How does one prophesy with musical instruments?

I Chronicles 25:1-3

1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:

2 Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.

3 Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the Lord.

I put this in the devotional section because I would think if one can actually prophesy with a musical instrument it would come from a time of consecrated devotion and time spent with the Lord. But how does one prophesy with a musical instrument? Are words involved with singing or scripture recitation or actual prophecy to accompany one's playing a instrument? Not much known about this I would think.

What went on when David played for Saul and drove the spirits away from Saul? I wonder if David sang also but it doesn't seem to mention this.

There is no doubt in my mind that there is a spiritual aspect to music which of course can work both ways.

David’s harp playing was unto the Lord so it was anointed.

I think all would agree with Todd's post. This snippet is an undeniable truth;

"...there is a spiritual aspect to music..."

This program addresses the subject of music;

Click on the arrow to listen to "The Worship Wars" at the following link;

https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/understanding-the-times/

Its not as common as it was 30 years ago.

The playing of a piano or guitar while prophesying to the congregation (speaking a short word while the music plays in the background) was normal at Pentecostal/charismatic meetings.

When there is faith and expectancy in the congregation those who were willing received of God the prophetic utterances that blessed the hearers.
The strange thing is NOT that God has some prophecy with music, it's strange that with Churches in great need of spiritual edification today, there is little prophecy and music to be heard.

To a limited degree so many have despised prophesying. Why?
It's impossible to read hearts, but it's not impossible to listen to what folks say about prophecy. In short,
prophecy that comes from nobodies, non-leaders or young believers is looked upon as spiritual enthusiasm not a voice from heaven given to build the Church.
Prophecy is frowned upon because there are famous men who have negated it from the print and pulpit, therefore one must choose between the words of some nobody in a congregation and a world-wide speaker and author with credentials.

The music+prophecy is normally a special speaker or musician who has a platform to speak from. Folks just don't get up and say "stand aside piano player, I have a word from God with music to give".

As you can see platform ministry in music and prophecy must cross two barriers of unbelief, the one from those who despise prophecy, the other from the astounded piano player who you just asked to take his/her seat.

I hear you Gloryandgrace. I remember the days you speak of. You share very good insight with which I agree.

Thanks.

To answer the question "How does one prophesy with musical instruments" I would say: it's impossible :-)

Prophecy is speaking revelations of God that encourage, rebuke or comfort. Music itself is word-less (unless it is a song) so it's impossible.

But could you prophecy with music on the background: of course it's possible.

Would I suggest it: no.

The things that concerns me is that when there is no emotional music in much of our churches, things will not happen. If that's true, then we look to music as our lord.

I would love to see a church where the Spirit works, not only when there is music involved, but also when there is no music involved. When people get healed after a short prayer instead of hours of music and prophecying with "10 % less pain". I would love to see souls saved in our houses and they get totaly transformed then so called salvations where people "experience a deep love" but lives are not changed.

In other words: using music to create spiritual things (like prophecying) is in my opinion (most of the time) flesh trying to work Gods work. I have seen horrible fruit of that and I don't want it.

But the new testament is totaly different. They preached hard gospelmessages, asked for repentance and faith, laying down there lives, prayed until something happend, etc. The Spirit worked without music and lightshows. It worked because Christ would be glorified.

I would urge everyone to be carefull of not making music and "happy feelings" your aim or your channel... trust the Spirit of the living God!

Wijnand-

I agree sort of with what you are saying but I think God created music and wants it to be used for His glory.

If the issue on the table is whether music alone (no lyrics) can serve a prophetic purpose, that is subject to discussion.

I personally do not feel that music alone is always solely emotional. I think if it being played by an anointed person at the Lord’s leading it can have a prophetic effect.

Hi Wijnand:

you said..."In other words: using music to create spiritual things (like prophesying) is in my opinion (most of the time) flesh trying to work Gods work. I have seen horrible fruit of that and I don't want it"

Brother, its terribly wrong to dismiss the things of God because God's people get them wrong or make mistakes en-route to true worship.

Your argument is the same as the atheists..."religions cause war and death because they are always after control of the masses". The central thought is Christianity is lumped into every other error, and the errors of the pagans are now accounted to us. This kind of broad-brushing states too much, exaggerates the actual cases and lacks any real specifics and therefore lacks godly-reason.

So, too this kind of worship and edification you dismiss is lumped into every other error and should be avoided.
But errors in God's people does not mean we jettison prophecy and music, it means we learn from our mistakes and go forward into true worship and prophecy.

We should not dismiss God's workings in any 'kind' of edification. We can literally make a case for every kind of edification to be avoided because every kind has at some time gone side-ways because some Christian biffed it up.

All I am saying is music and prophecy cannot and should never be the target of anathemas. The real corrections come by way of godly leadership discerning and training in that very moment. So, at that moment the context of error and the correction can meet and join hands.

Standing afar off in condemnation of some kind of worship or prophecy without specifics and the godly wisdom given in the moment to course-correct only lead us to become more carnal...and yet yearn for the spirituality we hunger for.

David in Saul’s service.

14 The Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

15 Saul’s servants told him, "Look, an evil spirit from God is troubling you.

16 Let our lord order his servants who attend you to look for a man who is skilled in playing the lyre. And then when an evil spirit from God comes on you, HE WILL PLAY and you will be better.”

17 Saul told his servants, "Find a man for me who CAN PLAY WELL and bring him to me.”

18 One of the young men answered: "Look, I’ve seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is SKILLED IN PLAYING. The man is a valiant soldier, gifted in speech, and handsome. And the LORD is with him.”

19 So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.”

20 Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and one kid, and sent them to Saul along with his son David.

21 David went to Saul and began to serve him. Saul loved him very much, and he became his armor bearer.

22 Saul sent a messenger to Jesse to tell him, "Allow David to serve me, because I’m pleased with him.”

23 Whenever an evil spirit from God came to Saul, David would TAKE THE LYRE AND PLAY IT. Relief would come to Saul and he would be better, because the evil spirit would leave him.

(I Samuel 16:14-23)