
That’s how my fantastic father-in-law Jim punctuates his profound sentences. It tickles my heart every time. I don’t want to promote smoking, so I need your help coming up with another wonderful phrase to say, “so there!”
This morning I started off ready to dive into our devotion of Psalm 50 and immediately snagged on the subtitle, ‘A psalm of Asaph.’ Studying him made for a riveting time of study as scripture has much to say about this obscure character.
Asaph was a Levite, the son of Berekiah. He was chief among those King David appointed “to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel,” (1 Chronicles 16:4.) He was assigned to play bronze cymbals while the ark of the covenant was being carried by the Levites to the Tent of Meeting. This was the great day when David danced with all his might before his God till his clothes fell off and his wife Michal despised him. (Please read chapter 26 titled Dr. Exposure of my book Napping in Delilah’s Lap which recounts this amazing tale and describes 10 traits of the spirit of Michal.) Asaph was later permanently placed in that position and served in Solomon’s Temple (1 Chronicles 16:37.)
Here are 3 thoughts on his life. Put them in your pipe and smoke it.
1. Asaph was a team-oriented leader: “Asaph was the chief, and next to him in rank were Zechariah, then Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel,” (1 Chron. 16:4.) Despite his prominence, it was not just Asaph’s show. He is almost always named alongside others, as we saw above. Another example is in 1 Chronicles 25 which lists him beside Heman and Jeduthun (Ethan.) Please take the time to read the two chapters referenced here. They are quick and very insightful.
Heart-search: You, my friend, are a leader in one circle or another. Despite your position, you are a leader at home, in your work, in your church, and in your community. Your strength and success as a leader depend on your capacity to be a team-player. Where are you leading? Who are you leading? Who is leading with you? How seriously are you taking your leadership role? Do you even recognize your leadership role?
2. Asaph valued heirarchy: “The sons of Asaph were under the supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s supervision,” (1 Chronicles 25:2.) Asaph supervised 68 people and it is stated repeatedly that he himself was under supervision. Hierarchy is very important to God. He always places even the most gifted and prominent people under the supervision of others. All of us are to submit to someone else. Church, like life, is not a one man show and there are no top dogs. God alone is top dog.
Please read that magnificent chapter at this point. It expounds the tremendous work God expected and set up for the ministry of praising God in the Temple and applies beautifully to our lives.
Heart-search: Who do you supervise? Who supervises you? With what attitude do you supervise others? How would they describe your supervision? With what attitude do you receive supervision? How would your supervisor describe you? We balk at being supervised. Bring all such tendencies in your heart under submission. Your thoughts, words, and actions in this area are important to God.
3. Asaph left a tremendous legacy: During King Ahaz’s reign, the Temple of God was defiled and grossly neglected until ultimately, its doors were nailed shut. King Hezekiah, who is called a son of David (because he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord – you too are called a child of David 😊,) was convicted to reestablish Temple worship. He undertook to reopen the Temple, clean it out, and consecrate it.
“When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped. King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed down and worshiped. Then Hezekiah said, “You have now dedicated yourselves to the Lord. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the temple of the Lord.” 2 Chron. 29:29-31a. That’s yet another grand chapter that warrants reading. Please do so now.
Heart-search: What legacy are you leaving? Ten, twenty, fifty years from now what will people use that you put out for the Most High? What influence and impact will you have had? What can you reestablish that has been destroyed? How can you maximize his gifts and talents to you? Your work, even in the world, though it may be menial is divine. Ask him to show you how what you are doing right now in life can double as having daily mundane impact and also have lasting impact for the kingdom.
Again, please take the time to read or listen to:
1 Chronicles 15 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+chron+15&version=NIV);
1 Chronicles 16 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+chron+16&version=NIV);
1 Chronicles 25 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+chron+25&version=NIV); and
2 Chronicles 29 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+chron+25&version=NIV).
May the spirit of Asaph bless you today and for the rest of your life. May it impact and inspire you to have lasting impact for God. Put that in your…
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