The names "Asaph," "Heman," and "Jeduthun" will help us answer the question left hanging last month: "Why do we sing?"

Asaph name means "gatherer of the people." Those who sing in the choir, have been separated – called out; sanctified – for the service of gathering the people. One reason that the choir sings is because God has separated its members to serve by gathering the people for worship, That is to say that the choir is called to announce through the medium of music that the Lord, Jehovah, the Great God, the Sovereign of Creation is present and is waiting for the people commune with Him through worship. It is the ministry of music that blows the trumpet and sounds the alarm on the Holy Mountain of the church house, proclaiming that the Lord is in the Temple.

Through the ministry of music, the choir gathers the people together for worship, so that together all of us – choir and people – may honor our God. Through song, the choir calls the people to worship and entreats them: "Oh magnify the Lord and let us exalt God's Name together!"

But gathering the people for worship is just one aspect of the choir's "separation." In addition to "Asaph-ing" (gathering) the people for worship, the choir is called, like "Heman" to be faithful. That's what the name "Heman" means "faithful" and the connotation of that name implies faithfulness in the sense of being supportive and nurturing. Thus, the choir also sings because its members have been separated to serve by faithfully supporting and nurturing the people of God. This aspect of our work is accomplished through the words that we sing: the lyric of the songs … the prophetic content.

Notice that the ministry of music, according to I Chronicles 25.1 is the ministry of prophecy accompanied by musical instruments. To prophesy is to speak the Word of God to the people of God. According to I Corinthians 14.3, prophecy may be defined as the proclamation of the Word of God to the people of God for edification (which is teaching), exhortation (which is encouragement) and/or comfort.

Because of the preeminence of prophecy, it is of utmost importance that the choir sings music that accurately reflects the Word of God. It's not about fresh rhythms or phat chords or hype harmony. The focus of what we do – the reason why we sing – is prophecy. The principal work of the Heman-aspect of our call, is a separation to the work of prophecy.

And now... Jeduthun, whose name means "praiser." The ministry of music not only gathers (Asaphs) the people for worship and faithfully nurtures (Hemans) them with the Word of God, it also praises God! The choir has also been separated, called, sanctified, to the service of praising God!

Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun were Levites. And the Levites, regardless of their assignment (doorkeeper, treasurer, teacher, choir member) all had the same job description: "to lead the congregation in praise." The descendants of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun were assigned to lead the praise by being in the choir. Modern-day choir members are the spiritual sons and daughters of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. As such, the choir has been specifically called to lead those whom we gather for worship and nuture them through the Word of God as we all give praise to God.

The choir has been set apart to "lead the praise." That means that the choir ought to shout on purpose! Nobody should have to poke and prod the choir into lifting their hands, or saying "Amen," or dancing before the Lord. We are called to "lead" the praise! You lead from the front!

The choir has been separated to serve by Divine Design: separated to "gather," "nuture," and "praise" God! It's the reason why we sing!