> 00:33:58,200
into the next generation.
Now come and have a look at
496
00:33:58,200 –> 00:34:01,560
Psalm 78.
Now Psalm 78 is one of the
497
00:34:01,560 –> 00:34:05,640
psalms of the House of Asaph,
and there’s a keyword in this
498
00:34:05,640 –> 00:34:07,680
Psalm that we ought to just have
a look at.
499
00:34:15,790 –> 00:34:21,710
In the 78th Psalm, it says in
verse one, give ear, O my people
500
00:34:21,710 –> 00:34:25,190
to my law, incline your ears to
the words of my mouth.
501
00:34:26,199 –> 00:34:27,600
I will open my mouth in a
parable.
502
00:34:27,600 –> 00:34:30,520
I will have the dark sayings of
old which we’ve heard and known
503
00:34:30,520 –> 00:34:33,639
and our fathers have told us,
oh, now you see that word told
504
00:34:33,639 –> 00:34:41,320
us in verse 3 of Psalm 78.
That word means to inscribe, to
505
00:34:41,320 –> 00:34:47,400
mark, to record, to recount, and
to celebrate.
506
00:34:47,400 –> 00:34:53,040
It’s a very wonderful word in
the Hebrew to inscribe, to mark,
507
00:34:53,239 –> 00:34:57,480
to record, to, to recount, and
to celebrate.
508
00:34:57,640 –> 00:34:59,720
And so now this is a Psalm of
Asaph, mind you.
509
00:35:00,000 –> 00:35:03,000
So you see what these, what the
sons of Asaph that composed the
510
00:35:03,000 –> 00:35:06,200
Psalm said is that the things
that we’ve heard and known were
511
00:35:06,200 –> 00:35:11,080
recounted to us, inscribed upon
our hearts and minds, marked
512
00:35:11,080 –> 00:35:16,960
within us by our fathers.
They told us these things.
513
00:35:17,520 –> 00:35:21,360
Now look at those four.
And we will not hide them from
514
00:35:21,360 –> 00:35:27,720
their children, showing to the
generation to come the praises
515
00:35:27,720 –> 00:35:29,800
of Yahweh.
Oh, now you see the word showing
516
00:35:29,960 –> 00:35:33,520
in verse 4.
That’s the very same word
517
00:35:33,840 –> 00:35:38,200
translated, told us in verse 3.
It’s the same word.
518
00:35:39,760 –> 00:35:43,520
So they heard it from their
fathers, and they in turn will
519
00:35:43,520 –> 00:35:45,560
pass it on to the generation to
come.
520
00:35:45,760 –> 00:35:49,400
And then verse 6 says that the
generation to come might know
521
00:35:49,400 –> 00:35:52,920
them, even the children which
shall be born who should arise
522
00:35:54,160 –> 00:35:56,920
and declare them to their
children.
523
00:35:57,040 –> 00:36:00,400
That’s the third generation.
And you see that word declare in
524
00:36:00,400 –> 00:36:01,280
verse 6.
Why?
525
00:36:01,280 –> 00:36:06,240
That’s the same word translated,
told in verse 3 and showing in
526
00:36:06,240 –> 00:36:08,480
verse 4.
So you see, this is what this
527
00:36:08,480 –> 00:36:12,880
family did is every generation
of this family sat down and they
528
00:36:12,880 –> 00:36:16,520
inscribed on the heart of their
children the principles that
529
00:36:16,520 –> 00:36:19,160
their family stood for.
They said these are the core
530
00:36:19,160 –> 00:36:22,720
values of our family.
We praise the Father, we live in
531
00:36:22,720 –> 00:36:25,720
God’s presence, we believe,
believe in the supremacy of God,
532
00:36:25,800 –> 00:36:28,960
we sing concerning Him.
We stand for the principle of
533
00:36:28,960 –> 00:36:31,520
excellence.
We never deviate from eternal
534
00:36:31,520 –> 00:36:33,760
truths.
And they inscribed that upon the
535
00:36:33,760 –> 00:36:36,640
hearts of their children.
And those children grew up and
536
00:36:36,640 –> 00:36:38,760
inscribed it on the hearts of
their children.
537
00:36:38,880 –> 00:36:42,920
And those children grew up and
they inscribed it on the hearts
538
00:36:43,160 –> 00:36:46,640
of their children.
And that’s what this family did
539
00:36:46,720 –> 00:36:48,400
through their several
generations.
540
00:36:48,400 –> 00:36:50,640
They were diligent.
They never missed a beat,
541
00:36:50,640 –> 00:36:54,600
brothers and sisters, in writing
those principles onto the hearts
542
00:36:54,720 –> 00:36:56,800
of the generation to come.
Not in this family.
543
00:36:58,640 –> 00:37:01,880
They did that as a, as a, as a
standard of the family that they
544
00:37:01,880 –> 00:37:04,280
would inculcate those
principles.
545
00:37:04,600 –> 00:37:09,040
And they were faithful in
maintaining their standards with
546
00:37:09,080 –> 00:37:13,480
unswerving devotion, as we have
seen in these particular
547
00:37:13,480 –> 00:37:16,000
studies.
They never deviated, did they?
548
00:37:16,200 –> 00:37:21,040
Tremendous constancy and
tremendous consistency, this
549
00:37:21,040 –> 00:37:24,000
family in the things that they
stood for.
550
00:37:25,720 –> 00:37:28,240
If we could only have that same
spirit, brothers and sisters,
551
00:37:28,240 –> 00:37:31,560
I’m I’m sure that we would start
to capture the secret of this
552
00:37:31,560 –> 00:37:34,280
family.
And certainly as far as music is
553
00:37:34,280 –> 00:37:35,840
concerned, we face that
challenge.
554
00:37:35,840 –> 00:37:40,040
I believe throughout all of the
ecclesial world that there has
555
00:37:40,040 –> 00:37:43,560
been a little bit of a shift
towards new music from other
556
00:37:43,560 –> 00:37:48,520
sources, and much of that music
is not consistent with our faith
557
00:37:48,760 –> 00:37:51,160
and not consistent with our
heritage.
558
00:37:51,360 –> 00:37:54,840
We need to treasure the music
which has bound our brotherhood
559
00:37:54,840 –> 00:37:57,000
together for a long period of
time.
560
00:37:57,720 –> 00:38:00,520
We need to understand it and we
need to treasure it because
561
00:38:00,640 –> 00:38:04,120
you’d never catch catch the
House of Asaph singing anything
562
00:38:04,120 –> 00:38:07,960
that wasn’t absolutely
consistent with the spirit of of
563
00:38:07,960 –> 00:38:14,840
their particular family.
Now come and have a look at
564
00:38:14,840 –> 00:38:30,560
Psalm 68.
In Psalm 68, we’re told that in
565
00:38:30,560 –> 00:38:35,760
the age to come, well, this is
what it says, verse 24.
566
00:38:36,720 –> 00:38:41,280
They have seen thy goings, O
God, even the goings of my God,
567
00:38:41,440 –> 00:38:47,880
my King to the sanctuary.
The singers went before the
568
00:38:47,880 –> 00:38:49,880
players on instruments, followed
after.
569
00:38:50,640 –> 00:38:53,480
Among them were the damsels
playing with timbrels.
570
00:38:54,160 –> 00:38:57,920
Bless ye God in the
congregations, even Yahweh from
571
00:38:57,920 –> 00:39:03,080
the fountain of Israel.
So in the age to come, says
572
00:39:03,080 –> 00:39:06,440
Psalm 68, there’s going to be
singers again, and instruments
573
00:39:06,440 –> 00:39:09,640
and choirs.
Of course, we’re not told in
574
00:39:09,640 –> 00:39:13,960
Psalm 68 whether the singers
here are mortal singers or
575
00:39:14,680 –> 00:39:22,120
immortal singers.
But I think in Psalm 87 we’re
576
00:39:22,120 –> 00:39:26,440
told that at least there will be
immortal singers.
577
00:39:26,520 –> 00:39:29,640
Because if you come and have a
look at the 87th Psalm, we’re
578
00:39:29,640 –> 00:39:34,360
told this in Psalm 87 and verse
one.
579
00:39:35,640 –> 00:39:39,160
His foundation is in the holy
mountains for Yahweh loveth the
580
00:39:39,160 –> 00:39:42,480
gates of Zion more than all the
dwellings of Jacob.
581
00:39:42,480 –> 00:39:46,200
Glorious things are spoken of
the O city of God.
582
00:39:46,200 –> 00:39:48,960
Oh, by the way, did you notice
that that’s the line for him
583
00:39:50,240 –> 00:39:54,240
most glorious things are spoken
Jerusalem are the did you know
584
00:39:54,240 –> 00:39:56,520
that that came from Psalm 87 to
verse three.
585
00:39:56,520 –> 00:39:58,480
If you didn’t, by the way, you
should get your pencil out and
586
00:39:58,640 –> 00:40:00,120
put that in your hymn book
afterwards.
587
00:40:00,120 –> 00:40:04,120
But it says in this hymn I’ll
make mention verse 4 of Rahab
588
00:40:04,120 –> 00:40:05,480
and Babylon to them that know
me.
589
00:40:05,480 –> 00:40:07,720
Behold Felicity, your entire
with Ethiopia.
590
00:40:07,960 –> 00:40:11,240
This man was born there.
And of Zion it shall be said
591
00:40:11,240 –> 00:40:14,840
this and that man was born in
her, and the highest himself
592
00:40:15,080 –> 00:40:17,560
shall establish her.
You see in the Kingdom age they
593
00:40:17,560 –> 00:40:21,040
will be brought together, men
and women from all parts of the
594
00:40:21,080 –> 00:40:24,720
earth, from all nations of the
earth, but they’re all counted
595
00:40:24,720 –> 00:40:29,600
as descendants of Zion.
Verse 5 and verse 6 says Yahweh
596
00:40:29,600 –> 00:40:33,040
shall count when he writeth up
the people, that this one,
597
00:40:33,120 –> 00:40:37,520
everyone who’s who’s granted
eternal life was born there in
598
00:40:37,520 –> 00:40:39,960
Jerusalem.
And then verse 7 suddenly says
599
00:40:41,360 –> 00:40:46,600
as well, the singers as the
players on instruments shall be
600
00:40:46,600 –> 00:40:51,160
there.
All my springs or sources of
601
00:40:51,160 –> 00:40:54,960
satisfaction are in thee.
So in a sound that celebrates
602
00:40:55,120 –> 00:40:58,400
the bringing together of the
immortal Saints from all parts
603
00:40:58,400 –> 00:41:01,320
of the earth, it says there’s
going to be singers there and
604
00:41:01,320 –> 00:41:04,200
the players on instruments.
You see, I like to think
605
00:41:04,200 –> 00:41:06,200
brothers and sisters, and I
think there’s good scriptural
606
00:41:06,200 –> 00:41:09,480
evidence for this, that in the
Kingdom age there will be an
607
00:41:09,520 –> 00:41:13,120
immortal choir.
Sometimes people have often
608
00:41:13,120 –> 00:41:14,840
wondered, well, what am I going
to do in the Kingdom?
609
00:41:14,840 –> 00:41:20,720
Well, here’s a job to sing in
the choir under David and under
610
00:41:20,720 –> 00:41:23,720
Asaph.
We’re told in Ezekiel chapter 40
611
00:41:24,520 –> 00:41:27,080
that there will be chambers for
the singers.
612
00:41:29,320 –> 00:41:32,600
So I think personally that in
the age to come there will be
613
00:41:32,760 –> 00:41:37,920
both an immortal choir and there
will be a mortal choir of
614
00:41:37,920 –> 00:41:41,680
Levites which also shall sing.
And if there’s going to be a
615
00:41:41,680 –> 00:41:46,480
mortal choir of Levites that
should sing, of whom might they
616
00:41:46,480 –> 00:41:51,760
be composed, and what family
might be brought forth again to
617
00:41:51,760 –> 00:41:56,160
sing such songs?
But the House of Asaph.
618
00:41:58,600 –> 00:41:59,840
Now would you like to see a
proof for that?
619
00:42:01,200 –> 00:42:03,920
Well, I think we have one, you
see, because if you come to the
620
00:42:03,920 –> 00:42:08,240
prophecy of Jeremiah, I think
that here in Jeremiah we have at
621
00:42:08,240 –> 00:42:12,000
least a clue that perhaps in the
age to come there will be a
622
00:42:12,000 –> 00:42:16,640
reconstituted House of Asaph,
who once again will sing their
623
00:42:16,640 –> 00:42:20,120
songs in the age to come.
The marvelous thought to think
624
00:42:20,120 –> 00:42:23,520
that that might be so.
Although of course, the immortal
625
00:42:23,520 –> 00:42:26,640
choir will be none other than
the spiritual descendants of
626
00:42:26,640 –> 00:42:30,960
Asaph, and Christ will be the
chief conductor under whose,
627
00:42:31,240 –> 00:42:35,320
under whose hands we shall sing
in that choir in the age to
628
00:42:35,320 –> 00:42:39,480
come.
In Jeremiah chapter 33, we read
629
00:42:39,480 –> 00:42:50,120
these words in verse 7, Jeremiah
33, verse 7, and I will cause
630
00:42:50,120 –> 00:42:53,600
the captivity of Judah and the
captivity of Israel to return,
631
00:42:53,600 –> 00:42:55,680
and will build them as at the
first.
632
00:42:56,000 –> 00:42:59,200
Now of course, these words after
them, the prophecy of Jeremiah
633
00:42:59,240 –> 00:43:02,480
had their first fulfillment in
the return from Babylon.
634
00:43:03,560 –> 00:43:06,880
But the real fulfillment, the
greater fulfillment of Jeremiah
635
00:43:06,880 –> 00:43:11,040
will come in the age to come,
when finally all Israel shall be
636
00:43:11,040 –> 00:43:13,960
gathered out of the nations, and
shall be brought back to the
637
00:43:13,960 –> 00:43:18,080
land of promise.
And verse 9 says, It shall be to
638
00:43:18,080 –> 00:43:21,520
me a name of joy, a praise and
an honour before all the nations
639
00:43:21,520 –> 00:43:23,800
of the earth, which shall hear
all the good that I shall do
640
00:43:23,800 –> 00:43:27,800
them, and they shall fear and
tremble for the goodness and for
641
00:43:27,800 –> 00:43:30,120
the prosperity that I procure
unto it.
642
00:43:31,200 –> 00:43:38,480
Thus saith Yahweh again, there
shall be heard in this place
643
00:43:38,920 –> 00:43:41,960
which ye say shall be desolate
without man and without beast.
644
00:43:42,680 –> 00:43:46,720
Even in the cities of Judah and
in the streets of Jerusalem that
645
00:43:46,720 –> 00:43:51,960
are desolate without man, and
without inhabitant and without
646
00:43:51,960 –> 00:43:58,240
beast, there shall be heard the
voice of joy, and the voice of
647
00:43:58,240 –> 00:44:02,280
gladness, and the voice of the
Bridegroom, and the voice of the
648
00:44:02,280 –> 00:44:05,840
Bride.
And why?
649
00:44:07,000 –> 00:44:16,360
The voice of them that shall say
praise Yahweh of armies for
650
00:44:16,360 –> 00:44:23,760
Yahweh is good, for His mercy
endureth forever, and of them
651
00:44:23,760 –> 00:44:29,240
that shall bring the sacrifice
of praise into the House of the
652
00:44:29,240 –> 00:44:32,040
Lord.
All that’s the first of
653
00:44:32,040 –> 00:44:36,240
Chronicles chapter 16 all over
again.
654
00:44:36,400 –> 00:44:42,040
The family Psalm of the House of
Asaph and Jeremiah 33 says that
655
00:44:42,040 –> 00:44:47,360
that song and that Psalm will be
heard again in the temple in the
656
00:44:47,360 –> 00:44:51,080
Kingdom age when all Israel has
gathered back to the land.
657
00:44:51,720 –> 00:44:54,200
And who should sing that song,
brothers and sisters, about the
658
00:44:54,200 –> 00:44:57,600
House of Asaph again?
How appropriate it would be that
659
00:44:57,600 –> 00:45:01,400
if there were to be any mortal
singers, any mortal choir, that
660
00:45:01,400 –> 00:45:04,800
it be this house.
I like to think that it will be
661
00:45:04,800 –> 00:45:09,720
so.
So how do we become part of the
662
00:45:09,720 –> 00:45:13,520
immortal choir?
Well, we’ve got to learn the
663
00:45:13,520 –> 00:45:14,880
secret of this family.
So.
664
00:45:14,880 –> 00:45:17,240
So by the way, you see, people
tend to look at this and they
665
00:45:17,240 –> 00:45:20,440
say, well, that’s not really
such a very big secret.
666
00:45:20,440 –> 00:45:26,480
You know, we know about God
manifestation, we understand
667
00:45:26,480 –> 00:45:30,560
about the spirit of endeavour,
we know about singing godly
668
00:45:30,560 –> 00:45:33,800
music and about daily praise.
We know about teaching our
669
00:45:33,800 –> 00:45:37,480
children.
What’s so special about this?
670
00:45:37,640 –> 00:45:40,480
That it is a secret that belongs
to the House of Asaph.
671
00:45:40,720 –> 00:45:44,160
Oh no, that’s not the secret,
brothers and sisters, that there
672
00:45:44,160 –> 00:45:47,680
is not the secret.
You ought to know what the
673
00:45:47,680 –> 00:45:55,360
secret is.
The secret is that this family
674
00:45:55,360 –> 00:46:00,760
actually did those things.
Other families talked about it,
675
00:46:02,880 –> 00:46:08,040
but they never did it.
The secret of this family was
676
00:46:09,360 –> 00:46:12,520
that they really did it.
Brothers and sisters, every one
677
00:46:12,520 –> 00:46:14,960
of these things, they really did
them.
678
00:46:17,440 –> 00:46:22,120
And if we can just capture the
spirit of this house by taking
679
00:46:22,120 –> 00:46:26,760
up those lessons and living them
in our families, then might it
680
00:46:26,760 –> 00:46:29,520
be that we might build families
that shall last for the truth
681
00:46:29,520 –> 00:46:32,920
for hundreds of years.
We pray that it might not be so
682
00:46:32,920 –> 00:46:37,880
because of the coming of our
Lord, but that until we see His
683
00:46:37,880 –> 00:46:42,800
return, and for whatever time
has been left unto us, let us
684
00:46:42,800 –> 00:46:48,800
take up the spirit of this house
and learn their secret, so that
685
00:46:48,800 –> 00:46:54,760
their story shall not have been
told in vain.
Leave a Reply