Dear congregation,
Elisha stood before three powerful kings. Jehoram among them, simply reminded the prophet of a house which had wearied heaven. Elisha was disturbed when he saw them. His words came out hot. Go home. “What have I to do with thee? Get thee to the prophets of thy father, and the prophets of thy mother.” (v.13)
But Elijah agrees for Jehoshaphat’s sake.
“Bring me a minstrel.”
That’s a strange request. An army was literally dying of thirst. Generals were waiting for orders. If there ever was an urgent hour, this was it. Elisha is a prophet of God, so this should not take long. Yet he would not answer. His soul within him needed to become still. So the prophet asks for music.
We are not told what instrument was played, duration, or what tune. We’re only told that music entered the room. The voices of kings were meaningless, the arguments were vanity. And Elisha just stood there and listened. With such music playing in his soul, we read:
“And the hand of the LORD came upon him.”
Dear one,our soul must be quieted before it can be known. If our soul had a window, we would see very quickly, the layer of dust that clouds our glass. Inside, thoughts run up and down. Inner conversations repeat, sins plead their case to our conscience. Now my soul is all a tither. We attempt self-examination, but all the kings are speaking, arguing and objecting. So many voices that nothing is clear, true. Our Psalter has a wonderful way of speaking for, and to our souls.
Dear ones, preparation for the Lord’s Supper includes soul music.
“Bring me a minstrel.”
Sing the psalms this week. Elisha knew what stood before him. He listened until a Greater voice spoke. “As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand.” He was not standing before kings. He was standing before God. The music reminded his soul of that.
This is what psalm singing has done for generations of God’s people. It returns the soul to the Presence, before which all other presences must bow.
Isn’t it true that a Psalter can often prepare a heart more deeply than a hour of introspection? I don’t know about you, but my heart can chase itself in circles. A psalm centers my troubled soul, and gives me words to sing in my trouble. It places a tune within by the Holy Spirit. The heart that could not help itself, is carried, line by line into the love and fear of God.
During Communion week, we need to call the mistral. Close the closet door, silence the devices, and allow the soul to come down from its fever. Pick up the Psalter. Read it slowly as you sing. Will not the Spirit’s words sooth and calm you?
Do not hurry. Without Him, searching inwardly becomes introspection that only repeats the arguments of kings. Elisha waited on the LORD. The truth came as the music ministered. Our great need is likewise.
The Lord’s Table is near. Before asking what is in your heart, become still. Know before Whom your heart is opened. Let the pleadings of kings fade. Bring the minstrel. Sing the psalms. Wait, dear one, until the hand of the Lord comes upon you.