Many creatives identify themselves with the Levites in the Old Testament. The ones who led worship for the people of God.
Do you know what their name means?
“..the meaning of the word “Levite” (Hebrew lewi), which comes from Hebrew root ל-ו-ה, meaning “connect” or “attach”; lewi literally means “one who is connected/attached [or] “the joined ones”...These are the true Christian servants — [those] who are ready to go forth to all, and yet [those] who are able, bravely, to take their stand alone, because they are joined to God.” (biblehub)
Brave Worship firmly believes that Community = Courage!
There are some great Biblical Examples:
Jericho
Crossing of the Jordan
But the one I’m going to use today, you guessed it, 2 Chronicles 20! The story of how the Moabites and Ammonites were defeated through praise! You remember that story right? Oh if not, read it right now! We all LOVE this passage don’t we..haha..we’re always using it to kinda prove our value aren’t we? To prove that what we do is important “on levels that other people just can’t understand”...I kid, I kid, haha. You know it’s true ;) But seriously, why do we love this passage? As I was reading over the passage this week, something stood out to me that hadn’t before.
Let’s look at V.14-23:
Wow. Something about that story resonates deep within us, doesn’t it? Their worship is still leading us today, calling out for us to join the fight.
The worship warrior inside us longs to join with those who bravely stood and sang long before us. And it’s through that longing that we begin to hear their shouts of praise, perhaps softly at first but then growing louder and louder!
It sounds old, as ancient as the Ancient of Days himself. But if you can hear it, don’t delay, don’t hesitate for a moment. Join those, like the levites who STOOD, even before the battle had begun(v.19) and prepare God’s people. Show them what it looks like to STAND in the face of adversity. Show them what faith looks like. Show them how to be brave. And God’s spirit will ignite a passionate blaze within them and us! One that knows no fear, that knows no enemy. For the Lord our God is with us! (v.17)
This was accomplished through a group. A community of worshippers. The joined ones. They were joined to God but they were also joined together.
As you march TOGETHER you will be brave. You will be fearless.
And you will write and you will lead brave worship!
This is what Brave Worship is about. This is our heart and our purpose.