How the Psalter Alters Culture

—David’s Cultural Revolution

  • Cyril Guérette – Apr 27, 2025

The church of our day and age must be certain to support its members in active cultural engagement,

including, but not exclusively, the Arts and Music.

We must all worship God with our Cultural strengths.

1 Chron 15 NIV

  1. David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals.
    …
  2. Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.…
  3. Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer the priests were to blow trumpets before the ark of God. (cf. 27–28)

1 Chronicles 16:1–42

1 Chron 25:1–31 NIV

  1. David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals.…
  2. All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the LORD, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the supervision of the king.
  3. Along with their relatives—all of them trained and skilled in music for the LORD—they numbered 288.
  4. Young and old alike, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties. (cf. vv.9–31)

What do we learn from David’s Cultural Revolution?

  1. David emphasized the spiritual dimension of the Arts
    1. Music & poetry were defined as “prophesy”
    2. He made being “skillful” prerequisite to serving in worship ministry
       
  2. “My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king;
    my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer” (Ps 45)

What do we learn from David’s Cultural Revolution?

  1. David emphasized the spiritual dimension of the Arts
    1. Music & poetry were defined as “prophesy”
    2. He made being “skillful” prerequisite to serving in worship ministry
    3. The revolution also included architecture, fashion, & government structures
  2. He made definite, concrete plans to utilize cultural achievements in worshipping God, and transforming culture though worshipping God
  3. He saw that Doxology—praising God—is central

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