Do you want more of God? Do you want to experience more of His presence? Do you desire a breakthrough in your relationship with God or in a certain area of your life? If so, here’s what you need to do: ask for a musician!
That’s right. Ask for a musician. There’s a great story found in the third chapter of 2 Kings. Judah, Israel and Edom are at war against Moab. They have a vision for victory, have implemented their strategy, and have run up against obstacles. There is no water. And they begin to doubt the likelihood of victory. So they summon the prophet Elisha to intercede on their behalf.
Elisha’s initial response was “bring me a musician…” (2 Kings 3:15). Elisha, the prophet who had received a double portion of the mighty anointing that rested on his predecessor Elijah, needed to get his worship on before he could access the wisdom and counsel of God. The psalmist says the same thing: “Come into his presence with singing…enter his courts with praise” (Psalm 100:2, 4). Worship is a gateway to experiencing the presence of God.
Let’s take a closer look at how Elisha got his worship on:
Elisha Had The Right Expectation
I don’t believe Elisha was expecting the musician to perform a concert or put on a show. I don’t believe Elisha put the musician on a stage. I do believe he put the musician on a platform. What’s the difference? A stage is where one performs. A platform is where one wields influence. The performer on the stage says, “Look at me!” The influencer on the platform says, “Look at God!” I am guessing, however, that the musician gave it his very best. Why? Because we should never apologize for using our God-given gifts and talents with excellence. Is God not worthy of that?
Elisha Had The Right Spirit
I believe Elisha had a spirit of surrender. I imagine he conceded his preferences, opinions, and judgments and instead yielded himself to experiencing the presence of God. I don’t think he whined to the musician that it was too soft or too loud, too fast or too slow, too short or too long. I don‘t think he moaned, “Another new song?” I think he yielded a critical spirit to spirit of surrender. What would happen in our worship if we put aside our preferences, opinions and judgments and surrendered to experiencing the presence of God?
Elisha Had The Right Audience
We are not told whether Elisha was alone with the musician or if others were present. It doesn’t really matter, because Elisha had an audience of one. He was only focused on experiencing the presence of God, not what everyone else was doing. Were they singing or not singing, sitting or standing, crossing their arms or raising their hands, falling on their face or falling to their knees? It didn’t matter. Elisha was fixated on God and God alone. What would happen with our worship if we put our attention on God and not on those around us?
“But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. –2 Kings 3:15
Ryan Smallwood
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