Asaph
Asaph was a Levite appointed by David as chief musician before the ark of the covenant, leading Israel's worship with psalteries, harps, and cymbals. Twelve psalms bear his name (Psalm 50 and Psalms 73-83), wrestling honestly with questions like why the wicked prosper - Psalm 73 records his near-loss of faith and its recovery in the sanctuary of God. His descendants formed a lasting guild of temple singers: the 'sons of Asaph' still led worship generations later at Hezekiah's revival, Josiah's Passover, and the dedication of the rebuilt temple after the exile. Scripture also calls him a seer, placing him among those who prophesied through music.
Biography
- Occupation
- Chief musician, psalmist, seer
- Tribe
- Levi
- Father
- Berachiah
- Children
- The sons of Asaph (temple singers' guild)
- Era
- United Kingdom
- Nationality
- Israelite
Family
Did You Know?
Twelve psalms bear Asaph's name - Psalm 50 and Psalms 73 through 83 - making him the most prolific named psalmist after David himself.
Scripture calls Asaph a 'seer,' and 1 Chronicles 25 describes his sons as those who 'prophesy with harps' - in his guild, music and prophecy were one office.
The 'sons of Asaph' were still leading Israel's worship more than five centuries after his death, singing at the dedication of the second temple in Ezra's day.
Key Chapters
Key Passages
David Appoints Asaph Over Worship
1 Chronicles 16:4-7
David delivers his psalm of thanksgiving 'into the hand of Asaph' - establishing him as Israel's first chief of sacred music before the ark.
4nd he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:
Asaph's Crisis of Faith
Psalms 73:1-3
Asaph confesses his feet had 'well nigh slipped' envying the prosperity of the wicked - one of Scripture's most honest accounts of doubt from a worship leader.
1ruly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
The Words of Asaph the Seer
2 Chronicles 29:30
Generations later, Hezekiah's revival still sings 'the words of David, and of Asaph the seer' - his psalms had become part of Israel's permanent worship vocabulary.
30oreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.