The Prophetic Role of Church Music

Have you ever thought of yourself as a prophet? Very likely that attribute has never found its way onto a church musician’s position description. But in reality, the prophetic role is a large part of the task we are called to fulfill. Prophets are those people who speak God’s truth to others. And we have all the tools we need: scripture that forms our faith; poetry that can express infinitely more than simple prose; and music that can instantly reach deep into the human heart and touch the soul.

Because worship happens week in and week out, in every time and every season, we have the opportunity to exercise our prophetic role calling people to remember the plan, the purpose, and the promises of God. In times of abundance, peace, and prosperity, we can give worshipers the language of joy, gratitude, and thanksgiving. In times of grief and loss, we can lead the congregation in songs of lament and mourning rooted in gospel hope. And in times that seem chaotic and unpredictable, we can help the followers of Jesus remain rooted in the greatest of the biblical promises: “And be sure of this, I am with you always to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

From Genesis to Revelation, God’s presence, provision, and protection are central to God’s covenant. Hymns, anthems, and spirituals remind us of this:

• My God is a rock in a weary land, a shelter in the time of storm (spiritual)
• A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing (hymn based on Psalm 46)
• Our God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come (hymn based on Psalm 90)
• God Is For Us (CityAlight)
• Raise a Hallelujah (Bethel)
• Goodness of God (Elevation)

All of these songs—and hundreds more—point us to the same reality: no matter what is happening in our lives or in the world around us, God is with us, able to protect and defend us, the source of true peace (shalom) that will never fail. It’s critical that the promises of God be foremost in our hearts and minds as we face a world that can sometimes seem overwhelming.

As the curators of worship music—musical theologians—we have the opportunity and the responsibility to stay grounded in God’s promises, to remain aware of the context in which our community is living, and to continually speak prophetically, reminding our people that we don’t face any day alone.

A hymn I’d like to spotlight is How Firm a Foundation. No one really knows who authored the text. The completed hymn first appeared in a collection called A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors published in London in 1787 by John Rippon, a Baptist minister. The subtitle says it all: Exceedingly Great and Precious Promises, a phrase inspired by 2 Peter 1:4:

Because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

I chose this hymn because so much of it is biblical—clearly articulating God’s covenant through music. The hymn speaks for itself. The biblical sources simply say “Amen!”

How Firm a Foundation

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

See 1 Corinthians 3:11 and Matthew 7:24–27

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

See Isaiah 41:10

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

See Isaiah 43:2

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee, I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

See 1 Peter 1:6–7

“The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”

See Hebrews 13:5 and Deuteronomy 31:6

What an awesome calling we have—to remind people of the unchanging, unconditional, uncompromising love and presence of God, using words they can sing and music they can sing them to. God has been faithful to his people through every generation. Now, in our current time and place, we have the opportunity to be faithful to our calling as contemporary prophets—encouraging God’s people to believe and trust the One from whom nothing can separate us!