I find it interesting that in verse 1 of 1 Chronicles 25 the specific Levites/Priests who were to worship with music before the Lord at the Temple were said to be "set apart...for the ministry of prophesying". What does this mean? And how does a musician or worship leader function as a prophet?

Most people think of "prophesy" as simply fortune telling and the picture that comes to mind is of some kook with a funny hat on and a glass ball. The truth is, prophesy is also if not primarily about proclaiming truth. Thus, it makes sense for the priests in charge of worshiping before the Lord (or worship leaders) to be referenced as such. One job of the worship leader is to proclaim the truth of God through song.

There have been many times in worship for me where I just wanted to repeat a phrase over and over because I wanted that truth to sink deep within me and the people I was leading. It is awesome sometimes just to do that and let the reality of who God is what He has done for us through Christ sink deep within us. So I do think worship can be prophetic in the sense that it publicly proclaims who God is and what He has done for us. Jesus himself said in John 4:23 that "...the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth..." So we see, that one of the main jobs of a worship leader is to be a prophet and to worship in spirit, BUT also in true.

May His truth seek deeply inside you today and cause you to worship!

1 Chronicles 25:1-6, 1 Chronicles 25:7, 1 Chronicles 25:8 and 1 Chronicles 25:9-31