Drumming the Message Home

'“Next, you’ll come to Gibeah of God, where there’s a Philistine garrison. As you approach the town, you’ll run into a bunch of prophets coming down from the shrine, playing harps and tambourines, flutes and drums. And they’ll be prophesying. Before you know it, the Spirit of God will come on you and you’ll be prophesying right along with them. And you’ll be transformed. You’ll be a new person!' 1 Samuel 10:5-6 (MSG)

That journey will lead you home, and you will be among the enemy for they have moved in and set up camp there. They will not hinder you. You will be directed to the place of learning, a hilltop experience where you will be instructed by the town prophets. You will be encouraged and lead by them through their worship to prophesy right along with them. You will prophesy when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. The Holy Spirit will transform you into a new person. You will be changed. You will be saved.

God is orderly and there is nothing confusing in him. He chooses to use His people. He gives them gifts and talents and then he anoints them with power. He works through His prophets and musicians and gives them dreams and visions. In her vision, as her people and the nation lost their way, she would listen to His direction and beat the drum and play her heart out to try to direct them to Him so that He might show them mercy and love them and restore them to order. She lead the way and kept time with her playing so that the huge crowd could hear and all walk together in the Way of unity. She kept time with her drum so the huge crowd could hear and sing their song together of harmony and peace. She kept time with her instrument so that the huge crowd could hear and dance gracefully as one to the beat of the One that binds the noise of nonsense and confusion. 

The music comes from God. The desire comes from within. He provides the heartbeat. The music is meaningless without the Word that follows. The Word is truth. The Truth of the Word cuts quickly to the heart of the matter. Does she choose to go the way of the prophets or does she choose to go the way of the enemy? How she decides to use the drum is all a matter of the heart. Just as many have done before, this prophetess beats the drum and plays her heart out so that they might hear the heartbeat and return home to the hilltop. The hilltop place of transformation. Music is the tool that gets us to the acceptable place, the place where God is, the place of real spirit and truth worship.