Great evening service at Highfield Church recently: powerful worship time, encouraging talk from Mike, and hot chocolate and fellowship to round things off. There was gifted leadership in prayer, in worship, and in the word, but the thing that grabbed my attention was anything but attention-grabbing: it was musical humility.

There were two sections of sung worship, one early on and then an extended time at the end with prayer ministry also available. Emily Daulby led on keyboard, and throughout it was Jesus-centred, open to the Holy Spirit, and drew us into the throne room of the Father. There was enthusiastic response from the people, including extempore singing, hands raised, some were kneeling, and at least one was face down, prostrate before the Lord.

Emily led boldly and sensitively, using her obvious gift, and the more remarkable because a drunk had come into the church before the meeting and insulted her playing. It was lovely to see the devil’s mockery thrown back in his face, as Jesus was exalted through the worship and her worship leading.

The other remarkable thing was the musical humility of the other musicians. I only know one of their names, and though I’m sure I could find out the other, it seems appropriate not to name them. It is easy for a guitar or a saxophone to take over in any piece of music, and it can often happen during sung worship. And at another time, or in a different meeting, a guitar or sax solo could have been perfect.

But in this meeting the two instruments worked together in true humility, in Holy Spirit-inspired sensitivity, never pushing themselves forward but determined to serve and support the music and the worship throughout. This was such a great outworked example of the sort of Jesus-like humility we read about in Philippians 2:

… in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2: 3b,4, NIV UK

2 thoughts on “Musical Humility”

  1. Richard, thank you so much for your reflection which is both encouraging and a reminder of how gifted musicians and worship leaders help us to focus on why we are there and who we are there for.

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