Pastor and 1st Lady Mims

Mims Chapel Church

Week 13, August, 30, 2026

LESSON 13

Prophecy and Worship

Lesson Text:

1 Samuel 10:1-7; 1 Samuel 13:13; 2 Kings 3:15;
1 Chronicles 25:1-7

Memory Verse
"But now bring me a minstrel And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him."
2 Kings 3:15

Key Terms
accompaniment • a musical part that supports or partners a solo instrument, voice, or group.
esotericism • the state or quality of being obscure and only understood by a small number of people with special or secret knowledge.
spontaneous • performed or occurring as a result of a sudden inner impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus.

Suggested Emphasis

The modern practice of "prophetic worship" is making its mark in charismatic circles. It is usually associated with impromptu singing, dancing and other artistic expressions. The conceit is that the participants are not just articulating praise for God but are opening themselves up to the Holy Ghost to receive prophetic messages for the congregation. Critics worry that the churches engaged in prophetic worship occasionally veer off into esotericism. Yet, although we may not be able to fully endorse the modern expression of prophetic worship, it is interesting that there are scriptural underpinnings of the phenomenon. In this lesson, we will examine what the Bible says about music, worship and prophecy.

Emphasis 1:

Setting an Atmosphere for Prophecy

One of the earliest associations of music ministry to prophecy in scripture is illustrated in the story of the first king of Israel. Saul of Kish had an audience with Samuel the seer and was informed of several signs he would see before they would meet again in Gilgal. Samuel was giving the young man assurance that God had chosen him to be king, when he pre-dicted, "you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be proph-esying. At that time the Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person" (1 Sam. 10:5,6, NLT). This incident leaves us to ponder the possible connection between prophecy and music. It seems likely that these were members of the school of prophets Samuel had founded, and that they prophesied with musical accompaniment. Were they singing psalms and hymns to consecrate their minds and open themselves up to divine communication? There is an anecdote about the prophet Elisha that when he wanted to dispel his carnal irritation and distraction before seeking a word from the Lord, he called for a minstrel to play (2 Ki. 3:15). Both stories suggest that music can set an atmosphere conducive to prophets hearing from God.

Emphasis 2:

The Prophet Leading Worship

Samuel himself was the leader of worship for Israel in his day, and he jealously guarded his standing. There was a time he argued with King Saul about how presumptuous it was for the king to officiate over a burnt offering himself (1 Sam. 13:13). However, because Samuel operated in several offices at the same time, it may be more accurate to say he was protecting his position as high priest when he chastised Saul. The priesthood had the documented responsibility to oversee the Israelite religious ceremonies.

Nevertheless, there are informal instances of prophets leading the people of God into worshipful experiences. As far back as the Song of Moses (Ex. 15:1-19) we see the prophet composing hymns and songs of praise. In that instance of spontaneous praise even the prophetess Miriam took part, taking up a tambourine and leading the women in dance (Ex. 15:20). Similarly, the prophetess Deborah composed a song of praise to celebrate Israel's victory over General Sisera's Canaanite hoards (Jdg. 5). And the prophet Habakkuk concludes his prophecy with a psalm, complete with instructions to the singers (Hab. 3:19). Indeed, the prophets often understood musicality and song-writing.

Emphasis 3:

The Levites Prophesying Through
Musical Instruments

King David, an accomplished musician and songwriter himself, also recognized the connection between prophecy and worship. When he organized the priests and Levites that would serve the tabernacle, he described a group that would be in music ministry as being prophetically inclined. "David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps,
and with cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was: Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Neth-aniah, and Asharelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king. Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the LORD" (1 Chron. 25:1-3, ESV). Clearly, the music ministry of these Levites was inspired; but the language also implies that they communicated messages from heaven via their musical utterances. Moreover, the vocalists and the instrumentalists were establishing the sacred space for other prophets in the land.

Missions Application Questions

How was Saul's encounter with the company of prophets similar to Elisha's call for a minstrel?
Why were the sons of Asaph described as "prophesying" through their musical instruments?
Have you ever attended a church service where "prophetic worship" took place? How did that ministry make you feel?

World Missions Prayer Points

Let us pray that Christian musicians be anointed to usher the Spirit into our services.
Let us pray that prophetic ministry has free course through our worship.