GospelSmith / Prophetic Song Articles

If You Have The CD… 

By Stan Smith

When I was a child, my father taught me how to listen to classical music.  To the uninitiated, classical music all sounds alike.  I’m sure I must have expressed my irritation with the records my parents played at mealtimes.  But after my Dad taught me what to listen for – melodic themes that moved from instrument to instrument, the ebb and flow of various rhythms, how music modulates from one key to another – I began to enjoy it. 

So this article will help you get a handle on prophetic song, especially if you already have a copy of my CD, Calling My Sons Home.  When Pastor Clint Glenny called to invite me to lead his prophetic worship team in three nights of worship, he said, “We want to serve you and fulfill your vision.”  And this was my vision:  that God would give us a variety of sounds, to illustrate what I wrote about in my book.

God did it – and ultimately, I believe He did it not because it was my vision, but because He wants to train the church worldwide to move in prophetic song.  My project is just one small tool among many that God will use.  God wants to walk us all into a clearer vision of Jesus, deeper surrender, and more intimacy with Him.  That’s what prophetic song is all about.

The Sound Of Many Waters 

In the first section of the book I’ve written about prophetic song, I tried to describe a rhythmless and chordless sound often used for singing in the Spirit.  Song 1 [Singing In The Spirit] captures this sound. 

Singing in the Spirit can be a launching pad for prophetic song, and so it was with Song 2 [Calling My Sons Home] and Song 9 [I Am Coming].

You will also notice in Song 3 [Faithful] that Tim used a guitar chord that didn’t have to change while his voice walked through a melody that would have ordinarily called for several chords.  By the time the ladies sang the chorus at the end – “You are faithful, faithful to me” – their vocal harmonies laid out a definite chord progression.

The very simple chords and understated rhythms are a hallmark of singing in the Spirit.

Prophetic Lyrics

Listen for things in the lyrics that are not religious clichés.  Prophetic inspiration lifts us beyond the world of Christian same-old-same-old into fresh revelation that makes God’s eternal truth seem new to us.

There’s a richness and vividness in the lyrics of Song 4 [Love Song] that goes beyond cliché, though the theme of love for our heavenly Bridegroom has been around for centuries. 

There are some interesting links in the lyrics, such as the link in Song 6 [Glory, Fire, Blood] between the visions of God’s throne room in Isaiah 6 and Revelation 5. 

As we sing to God in worship and prayer, He wants to pour revelation through us.  He will fill us so full that we will actually learn from the words that come out of our own mouths – for they will be not our words, but His.  This is the birthright of every child of God.

 

The Sound Of The Trumpet

Some of the songs are prophecies.  Bear in mind that prophecy in the church today never supercedes the written word of God.   As I Corinthians 13:8-9 says, prophecies have their failings, and all prophecies give only a part of the truth.  Truth is too big and too many-faceted to be conveyed in a single prophecy – or sermon or meeting or conference.

Therefore, when you listen to prophecies in song, don’t assume that they represent God’s highest revelation on a particular subject.  Usually they don’t, but they do represent a slice of truth that is particularly applicable at the time.

Scripture suggests that God has many points of view at one time.  Ezekiel saw a vision of a wheelwork with eyes everywhere; John saw a rock and later a Lamb with seven eyes.  These unusual visions all suggest that God sees from more angles than we see from.  A prophetic word can’t possibly convey everything God sees, but it can jolt us with a perspective we would not have seen by ourselves.

Most of the songs center directly on Jesus.  The Spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus.  If a prophetic song gives you a larger vision of Jesus, it has done what it was supposed to do.

 

Teamwork

Notice the way the songs often move from one person to another.  Prophetic song isn’t mere jamming, for jamming is talent driven.  But in prophetic song, each musician needs to be listening for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes He has us take the lead; sometimes we need to augment someone else who has taken the lead; sometimes we need to get out of the way and do nothing.

One of the keys to teamwork is the selah, a time when the music stands and waits.  The selah can be a signal that a singer has finished, and that the next singer can begin.  Usually a selah is a time of waiting for the next spark of inspiration, which can bring a new lyrical theme or a new melody.  Typically, a selah has just enough sound to keep the song moving, but enough flexibility to allow the song to move in whatever new direction God may give.

Sometimes the music itself conveys the prophetic message.  In Song 8 [Freedom] there are several musical interludes on guitar and drums that sound the message as clearly as the lyrics.

There are several examples of antiphonal singing, places where the songs develop a chorus the whole church can sing together.  Notice the choruses in Song 3 [Faithful], Song 5 [The Glory Of The Lord Shall Be Revealed], and Song 7 [Contention In The Heavens].  Antiphonal singing gives the church an opportunity to make a united prophetic declaration, which can bring breakthroughs in the congregation or in the community.

 

Prophetic Song Is Imperfect

Prophetic song has many flaws.  A polished musical performance will be flawless, but it won’t have the immediacy of the prophetic anointing that a spontaneous song can have.

A good musician practices a lot and likes to get the music right.  So as we listened to the CD, each of us wanted to edit something.  This is typical.  Prophetic song often embarrasses the musician – “If only I could replay that one part!”  Meanwhile, the hearers are focused on what God is doing, not on the greatness of the musicians.  If we want God to use us in prophetic song, our egos have to go to the cross. 

And ultimately, this is what the Christian life is all about.  We carry a treasure in earthen vessels.  The kingdom and the power and the glory all belong to the treasure, not to us.  We like to acknowledge that Jesus is glorious and we are imperfect, until we play an imperfect piece of music in public as we seek to honor Him.  We need to become comfortable enough in God’s grace that we’re not afraid for people to see our imperfections, if that is the price we have to pay to help them see Jesus.

So it’s up to you if you’d rather look for the flaws or look for Jesus.  This is true with the CD, just as it is with every church you’ll ever attend and with every Christian you’ll ever meet.  To get the most out of prophetic song, look for Jesus.

 

© 2002, GospelSmith

 

About Copyrights -- You may copy this article if you (1) distribute it free, (2) use it "as is" without editing, and (3) include this copyright notice and our contact info. For any other use, please contact us for permission.