Although people sometimes think that ‘prophecy’ must indicate the prediction of future events, much more often it specifies the thus-says-the-Lord declaration by an anointed proclaimer of the word. And most of the time, that proclamation comes to us as a prose oration: within the pages of scripture, or within a service of worship. But not always. Today’s reading shows us another way that it can happen.

David and his officers set apart musicians who would have the duty to “prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals” (I Chronicles 25:1). That tells us that the Ministry of the Word can also come to us through music leaders, who sing the word of the Lord into people’s hearts in the midst of a time of worship. (We might note as well that most of the prophetical books in the Old Testament are poetical in form, rather than prose: designed to be chanted or sung by the prophet.)

All of the musical prophets appointed by David were related to each other, members of the families of Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. “They and their kindred, who were trained in singing to the Lord, all of whom were skillful, numbered two hundred eight-eight” (25:7). It appears at first glance that all of these singers were men, as all the names given are specified as the sons of Jeduthun, Asaph, and Heman. Yet with regard to Heman’s family, after naming all fourteen sons, the text then notes that Heman had three daughters as well, though their names are not given. It then says this: “they were all under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God” (25:5-6). That word “all” indicates that in the midst of this mostly-male chorus of prophets, the voices of three women prophets could also be heard.

We might notice, then, the Chronicler (or perhaps the source from which he drew) thought it important to write down the names of all these otherwise-unknown sons so that after long years they could still be remembered: but the names of those three daughters were not recorded. Yet even though their names have been forgotten, their deeds are not. Just as Miriam had been prophet and singer and worship leader in the time of Moses, (Exodus 15:20-21), so also in the time of David, as the scripture records for us, there were women who were prophets and singers and worship leaders for God’s people.

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Teach us to sing your praises, O Lord; teach us to lift up our voices to declare the wonder of your grace: so that both those who sing and those who hear can respond in faith and life.